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A significant body of research in ultrasonics at the University of Strathclyde led to the formation of Alba Ultrasound Limited in 2000. This successful UK engineering manufacturing company designs and manufactures high quality wideband ultrasonic array transducers for sonar applications to a worldwide client base, delivering benefits ranging from naval and maritime security through to safer ocean environments and informed exploitation of marine resources. Alba Ultrasound's unique array transducers constitute the sensor front-end in many leading sonar systems, and its innovative products are incorporated in a range of sonar devices used by the military and commercial companies. Through application of Strathclyde research, the company has experienced a significant period of growth during 2008-2013, with a three-fold increase in employees and turnover rising from £750k to £3.8M.
Research carried out by Prof. Ton Peijs and colleagues has led to significant breakthroughs in engineering plastics: PURE® and its licensed Tegris® technology, which are lightweight self- reinforced alternatives to traditional polypropylene (PP) composites such as glass-fibre or natural- fibre-reinforced PP. Environmentally friendly and 100% recyclable, these strong and ultra-light self- reinforced plastics have been successfully used across a number of applications, from suitcases and sports gear to protective armour and automotive panels, with impressive results. When used for car, truck and van components, they have been shown to help lower exhaust emission levels and increase fuel economy.
Lightweight engine components for cars, buses, trucks, vans, industrial engines and machines are now used by automotive manufacturers such as Volkswagen Brazil, Daewoo, Leyland Truck and Buses and Russia Machines. Our research work has been employed in a series of automotive components (engine oil pans of 1.2, 1.6, 1.8, 2.2. 4, 10 litres oil capacity) through various original equipment manufacturers, primarily Eaton and Cummins. Depending on the amount of integration, the materials cut 10-15% of the weight for a basic oil pan configuration and 40% of the integrated oil pan system.
Components built using 3D composite manufacturing methods developed by Cranfield are now flying on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This is the first use of structural composites in commercial aircraft landing gear. The prototypes were assembled and reinforced using robot automated technology developed at Cranfield.
Cranfield's work has extended the use of composite materials into critical landing-gear systems, allowing Messier-Bugatti-Dowty to contribute to the use of 50% composite materials for the airframe of the new 787, delivering weight reduction and better fuel economy.
Research led by two members of the University of Warwick's School of Engineering strongly influenced the planning, drafting and technical content of nearly all of Eurocode 4, one of ten European civil engineering standards. Eurocode 4 covers composite structures made of steel and concrete. Since 2010 this standard has been in force in all countries of the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). The Eurocodes are the only set of design rules for publicly-funded structures on land that satisfy national building regulations throughout the EU and EFTA. Their impact on structural engineering is wide-ranging and growing, the principles and methodology contained within these Eurocode 4 will be the basis of engineering design teaching for Chartered Engineers throughout the EU.
Over a period of 20 years, Professor Mangat and colleagues in the Materials and Engineering Research Institute's (MERI's) Centre for Infrastructure Management have developed significant expertise of concrete materials and structures related to deterioration, repair and maintenance of infrastructure. This body of research has led to professional practice and economic impacts related to repair selection, asset management systems, curing systems and novel repair/building materials. Mangat's expertise in concrete deterioration, its remediation and repair has been developed into commercial software systems for bridge and asset management and the national, professionally accredited training course for bridge inspectors/engineers. In the REF impact period, bridge management software has been adopted by over 30 UK local authorities and training delivered to 392 bridge management professionals. Commercialisation of two of Mangat's research innovations, alkali activated materials (AAMs) and low voltage accelerated curing systems (LOVACS), has achieved direct sales of £0.5m and development of the spin-out Liquid Granite Ltd. Additionally, his corrosion protection systems have been adopted by engineering consultants Mott MacDonald, enabling them to win commissioned corrosion-remediation works of over £1m
Ulster research groups in the fields of composites and metal forming have had a long-term and fruitful engagement with major industries such as Caterpillar (FG Wilson), Rolls Royce and Bombardier. Since 2008 this has resulted in new patented technologies, significant cost/performance improvement in manufacturing, the delivery of on-site industrial training, the formation of spin-out companies and the establishment of the £6m N. Ireland Advanced Composites and Engineering Centre with currently 10 member companies. In particular, Ulster research has been at the heart of patented Bombardier processes which underpinned their strategic entry into the commercial narrow body aircraft market which is worth $43billion per annum globally. The C Series wing programme, which utilises composites, employs 800 people directly in Belfast at full production, with a further 2,000 employed in the supply chain. As of today, Bombardier has global orders and commitments for 388 C Series aircraft, which include firm orders for 177 of the new airliner.
The EKG technology developed by Newcastle has launched an entirely new spectrum of applications for geosynthetic materials and has resulted in changing established practice in civil, construction and mining engineering. The commercialisation of the technology, linking industry to applications of EKG products and processes, has been driven by the spin-out company Electrokinetic Limited. Amey, a leading international infrastructure services provider, incorporated the EKG technology into £1M projects for Network Rail and the Highways Agency in 2011-12. The end results were a 30% cost saving and 40% reduction in CO2 compared to established methods. The new range of EKG products has been recognised by British Standards, leading to the revision of BS 8006 for reinforced soil in 2010.
Dr Richard Brooks and his team at the University of Nottingham have been investigating the high strain rate behaviour of composite materials since 2003. This has led to the development of two products that are being installed in streets in the UK and Ireland by East Midlands SME Frangible Safety Posts Ltd. The direct benefits to the company have been: the installation of 900 products in the UK and Ireland; saving of £17k capital cost and 2 months in terms of time to market per product developed and; raising of £1.8M investment to bring the products to market At least one life has already been saved in the Shetland Islands as a direct consequence of the product behaving in the way it was designed to.
The Cullen Report into the Ladbroke Grove rail crash attributed the catastrophic failures of the rail vehicles to "weld unzipping" (brittle fast fracture). Research carried out at Newcastle University into the fabrication and design of aluminium rail vehicles has informed two new European standards: EN 15085 "Railway applications — Welding of railway vehicles and components" and EN 15227, "Crashworthiness requirements for railway vehicle bodies". These two standards have been developed to ensure that the "weld unzipping" failure cannot re-occur in a rail crash. The two standards were formally adopted throughout the EU in 2008, and are mandatory for all aluminium rail vehicles used across Europe.