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Industry Funded Consortium Projects

  SOUR
Aims: Qualification of polymers in sour gas
Application: Oilfield
Duration: Start June 2003
Participants: MERL (coordinators), Intertek, plus 4 sponsors (2 operators)
Contact: Dr Barry Thomson

 

  Design Analysis with Fracture Mechanics - DAFM
Aims: Develop and validate finite element based methodology for fatigue life assessment
of structural adhesive joints in automotive body structures
Application: Automotive
Duration: Phase 1 completed, new phase in preparation
Participants: BMW
Contact: Dr Salim Mirza

 

  Elastomer Bonding - ELBO
Aims: Development of novel rubber/rigid substrate bond test methods for characterisation of bond durability and strength. Bonding agents include aqueous and solvent based types and substrates include various metals, thermoplastics and composites
Application: Automotive, mining, energy, consumer goods
Duration: Current phase completed, new phase in preparation
Participants: C F Gomma, Lord Corporation, Hutchinson, Trelleborg, Metso
Contact: Dr Barry Thomson

 

  Life Assesment of Bonded Structures - LABBS
Aims: To develop a combined fatigue and environmental exposure accelerated durability test for adhesive joints in automotive vehicle structures
Application: Automotive
Duration: Phase 2 completed 2002
Participants: Volvo (S), Hydro Aluminium (N), DaimlerChrysler (D), BMW (D), Renault (F), Sika (Ch), Henkel (D), PPG (UK/ES), Dow Automotive (UK)
Contact: Mr Mike Samulak

 

  Bonded Aluminium Automotive Structures - BAAS
Aims: To develop a mixed mode fatigue durability test for bonded aluminium structures and evaluate long-term durability of joints
Application: Automotive
Duration: Completed 2002
Participants: Volvo (S), Hydro Aluminium (N), Alcan International (UK)
Contact: Mr Mike Samulak

 

  Chemical Ageing of Plastics and Performance - CAPP
Aims: To develop a new accelerated ageing methodology for thermoplastics linking hostile environmental effects under strain with chemical analysis of material structure changes
Application: Oil and gas (flexible pipe, umbilicals)
Duration: Phase 2 completed 2001
Participants: TRI (US partners), Exxon (US), Norsk Hydro (N), Conoco/Dupont(US), ELF (F), NASA (US)
Contact: Dr Bob Campion

 

  Fatigue Life of Elastomeric Components - IFL
Aims: To develop and verify new finite element software to calculate the fatigue life of elastomeric components using an integrated fracture mechanics and finite element approach
Application: Mounts and bearings (automotive, aerospace, oil and gas)
Duration: Phase 2 completed 1998
Participants: MSI (US partners), BTR (UK), Barry Controls (US), Lord Corporation (US), Exxon (US), Saga (N), Skega (S), Trelleborg (S), Grace Rollin (F), Goodyear (L), Oil States Industries (US)
Contact: Dr John Harris

 

  High Pressure High Temperature - HPHT
Aims: To characterise dynamic sealing performance of seal stacks for PBR completion systems
Application: Oil and gas (downhole completions)
Duration: Completed 1997, Novel seal stack design patented
Participants: Texaco (UK), Exxon (US), Shell (UK), BP (UK), Saga (N), James Walker (UK)
Contact: Mr Richard Shepherd

 

  Internation Seal Life
Aims: To develop new tests for and knowledge of key parameters such as high pressure gas permeation that affect seal performance
Application: Oil and gas
Duration: Phase 2 completed 1996
Participants: BHRG (UK partners), Exxon (US), Amoco (US), Shell (N), MoD (UK), DoE (UK), BP (UK), Saga (N), Norsk Hydro (N), Baker Oil Tools (US), FMC (US), Conoco/Dupont (US)
Contact: Mr Glyn Morgan
 
 
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