UK Public Sector Funded
Projects
MERL conducts a range of UK government funded projects either
as the project lead or as a partner or subcontractor. Typically projects
are funded via the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), The Department for
Innovation, Universities and Skills' Grant for Research and Development,
and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). For further information
on funding opportunites contact Dr
Rod Martin.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
- CQCC: Continuous Quality Control for Composites for the Next Generation
Flexible Pipe
- NDT2DT: New ICT Approach to Automate Non-destructive Testing and Inspections
with Evaluation of Damage Tolerance in
Composite Structures
- i-composites: Inspirational
Composite Technologies
- BMAX: Tidal
Turbine Blades - Maximising Reliability and Performance and Reducing
Cost
- DURASTOR: Low
Cost, Durable Thermoplastic Hydrogen Storage Tanks
COMPLETED PROJECTS:
- NEW-MMEETT: New
Materials and Methods for Energy Efficient Tidal Turbines
- YORKSHIRE FORWARD: Critical
interfaces for new generation of offshore bonded flexible hoses
- THERMOPIPE: Thermoplastic
composite pipelines versus corrosion resistant alloys.
- PEOR: Polymers
for Use in Enhanced Oil Recovery
- MSI-SPAR: Maintaining Structural
Integrity of yacht and wind turbine Spars
- FETLEC: Fuel Emission Testing for Low Emmision Components
- COMPOSITE FRICTION MATERIALS
- INCREASED DEMAND FOR RECYCLED PLASTICS
- TOOLKIT FOR ADHESIVE BONDING
- VIRCON: Virtual consultant for composite materials
- EPSRC: Thermoplastics in high pressure gas environments
- CURIGHT: Computer controlled curing of rubber.
- MMS DEFECTS: Effect of defects in composites
- FARADAY PLASTICS: Polymer networking.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
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CQCC:Continuous
Quality Control for Composites for the Next Generation Flexible Pipe |
| Aims: |
The project aims to design and
develop an NDT phased array inspection module to detect defects
resulting from manufacturing anomalies as well as damage from handling
in fibre-reinforced plastic pipes used in the oil and gas industry.
The latter half of the project will focus on the design and development
of a module to repair the damaged composite armour used in the
pipe’s manufacture. Both modules should be suitable for continuous
quality control during the manufacturing process of fibre-reinforced
plastic pipes when incorporated into the production line.
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| Application: |
Fibre-reinforced plastic pipe manufacture for
the oil and gas industry |
| Duration: |
2011 – 2013 |
| Participants: |
MERL Ltd. (Lead Partner), Wavelength
NDT Ltd., Wellstream International Ltd. |
| Contact: |
Dr
Morris Roseman |
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NDT2DT: New
ICT Approach to Automate Non-destructive Testing and Inspections
with Evaluation of Damage Tolerance in Composite Structures |
| Aims: |
The NDT2DT project aims to develop
software tools to bring together two state of the art technologies
for composite material structures, the Non-Destructive Testing
(NDT) and the evaluation of the Damage Tolerance (DT). These software
tools will enable the transfer of NDT information obtained on composite
material structures directly into Finite Element (FE) procedures
for subsequent analysis, with minimal user input. By joining these
two technologies together, the non-destructive testing (NDT) inspection
method will rapidly give a qualitative (go/repair/no-go) decision
to the operator of the composite material asset being inspected.
The proposed techniques can apply to quality control (manufacturing),
maintenance or in-service inspections. Currently, the inspection
methods used may detect damage but any assessment relies on the
engineering judgement of the asset owner.
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| Application: |
Composites |
| Duration: |
2011-2013 |
| Participants: |
MERL (Lead Partner), Spirit Aerosystems,
Samtech UK, Wavelength NDT |
| Contact: |
Dr
Stefanos Giannis |
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i-composites:
Inspirational Composite Technologies |
| Aims: |
This programme aims to target
the two critical requirements needed to transform the UK composites
industry and
so develop a wide range of new market opportunities:
1. Cost reduction technologies.
2. Enhancing the capabilities and performance of composite structures.
This programme aims to provide the basis for reducing energy consumption
and wastage in manufacturing whilst simultaneously improving the
functionality of composite materials.
MERL is participating with project in close collaboration with
Rolls-Royce aiming to address the effect of manufacturing defects
on composite structural parts
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| Application: |
Inspirational Composite Technologies |
| Duration: |
2010– 2011 |
| Participants: |
Led by GKN Aerospace and with participation
of 22 companies including MERL |
| Contact: |
Dr
Stefanos Giannis
i-composites website |
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BMAX: Tidal
Turbine Blades - Maximising Reliability and Performance and Reducing
Cost |
| Aims: |
This project addresses the requirement
to reduce cost and improve the performance of existing tidal stream
devices. Building on previous work under TSB and Carbon Trust funded
programmes this project aims to develop further an innovative root
blade attachment design through the development of more suitable
composite and adhesive materials, design methodologies and modelling
techniques. The project will research and develop new adhesive
and composite materials able to perform in hostile environments
throughout the service life of a tidal turbine blade. Using state
of the art modelling blade structures will be optimized for performance
and reliability. |
| Application: |
Tidal
turbine blades |
| Duration: |
2010– 2013 |
| Participants: |
MERL, Aviation Enterprises
Ltd. (Lead Partner), Advanced Composites Group, University of Bristol |
| Contact: |
Dr
Stefanos Giannis |
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DURASTOR:
Low Cost, Durable Thermoplastic Hydrogen Storage Tanks |
| Aims: |
The objective of the project
is to develop a novel, low cost, high pressure (700bar) gaseous
hydrogen storage vessel
for the automotive market that will offer improved fatigue performance
at a lower cost than current solutions with the added benefit
of being fully recyclable at the end of life. This step change
in cost
and performance will be achieved by the development of monolithic
thermoplastic composite pressure tanks. The project will research
and develop new formulations of low cost engineering thermoplastic
polymers and co-polymers that have excellent hydrogen barrier
properties, are low density (resulting in a lighter weight structure)
and are
inherently recyclable so the product can be broken down and re-used
at the end of its service. |
| Application: |
Hydrogen storage in automotive applications |
| Duration: |
2009 – 2012 |
| Participants: |
MERL, EPL Composite Solutions (Lead Partner), Crompton
Technology Group Ltd, Ticona UK Ltd, Delta Motorsport Ltd, Crompton
Mouldings Limited, Oxford Brookes University |
| Contact: |
Peter Hansen |
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COMPLETED PROJECTS:
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New
Materials and Methods for Energy Efficient Tidal Turbines (NEW-MMEETT) |
| Aims: |
NEW-MMEETT focuses on the investigation
and improvement of the fatigue properties of composite materials
used in tidal turbine energy generation through the design of a
matrix resin system specifically for this particular application.
The improvement of the fatigue resistance of thick composite components
would offer the potential to extend the life and increase the usage
of such components for long-term use in hostile environments. It
would also allow for improved efficiency in manufacture, reduction
in component mass simplifying installation and maintenance of large
generators and reducing inspection requirements. |
| Application: |
Renewable Energy |
| Duration: |
2008 - 2010 |
| Participants: |
MERL, Advanced Composites Group (Lead Partner), Aviation
Enterprises Ltd., University of Bristol |
| Contact: |
Dr
Stefanos Giannis |
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YORKSHIRE FORWARD: Critical
interfaces for new generation of offshore bonded flexible hoses |
| Aims: |
This project aims to develop technology that will allow novel bonded
flexible hoses to be designed with high axial strength. This potential
new market for bonded flexible hoses requires a new generation of designs
with enhanced capability and long-term performance especially in the
UK continental shelf. In order to achieve these new designs, a greater
understanding is required of the interfacial failure modes in the composite
layers of hoses alongside the ability to predict hose performance using
FEA. |
| Application: |
Oil & Gas: Bonded hoses for offshore applications |
| Duration: |
2009 – 2011 |
| Participants: |
MERL,
Dunlop Oil and Marine Ltd |
| Contact: |
Dr Salim Mirza |
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THERMOPIPE |
| Aims: |
To research and develop a cost effective thermoplastic composite
pipeline with increased durability and reduced maintenance over expensive
corrosion resistant alloy |
| Application: |
Oil & Gas |
| Duration: |
3½ years |
| Participants: |
EPL, MERL,
Acergy, Chevron, Hess, PERA, Ticona |
| Contact: |
Dr Morris Roseman |
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PEOR: Polymers for Use in Enhanced Oil Recovery |
| Aims: |
To identify, qualify and develop new polymeric materials used during
EOR operations to ensure their longevity for safe operations during
these potentially hostile applications. |
| Application: |
Oil & Gas |
| Duration: |
2 years |
| Participants: |
MERL, Clwyd
Compounders Ltd, Precision Polymer Engineering Ltd and Baker Oil
Tools |
| Contact: |
Dr Morris Roseman |
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MSI-SPAR: Maintaining Structural
Integrity of yacht and wind turbine Spars |
| Aims: |
To investigate the damage
tolerance of composite large yacht spars, with the aim to deliver
improvements in structural durability, design and quality control |
| Application: |
Marine |
| Duration: |
2005-2007 |
| Participants: |
MERL (lead partner), UK
Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Energy Management Consultants Ltd,
Formula Yacht Spars Ltd, High Modulus Europe Ltd, Insensys Ltd, NDT
Solutions Ltd, SP Technologies Ltd and Testsure Technology Ltd. |
| Contact: |
Peter Hansen
MSI-SPAR website |
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FETLEC - DTI Technology Programme |
| Aims: |
To develop new and improved test methods and measurement techniques
to enable fuel system components with reduced rates of emission to
be more rapidly designed and validated. |
| Application: |
Automotive (fuel containment) |
| Duration: |
2004-2005 |
| Participants: |
MERL (lead partner), Roulundes-Codan, Visteon, GPS |
| Contact: |
Dr Nickie Smith |
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Composite Friction Materials - DTI Technology
Programme |
| Aims: |
To develop the methodology and associated test methods to identify
the factors that influence the tribological properties of the composite
friction materials in high friction applications |
| Application: |
Transport (aircraft, trains, commercial vehicles etc.) |
| Duration: |
March 2002 - February 2005 |
| Participants: |
MERL (project managers), Leeds University, MIRA |
| Contact: |
Dr Rod Martin |
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Increased Demand for Recycled Plastics - WRAP
funded |
| Aims: |
To develop a life prediction methodology and more
durable Biobeads™,
a recycled plastic media used in residential and commercial filtration.
The results will increase the tonnage of recycled plastic by increasing
the markets for Biobeads™ |
| Application: |
Utilities |
| Duration: |
March 1st 2002 - February 28th 2003 |
| Participants: |
MERL, Brightwater Engineering Ltd. |
| Contact: |
Dr Nickie Smith |
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Toolkit for Adhesive Bonding - DTI Materials
Metrology Programme |
| Aims: |
To develop a web site for dissemination of information on adhesive
bonding |
| Application: |
General engineering |
| Duration: |
April 2002 - March 2004 |
| Participants: |
TWI (lead partner), MERL, NPL, AEA |
| Contact: |
Dr John Harris
Adhesives Toolkit website |
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VIRCON - DTI Materials Metrology Dissemination Programme |
| Aims: |
An introduction to composite materials
using a web based ‘virtual
consultant’ |
| Application: |
All engineering fields |
| Duration: |
April 2002-May 2004 |
| Participants: |
NPL (lead partner), MERL, Rapra Technology, AEA, Trend 2000, Qinetiq |
| Contact: |
Dr Rod Martin
VIRCON website |
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EPSRC |
| Aims: |
Assess physical ageing of thermoplastics in HP gas environments |
| Application: |
Oil and gas hoses, seals |
| Duration: |
2002 - 2004 |
| Participants: |
MERL, University of Strathclyde, WMG |
| Contact: |
Dr Barry Thomson |
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CURIGHT |
| Aims: |
To demonstrate feasibility of computer controlled curing to improve
the control and precision of curing rubber components, saving energy
and reducing scrap |
| Application: |
Rubber components |
| Duration: |
2003 |
| Participants: |
MERL,Silvertown UK Ltd. |
| Contact: |
Dr Michael Lewan |
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MMS DEFECTS |
| Aims: |
To assess the effects of defects on composite materials |
| Application: |
General composite engineering |
| Duration: |
2002 - 2005 |
| Participants: |
AEA (lead partners), MERL, NPL |
| Contact: |
Dr Rod Martin |
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FARADAY PLASTICS |
| Aims: |
To improve the link between academia and industry for plastics research |
| Application: |
General plastics engineering |
| Duration: |
2002-2005 |
| Contact: |
Dr Nickie Smith |
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