Advanced Materials and Structures AIN

Advanced Materials and Structures AIN

The aerospace industry is recognised as one of the leading sectors in technology development, acting as a stimulus for growth and generating a substantial balance of trade surplus. This makes aerospace the UK's most competitive manufacturing sector. Investment in R&T and R&D gives civilian aerospace sustainability and military aviation battle winning advantage.

As part of the National Aerospace Technology Strategy (NATS), the Aerospace Innovation Growth Team (AeIGT) initiative is to realise the vision that "by 2022 the UK will offer a global aerospace industry in the worlds most innovative and productive location, leading to a sustainable growth for all its stakeholders". Instrumental to this is the formation of six Aerospace Technology Validation Programmes (ATVP) and thirteen Aerospace Innovation Networks (AIN) believed to have the most direct impact on these objectives.

The principal objective of this element of NATS is to provide an industry-led coordinated network in advanced aerospace materials and structures to maximise the future potential of the aerospace industry, supported and cofunded by industry and national, regional and European Government bodies.

The network will provide a coordinated approach to the development of baseline research and training that will provide the core technologies and skills for the products of the future. In order to provide a boundary to the operations of the AMAST Network it is proposed to limit its 'sphere' to those materials types and technologies that form or influence the structure of the aircraft or key systems within it, notably metallics, composites and the emerging field of SMART materials and structures.

The metallics theme will investigate all aspects of lightweight and other high performance metals and alloys for use in structures and systems, while the composite research theme will address both polymeric and metallic based materials.

The scope will include the development of resin systems that will ultimately be incorporated into polymeric composites, novel reinforcements and adhesives for use in metallic and composite structures including repairs. In common between these the themes the network will investigate all aspects of design, analysis, manufacturing, assembly and test of components utilising advanced materials required to operate in the harsh environments of the aerospace business.

High temperature materials, particularly ceramic based materials have not to date been considered as part of this AIN.

The AeIGT recommended that this should be addressed by another specific AIN covering High Temperature Materials and Structures. Close liaison between the AIN will be maintained to ensure cross learning but given the perceived level of interaction there is the option to merge the activities of these two groups in the future if appropriate. In addition, AMAST will focus on the utilisation and incorporation of SMART devices into structural components; the work on development of sensors and devices for SMART structures and the associated field of nanotechnology will be incorporated into the activity of the proposed Sensors AIN.

The activities within the network will be integrated with research work taking place within the other AeIGT key Research Themes, in particular those involving Aerodynamics & Propulsion Systems, Environmental Technologies, Electric Drives & Distribution, HTM, Sensors and Health Management & Prognostics to assess developments in these fields that will impact on the requirements for new materials and structures.

AMAST will provide applied research outputs to feed into the developing UK Aerospace Technology Validation Programmes such as 'Integrated Wing' and major European projects that evolve out the Framework Programmes.

It is anticipated that industry will represent the largest single source of funding to provide the essential research and capability development specified by the network. It is expected this will be at least 50% of a £100 million initial 5-year requirement, the remaining elements being sought from a combination of all relevant UK public sector agencies such as DTI, EPSRC, MoD, RDAs and the European Commission.

Benefits
Status

Benefits

The technologies generated will provide a major contribution to the achievement of several generic goals:

Reduction of product first cost by minimising development and production costs;
Reduction in fuel burn by engine efficiency, low drag and low weight;
Reduction in maintenance costs of aircraft structure and systems;
Reduction in environmental impact of manufacture and operations (processes, noise, emissions).

These objectives are consistent with the European Research Agenda, which seeks to deliver the targets established by the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE), namely:

Reduce by 50% the fuel burn per passenger kilometre;
Reduce by 50% the CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre;
Reduce by 80% the NOx emissions per passenger kilometre;
Reduce by 50% the perceived noise levels;
Reduce by 50% the time to market for new products.

Achievement of these objectives will place UK industry in a strong position to secure significant high value-added activities over the years 2010 - 2025 in the provision of air transport products. The associated targets are very ambitious and challenging and are likely to require a series of step-changes in c apability, perhaps requiring entirely new aircraft concepts. Inevitably such challenges will demand the application of increasingly complex technologies, relating particularly to materials and structures and these will need to be developed and validated in realistic product applications.

Status

The programme has been one of the most active AINs being a major sponsor of proposals into the DTI Technology Programme and providing links to other Knowledge Transfer Networks established under the auspices of the DTI Programme. Up to the April 2005 Call 13 proposals have been supported by the Programme and are now active or are in negotiation. The core of the network is provided by leading aerospace companies that provide links to the wider community via the National Composites Network, MANTEC and SMART.mat.