SMiths Aerospace Research and Technology Partnership on COMPosites (SMARTCOMP)

史密斯、牛津和布里斯托尔大学之间将建立战略合作伙伴关系，这将在未来五年带来复合材料技术的阶段性变化，并为更长远的影响更深远的创新奠定基础。提出了两个广泛的研究主题。第一个关于低成本和3-D复合材料的项目将由布里斯托尔牵头，牛津大学提供投入，并将提供可在未来3-5年内应用的新功能。关于自驱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10年的技术路线图，布里斯托尔大学开发了许多创新概念，可以在5年的时间尺度内进行演示。低成本复合材料的研究将开发使用机器人和机械成形的自动化制造技术，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纤维体系结构(例如编织、编织、织物)来降低制造成本，同时提供未来航空航天应用所需的优异机械性能。拟议的开发自驱动复合材料的活动提供了令人兴奋的机会，将新的驱动、传感和健康监测方法集成到未来的高性能航空结构中，例如变形翼型。将开发和展示最先进的新兴技术，如压电和磁致伸缩材料、形状记忆材料、变形复合材料和新型机电设备。这笔赠款中概述的核心活动计划将与现有研究的大量计划一起运行，例如我们的欧盟变形翼项目。将任命四名经验丰富的研究人员，三名在布里斯托尔，一名在牛津。此外，1名高级研究员和7名博士生从一开始就致力于为该伙伴关系提供相当数量的研究人员。布里斯托尔将为教职员工和学生建立一个新的专门的物理中心，与开展相关研究的办公室相连，并为来自牛津和史密斯的访客增加办公桌。此外，两所大学和史密斯学院之间还将借调工作人员，并定期联合举办研讨会。在这个尖端计划中肯定会出现的许多新想法将被发展成来自英国和欧盟来源的进一步资金建议，以创建一个世界级的研究组合，产生令人兴奋的新技术，供英国工程学利用。

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.