Structures Theme

Annual BCI Conference 2021

Giuliano Allegri

Structures Theme Lead

The Structures Academic Team2

Our research into the

mechanical performance of

composites encompasses novel

numerical methods, novel

structural configurations,

advanced analysis techniques,

multi-functionality and data rich

experimentation.

Stephen HallettProfessor in Composite Structures

Paul WeaverProfessor of Lightweight Structures

Mark SchenkSenior Lecturer in Aerospace

Engineering

Alberto PirreraAssociate Professor of Nonlinear

Structural Mechanics

Luiz KawashitaSenior Lecturer in Composite

Mechanics

Ben WoodsSenior Lecturer in

Aerospace Structures

Michael WisnomProfessor of Aerospace Structures

Giuliano AllegriAssociate Professor of Composite Structures

Terence MacquartLecturer in Aeroelasticity

Janice BartonProfessor in Experimental Mechanics

Eleni ToumpanakiLecturer in Civil Engineering

Rainer GrohLecturer in Digital Engineering of

Structures

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual ConferenceStructures Theme

New Academic – Rainer Groh

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual Conference

Background• PhD in Advances Composites (Aerospace Engineering)

- University of Bristol

• Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow

- University of Bristol

• Lecturer in Digital Engineering of Structures at Bristol

since September 2021

Research Interests

• Computational instability analysis

• Lightweight design & optimisation

• Testing control algorithms

• Biomechanics and biomimetics

Structures Theme

EPSRC New Investigator Award

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual Conference

• Awarded to Bassam Elsaied

• “Hybrid Statistical / Deterministic Multi-scale Modelling of 3D Woven Structures”

• 2-year research project in partnership with Rolls-Royce plc,

BAE Systems and NCC (£330k)

• Material “cluster” detection in woven composites using unsupervised

machine learning

• Concurrent design of 3D fibre network and macro-scale layout

Structures Theme

Other Awards/Highlights• Irene Jimenez Fortunato won the ”Best Poster” competition at the

at 10th International Conference on Composites Testing and Model

Identification (COMPTEST): “Improved Understanding of the

Thermoelastic Response for Orthotropic Composite Laminates”

• Janice Barton - Keynote presentation at the16th International

Conference on Engineering Structural Integrity Assessment: “Full-

field Imaging Techniques for Integrity Assessment of Composite

Structures”

• Ben Woods – Awarded a contract on the design of morphing

wings for hydrogen-powered aircraft as part of the UK “Fly Zero”

initiative

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual ConferenceStructures Theme

• Professor Michael Wisnom of BCI, together with

Professor Yentl Swolfs (KU Leuven) and Professor

Federico Paris (University of Seville), organised an

online workshop on “Measuring UD compression

strength and the factors affecting it” (October 5th,

2021)

• This event was the third in a series of online

workshops focusing on composites strength, following

on from previous events on defining strength in

October 2020 and measuring tensile strength in March

2021.

• Over 100 people joined on-line

• You can watch the workshop recording on the BCI

YouTube Channel

On-line Workshop Series - Strength of Composites

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual ConferenceStructures Theme

Wind Blade Research Hub

• University of Bristol/ORE Catapult partnership

• UoB leads - Paul Weaver and Alberto Pirrera

• ~20 UoB researchers and academics

• Projects cover the length scales from atoms to blades

and disciplines from materials to manufacturing and

aeroelastic design

• Latest projects focus on segmented blades and

unified structural models

• Wide network comprising (e.g.) Vestas, NCC, Imperial

College

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual ConferenceStructures Theme

Blade Hub Technical Highlight

• Collaborations with

• Imperial College on novel blade topologies for

additive manufacturing

• Limerick and Strathclyde on health monitoring

and recycling methods for wind turbine blades and

their application to wind farm level

• NCC and ORE Catapult to

• Identify the potential for advanced composites

for the next generation floating turbines

• Develop blade concepts and baselines for

20MW wind turbines

Composite tailoredstructural parameterisation

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual ConferenceStructures Theme

Network Seminar

• BCI and Ore Catapult jointly organised an online

network seminar on “Sustainable Composite

Materials for Wind Turbine Blades” (September 6th,

2021)

• 2 technical sessions with 10 presentations in total (BCI,

University of Cambridge, University of Limerick)

• Industrial perspective by Vestas, Siemens Gamesa,

EDF and EIRE Composites

• You can watch the seminar recording on the BCI

Youtube Channel

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual ConferenceStructures Theme

Composites UTC

• Large and very active programme• 8 BCI Academics, 10 RAs, 12 PhD Students,

3 EngD Research Engineers

• Current key research areas• Effect of environmental ageing on fracture and fatigue

of polymer-based composites

• Novel through-thickness reinforcement architectures

for delamination suppression

• Multi-scale failure analysis of polymer and ceramic

matrix composites

• Structural design of storage solutions for hydrogen

storage (but gaseous and liquid)

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual ConferenceStructures Theme

• Novel CZM formulation for fatigue delamination growth

• Artificial neural networks combined with “twin cohesive

elements” approach for non-proportional loading

• Description of delamination across full mode-mixity and

stress ratio ranges

• Approach capable of dealing with the analysis of

complex structural cases

UTC Technical Highlight

Structures ThemeNovember 9th, 2021

BCI Annual Conference

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2021.111311

Summary and Outlook

• 35 Staff Researchers and ~30 PhD students

• World-class research and activities, ranging from blue-

sky to engineering applications

• See poster sessions for more technical details

• Delivering innovative solutions and technology for our

industrial partners

• Opportunities for new projects and technology transfer

November 9th, 2021

BCI Annual ConferenceStructures Theme