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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/L015102/1
Title: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Composites Manufacture
Principal Investigator: Barton, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Schubel, Professor P
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Bentley Motors Ltd Cobham Composites Ltd Gamesa
McLaren Group National Composites Centre Rolls-Royce Plc (UK)
Scott Bader Company Ltd
Department: Aerospace Engineering
Organisation: University of Bristol
Scheme: Centre for Doctoral Training
Starts: 01 April 2014 Ends: 31 July 2024 Value (£): 3,765,484
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Manufacturing Machine & Plant Materials Processing
Materials testing & eng.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
23 Oct 2013 EPSRC CDT 2013 Interviews Panel F Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The theme area is manufacturing of engineering composites structures, specifically those which comprise continuous high performance fibres held together with a polymeric matrix. The relevant industry areas include aerospace, automotive, marine, wind energy and construction.

The proposal demonstrates continuing and growing need in the UK polymer composites manufacturing sector for suitably technically qualified individuals, able to make positive and rapid impact on its international manufacturing competitiveness.

Extension of a newly created Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture fills an existing gap in provision of industrially focussed higher level education in the UK, in the specialist discipline of polymer composites manufacturing. It has its centre of gravity in Bristol, with the rapidly expanding National Composites Centre (NCC) the natural home-base for the cohorts of composites manufacturing Research Engineers embedded in the composites manufacturing industry. This new hub of applied research activity focussed at TRL 3-5 is different from but highly complementary to the outputs of composites manufacturing PhD students within the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Composites (CIMComp), working on more fundamental research topics in composites manufacture at TRL 1-3. Achieving a clearer definition of the industrial composites manufacturing challenges and of new knowledge base requirements will provide direction for the industrially relevant accompanying fundamental research.

The EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Composites has established and maintains close management overview of this IDC , as well as fostering links with related CDTs within the wider High Value Manufacturing Catapult, initially specifically the AMRC Composites Centre IDC in Machining Science. Over time such connections will establish a critical mass of industrially focussed manufacturing research activity in the UK, raising the national and international status of the EngD brand in the composites industry, in academia and in professional institutions by targeted dissemination through CIMComp in conjunction with the NCC
Key Findings
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Summary
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.bris.ac.uk