| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/N019040/1 |
| Title: |
Research Software Engineering Fellowship - Software for Textile Modelling and Simulation |
| Principal Investigator: |
Brown, Dr L |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Div of Materials Mech and Structures |
| Organisation: |
University of Nottingham |
| Scheme: |
EPSRC Fellowship |
| Starts: |
01 January 2016 |
Ends: |
31 March 2021 |
Value (£): |
384,850
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
Materials Processing |
| Materials testing & eng. |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Manufacturing |
| Construction |
Energy |
| Transport Systems and Vehicles |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Composite materials are increasingly used in a wide range of applications, particularly in the aerospace and automotive industries which take advantage of their low weight and high strength. Their use will contribute to the targets in place for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the weight of components and therefore energy used. They comprise a reinforcement embedded in a matrix material which may be made up from many combinations of materials. An example of an everyday composite material which is found everywhere is reinforced concrete. In the field of polymer composites the materials are typically either a glass or carbon fibre reinforcement in a polymer matrix. In many cases the reinforcements are produced in the form of textiles which gives ease of handling but also, in the case of more complex 3D weaves, gives the opportunity to enhance the properties of the material and to design specific shapes. In order to optimise the design of these woven materials computer simulations are carried out which enable the prediction of their material properties, for example how strong or stiff they are, and also how they will behave during manufacture, for example how the liquid resin will flow through the textile when creating a complex shaped part. TexGen is open-source software, developed at the University of Nottingham for the creation of 3D geometric models of textiles used in these simulations and will form the basis for the software developed during this research programme.
During the course of this Fellowship a new major version of TexGen will be developed which will meet the modelling requirements of the increasingly complex textiles and preforms used in composite materials and of new textile structures as they emerge. A tool will be developed for optimisation of the weave patterns used to form preform structures such as I- and T-beams, common elements used in engineering design.
Textiles are used in a large range of applications and industries from clothing to the rollers on paper making machines. New 'intelligent' textiles are being developed which incorporate different materials or sensors and are being applied to fields such as health care and sportswear. This programme will identify new and emerging areas in textile technology which will have requirements for modelling and simulation capability. The requirements will vary with the materials, for example transport of heat, fluid, electrons and molecules through the textile. A new set of tools will be developed to meet the analysis needs of these new technologies, enabling simulations relevant to the different materials to be performed and impacting on both the properties created and manufacturing processes developed for these new materials.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk |