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Full field Imaging for Damage Evaluation in Lightweight structures under Impact TYpe Loading

Project description

New lightweight, sustainable structures

Light, durable and sustainable materials will pave the way for the future of the transport industry. Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials are promising, but it is necessary to predict their exact mechanical behaviour that appears to be strain-rate dependent. The EU-funded FIDELITY project aims at supporting an individual fellowship for a researcher who will elaborate a new methodology for integrated thermomechanical full-field high-fidelity measures of stress-and-strain provided experimentally. New, full-field imaging will be used for detection and analysis of composites' damages and the quantitative inputs will be added to predict the failure under strain rate events. The fellowship will bring innovation in an industrial structural testing, certification and validation methodology.

Objective

The application for a Marie Curie IF covers the personal development of the ER by providing the steps necessary to establish an independent researcher status by the end of the fellowship. The main vehicle for this is a program of novel research that develops the experience already gained in the experimental and computational solid mechanics and materials characterization. The IF proposal builds on the expertise at the University of Southampton, where the ER will be based. The research covers the development of understanding and accrual of knowledge on the behaviour of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials, which are crucial to address current need to produce lighter, more fuel efficient and sustainable structures for transportation. The mechanical behaviour of FRP is strain-rate dependent and a full understanding of this behavior has proved elusive. There are numerous engineering applications where high strain rate impact damage can lead to loss of structural integrity, so obtaining a better understanding this behaviour is essential for efficient design. New full-eld imaging approaches are increasingly used for the detection and analysis of damage in composites. The objective of the research program is to develop and verify a new methodology where integrated thermomechanical full-field high fidelity measures of stress and strain are provided experimentally. The research will for the first time provide quantitative inputs to models to inform designs and predict failure under high strain rate events through and experimentally derived damage index to determine structural performance. The fellowship contains significant technology transfer through industrial collaborations and secondment to industry. The industrial interactions will enable the methodology to be applied at a structural scale and bring about a key element on the pathway to revolutionise traditional approaches to structural testing, certification and validation.

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Net EU contribution
€ 212 933,76
Address
BEACON HOUSE QUEENS ROAD
BS8 1QU Bristol
United Kingdom

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Region
South West (England) Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area Bristol, City of
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 212 933,76