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

我们将推出一个新的CDT，专注于复合材料和制造，培养下一代复合材料研究和技术领导者，他们具备对社会产生影响的技能。近年来，复合材料正以前所未有的速度取代金属等传统材料。它们的全球使用量预计将迅速增长（每年5-10%）。这种增长是由对轻量化结构的需求推动的，轻量化结构“越轻越好”，例如飞机、汽车车身和风力叶片；复合材料的优点是使材料和结构功能化。轻量化的驱动因素主要是材料成本、燃油效率、减少对气候变化的影响，但也有更纯粹的工程原因，如提高操作性能和功能。例如，英国复合材料行业为空客A400M和A350机身做出了重大贡献，这两种机身的性能明显优于金属机身。同样，在风能领域，典型地，超过90%的风力涡轮机叶片由复合材料组成。然而，考虑到更大转子的趋势，重量和刚度已经成为限制因素，需要更多地使用碳纤维。先进的复合材料，以及它们提供的额外功能（如形状适应）的可能性，是更轻、更智能的叶片和更便宜、更丰富的能源的推动者。在汽车行业，考虑到对绿色汽车的推动，对高速、生产线规模、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来支持英国为复合材料行业提供的技能元素及其带来的挑战。目前，英国的复合材料技术劳动力普遍存在技能短缺；博士技能的短缺尤其严重（每年需要30-150人）。工业领域的新发展，如机器人制造、增材制造、可持续性和回收利用以及数字制造，都需要包括工程和物理科学在内的培训。我们的CDT将提供高技能的劳动力和技术领导，以支持该行业；具体来说，就是领导才能带来新的激进思维和创新思维，以确保英国未来的全球竞争力。未来复合材料的发展，与目前的树脂、纤维和功能特性以及替代材料竞争，将要求博士生掌握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置于现代世界的背景下。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。核心工程模块将努力培养学生对复合材料性能的理解，以及如何改进这种性能。除了核心材料、制造和计算分析培训外，CDT还将提供可转移技能培训课程，例如沟通、领导能力和转化研究技能。与行业合作伙伴（如劳斯莱斯）和世界领先的国际专家（如利默里克大学）合作，我们将提供一个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.