EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Composites Science, Engineering and Manufacturing

我们将推出专注于复合材料和制造的新CDT，以培养具备对社会产生影响的技能的下一代复合材料研究和技术领导者。近年来，复合材料以前所未有的速度取代了传统材料，例如金属。预计全球对它们的使用将迅速增长(每年增长5%-10%)。这一增长的推动因素是对“更轻更好”的轻量化结构的需求，例如飞机、汽车车身和风叶；以及复合材料在材料和结构功能化方面提供的好处。轻量化的驱动因素主要是材料成本、燃油效率、减少导致气候变化的排放，但也有更纯粹的工程原因，如改进的运营性能和功能。例如，英国复合材料行业对空客A400M和A350机身做出了重大贡献，这两款机身的性能明显好于金属机身。同样，在风能领域，通常90%以上的风力机叶片是由复合材料组成的。然而，考虑到转子越来越大的趋势，重量和刚度已成为限制因素，需要更多地使用碳纤维。先进的复合材料，以及它们提供的增加形状调整等额外功能的可能性，使更轻、更智能的叶片和更便宜、更充足的能源成为可能。在汽车领域，考虑到对更环保汽车的推动，对高速、生产线规模和制造方法的需求，将需要更多地了解不同材料的性能。鉴于这些发展，英国在支持复合材料科学和技术方面投入了大量资金，例如，通过在布里斯托尔大学建立国家复合材料中心。现在需要进一步的投资，以支持英国对复合材料行业的规定中的技能要素及其带来的挑战。目前，英国复合材料的技术劳动力存在公认的技能短缺；博士技能的短缺尤为严重(需要30-150人/年)。工业中的新发展，如机器人制造、添加剂制造、可持续发展和回收利用以及数字制造，需要包括工程和物理科学的培训。我们的CDT将提供一支高技能的劳动力和技术领导力，以支持该行业；具体地说，是带来新的激进思维的领导力和创新思维，这是证明英国未来全球竞争力所需的。未来复合材料的发展将与目前的树脂、纤维和功能特性以及替代材料竞争，这将要求博士生获得先进材料科学和工程的基础知识，以及随后的复合材料和结构的实践经验。这些高技能的博士生不仅需要理解技术学科，还应该能够将获得的知识放在现代世界的背景下。我们的CDT将提供这种培训，提供核心工程能力，包括复合材料工程和科学的实验和理论元素。核心工程模块将致力于培养学生对复合材料性能的理解，以及如何提高这种性能。除了核心材料、制造和计算分析培训外，CDT还将提供可转移的技能培训计划，例如沟通、领导力和翻译研究技能。我们将与行业合作伙伴(如劳斯莱斯)和世界领先的国际专业知识(如利默里克大学)合作，制定令人兴奋的综合课程，使我们的学生成为未来的领导者。

We will launch a new CDT, focused on composite materials and manufacturing, to deliver the next generation of composites research and technology leaders equipped with the skills to make an impact on society. In recent times, composites have been replacing traditional materials, e.g. metals, at an unprecedented rate. Global growth in their use is expected to be rapid (5-10% annually). This growth is being driven by the need to lightweight structures for which 'lighter is better', e.g. aircraft, automotive car bodywork and wind blades; and by the benefits that composites offer to functionalise both materials and structures. The drivers for lightweighting are mainly material cost, fuel efficiency, reducing emissions contributing to climate change, but also for more purely engineering reasons such as improved operational performance and functionality. For example, the UK composites sector has contributed significantly to the Airbus A400M and A350 airframes, which exhibit markedly better performance over their metallic counterparts. Similarly, in the wind energy field, typically, over 90% of a wind turbine blade comprises composites. However, given the trend towards larger rotors, weight and stiffness have become limiting factors, necessitating a greater use of carbon fibre. Advanced composites, and the possibility that they offer to add extra functionality such as shape adaptation, are enablers for lighter, smarter blades, and cheaper more abundant energy. In the automotive sector, given the push for greener cars, the need for high speed, production line-scale, manufacturing approaches will necessitate more understanding of how different materials perform.Given these developments, the UK has invested heavily in supporting the science and technology of composite materials, for instance, through the establishment of the National Composites Centre at the University of Bristol. Further investments are now required to support the skills element of the UK provision towards the composites industry and the challenges it presents. Currently, there is a recognised skills shortage in the UK's technical workforce for composites; the shortage being particularly acute for doctoral skills (30-150/year are needed). New developments within industry, such as robotic manufacture, additive manufacture, sustainability and recycling, and digital manufacturing require training that encompasses engineering as well as the physical sciences. Our CDT will supply a highly skilled workforce and technical leadership to support the industry; specifically, the leadership to bring forth new radical thinking and the innovative mind-set required to future-proof the UK's global competitiveness. The development of future composites, competing with the present resins, fibres and functional properties, as well as alternative materials, will require doctoral students to acquire underpinning knowledge of advanced materials science and engineering, and practical experience of the ensuing composites and structures. These highly skilled doctoral students will not only need to understand technical subjects but should also be able to place acquired knowledge within the context of the modern world.Our CDT will deliver this training, providing core engineering competencies, including the experimental and theoretical elements of composites engineering and science. Core engineering modules will seek to develop the students' understanding of the performance of composite materials, and how that performance might be improved. Alongside core materials, manufacturing and computational analysis training, the CDT will deliver a transferable skills training programme, e.g. communication, leadership, and translational research skills. Collaborating with industrial partners (e.g. Rolls Royce) and world-leading international expertise (e.g. University of Limerick), we will produce an exciting integrated programme enabling our students to become future leaders.