Finite Element Modelling of High Energy Impact of Composite Structures Industrial partner

Finite Element Modelling of High Energy Impact of Composite Structures

 

Industrial partner: BAE Systems

 

Supervisor: Richard Beaumont

 

Project Overview: The use of composite structures on leading edges of aircraft, designed against birdstrike, has been constrained because of a limited understanding of the composite behaviour under impact. There is now a need to consider composite structures for reasons including mass reduction or creating future multi-functional structures.

 

For conventional metallic structures it is possible to model damage resulting from impact to a relatively high level of confidence when compared with testing. This project will address the gap in understanding that has prevented development of a similar capability for composite structures on air and land vehicles. The techniques used in testing and model development will be similar with significant overlap in the validation tests used for different end applications. Developing a modelling capability for high energy impact of composites will minimise future development costs and will build on existing capability for impact of metallic structures.

 

The successful applicant will be expected to work in both physical and virtual domains. Experimental work will be conducted to generate data that allows development and validation of FE models. Regular meetings with the industrial partner will also be required.

 

Funding Details: Aerospace MSc Bursary Scheme

 

Length of Award: 1.0/2.0 years full-time/part-time (MSc)

 

Eligibility: Applicants must be -

1. 
   Currently employed by one of the scheme's partner companies (see below) or by an SME in the UK supply chain and nominated by your employer
   
2. 
   Not yet employed in the sector, but with practical or financial support from any UK aerospace firm
   
3. 
   Not yet employed in the sector and applying directly to the scheme as an independent candidate. If you are successful, the Scheme will introduce you to relevant employers.
   
4. 
   Other applicants must be resident in the UK on the first day of the MSc programme and meet one of the following conditions:
   
   • 
     EU nationals (including UK nationals) including direct family members as long as they have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for the last three years; or
     
   • 
     Nationals of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland who are working in the UK, including direct family members and who have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for the last three years; or
     
   • 
     UK residents with ‘settled immigration status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay) who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the last three years; or
     
   • 
     Refugees and people who have been granted humanitarian protection including direct family members ordinarily residing in the UK on the first day of the first academic year of the course; or
     
   • 
     Children of Swiss nationals who have resided in the UK where the children have been resident in the EU/EEA or Switzerland for the last three years; or
     
   • 
     Children of Turkish nationals who have resided in the UK where the children have been resident in the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Turkey for the last three years.
     

 

 

Application Details:

Initial enquiries should be made to our Research Degrees Administrator at [e-mail] or telephone

024 765 24357

 

Aerospace MSc bursary scheme partners:

BAE Systems

Bombardier Aerospace

EADS/Airbus

Finmeccanica

GE Aviation Systems

GKN

Aerospace

MBDA Missile Systems

Messier-Bugatti-Dowty

Rolls Royce

Spirit Aersosytems