SMiths Aerospace Research and Technology Partnership on COMPosites (SMARTCOMP)

史密斯、牛津大学和布里斯托尔大学之间将建立战略合作伙伴关系，这将在未来五年内实现复合材料技术的飞跃，并为更长远的创新奠定基础。提出了两大研究主题。第一个低成本3d复合材料项目将由布里斯托大学牵头，牛津大学也将参与其中，并将在未来3-5年内提供可应用的新功能。关于自致动复合材料的第二个主题将是一项联合活动，牛津大学制定了一个10年的技术路线图，布里斯托尔大学开发了一些创新概念，这些概念可以在5年内展示。低成本复合材料的研究将开发使用机器人和机械成型的自动化制造技术，并应用低成本、快速的模具技术，如冷冻铸造陶瓷。它还将寻求使用创新的3-D纤维结构（如编织、编织、织物）来降低制造成本，同时为未来的航空航天应用提供必要的卓越机械性能。提出的开发自致动复合材料的活动提供了令人兴奋的机会，可以将新的致动、传感和健康监测方法集成到未来高性能航空航天结构中，例如变形机翼。“最先进”的新兴技术，如压电和磁致伸缩、形状记忆材料、变形复合材料和新型机电设备将得到开发和展示。该赠款中概述的核心活动计划将与现有研究的实质性计划一起运行，例如我们的欧盟变形翼项目。将任命四位经验丰富的研究人员，三位在布里斯托尔，一位在牛津。此外，一名高级研究员和7名未获此资助的博士生已承诺参与该伙伴关系，从一开始就提供了大量的研究人员。将在布里斯托尔建立一个新的、专门的物理中心，供员工和学生使用，该中心与进行相关研究的办公室相连，并为来自牛津大学和史密斯大学的游客提供额外的办公桌。还将在大学和史密斯之间借调工作人员，并定期举行联合研讨会。在这个前沿项目中肯定会出现许多新的想法，这些想法将进一步发展为英国和欧盟资助的提案，以创建一个世界级的研究组合，为英国工程开发创造令人兴奋的新技术。

A strategic partnership will be created between Smiths, Oxford and Bristol University that will deliver a step change in Composites technology over the next five years, and lay the foundations for more far reaching innovation over the longer term. Two broad themes of research are proposed. The first one on low cost and 3-D composites will be led by Bristol with input from Oxford, and will provide new capabilities that can be applied in the next 3-5 years. The second theme on self actuating composites will be a joint activity, with Oxford laying out a 10 year technology roadmap and Bristol developing a number of innovative concepts which can be demonstrated within a five year timescale. The research on low cost composites will develop automated manufacturing techniques using robotics and mechanical forming and apply low-cost, rapid tooling techniques such as freeze-cast ceramics. It will also seek to use innovative 3-D fibre architectures (e.g. weaves, braids, fabrics) to reduce manufacturing costs whilst providing the excellent mechanical performance necessary for future aerospace applications.The proposed activities to develop self-actuating composites offer exciting opportunities to integrate novel methods of actuation, sensing and health monitoring within future high performance aerospace structures e.g. shape changing aerofoils. 'State-of-the-art' emerging technologies such as piezo- and magneto-strictives, shape memory materials, morphing composites and novel electromechanical devices will be developed and demonstrated. The core programme of activities outlined in this grant will run alongside a substantial programme of existing research, for example our EU Morphing Wing project. Four experienced researchers will be appointed, three at Bristol and one at Oxford. In addition, one senior Research Fellow and 7 PhD studentships not funded under this grant have been committed to the Partnership providing a critical mass of researchers from the outset. A new, dedicated physical centre will be established at Bristol for staff and students linked to offices where related research is carried out, and with additional desks for visitors from Oxford and Smiths. There will also be secondment of staff between the Universities and Smiths and regular joint seminars. The many new ideas certain to emerge during this cutting edge programme will be developed into further proposals for funding from UK and EU sources to create a portfolio of world-class research generating exciting new technologies for exploitation by UK engineering.