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As a direct result of University of Glasgow research, there have been no deaths in a gyroplane accident in the UK since 2009. Previously, gyroplanes (also known as autogyros) had a questionable safety record. Following fifteen years of comprehensive studies, researchers recommended innovative new design standards to the Civil Aviation Authority. These recommendations led to the introduction of new civil airworthiness requirements in the UK, subsequently adopted by Australia and Canada. The implementation of these revised regulations has forced gyroplane manufacturers to change their designs. Close to 2000 machines have been produced since this design change, revolutionising gyroplane safety worldwide.
This case study describes the international impact of research in the computer modelling and simulation of automotive and aerospace crashes, undertaken by Professor Blundell. The main impacts arising from the research can be summarised as:
Economic impact and impact on passenger safety: i) our research has led to improvements in the MADYMO software suite, the `industry standard' software for safety design and virtual crash testing, which is produced by TNO Automotive Safety Solutions (TASS) and sold to all the main equipment manufacturers in the automotive and aerospace sectors ii) our research has reduced the costs of these equipment manufacturers, who can simulate a crash rather than undertake expensive, physical, crash tests iii) by improving MADYMO, our research has had an impact on passengers who are now travelling in cars and aircraft which safer as a result of MADYNO's enhanced capabilities.
Impact on practitioners and professional services: through working with Blundell and his group, Autoflug GmbH has learned how to incorporate advanced simulation into its product development process. The work has also transferred practices from the automotive sector into aviation. Blundell's research has helped to introduce manufacturers and European regulators to new methods to design safety systems to helicopters, an area previously underdeveloped as an area in aviation occupant crash protection.
Beneficiaries include Autoflug GmbH, TASS and its customers, and European aviation regulators.
The Centre for Numerical Modelling and Process Analysis (CNMPA) was asked in 2004 to apply its expertise in computational reliability engineering, usually used in high technology manufacturing, to help save the Cutty Sark ship and in 2010 to help restore the Medway Queen. This case study details how our computational expertise had impact and in particular:
The research has enabled industrial simulation users to investigate and develop larger scale systems faster and cheaper and thus to explore a wider variety of cost-saving options with more precision, and industrial simulation providers to offer new high-performance simulation (HPS) products and services. As a direct result of this work: Ford has made £150,000 cost savings in consultancy and significant process improvements to engine manufacture globally; Saker Solutions (UK SME) has created the first ever HPS system for production and logistics; Sellafield PLC has used this system to make significant process improvements and savings in the management of nuclear waste reprocessing of around £200,000 per year; and Whole Systems Partnership (a UK SME) used a spin-off from this research to generate a £200,000 per year revenue stream from interoperable healthcare decision support systems. Globally, several other companies are adopting the standardisation efforts and other outcomes of the research as the foundation for future innovation.
Runway stones thrown up by aircraft undercarriage wheels can cause considerable damage to the aircraft structure. A model of runway debris lofting developed at Imperial College has been used for the new A400M military transport aircraft, which Airbus reported was `absolutely needed' during the successful development of a nose wheel debris deflector [5. A]. This deflector dramatically reduces the incidence and severity of the runway debris impacts and the associated maintenance costs and downtime of the new aircraft. Airbus has received 174 orders to date for the A400M. An indication of the cost savings comes from the Hercules C130K, the predecessor of the A400M, which incurred costs of up to £1M for each aircraft on active service in Afghanistan for the repair of runway debris damage. This cost is now eliminated for the Airbus A400M aircraft.
Evaluating the ground-based manoeuvrability of large aircraft is time consuming and costly if explored though industry-developed complete models of ground dynamics. Research by Krauskopf and colleagues from the University of Bristol has shown that applying methods from dynamical systems allow these dynamics to be investigated efficiently and with considerable precision. This approach, and the related purpose-developed software, Dynamical Systems Toolbox, have been adopted by Airbus. It is now fully incorporated in the Airbus Methods and Tools portfolio as a supported tool for the evaluation of proposed works and new designs. The research delivers considerable savings in time and costs for the company. Additionally, this programme of research has delivered research training for Airbus employees and one, who studied for PhD with Krauskopf, now leads the Airbus development and implementation of these mathematical techniques which are being disseminated more widely within the company. There continue to be Bristol EPSRC CASE PhD studentships in collaboration with Airbus co-supervised by Krauskopf (7 in the assessment period).
A number of trimaran ocean-going ships, based on original designs conceived by UCL researchers, are currently in use. RV Triton, the demonstrator trimaran, is presently employed as a patrol vessel to provide Australian Customs and Border Protection with increased capability and lower fuel consumption compared to a monohull. The Independence Class of littoral combat ships currently entering service in the US Navy offers improved military capability and one-third lower fuel consumption, with the ensuing benefit of creating almost 2,000 jobs at the shipbuilder, Austal. Similarly, trimaran ferries with their inherent stability have improved passenger comfort and their reduced fuel consumption has lowered operating costs.
The Computational Mechanics and Reliability Group at the University of Greenwich has been developing computational methods for predicting material behaviour and component reliability since the late 1990s. This case study details economic and environmental impacts and impacts on practitioners. In particular it shows how our expertise has:
Optimisation tools developed in the UoA have significantly advanced the ability to find the best designs for complex systems in cases where these were previously unobtainable. These optimisation tools have been implemented in several companies to shorten design times, reduce costs and reduce CO2 emissions. This has brought about new multi-million pound revenues, long-term contracts, increased employment and contribution to sustainability targets.
Loughborough University's (LU) interdisciplinary model based systems engineering (MBSE) research (2001-2010) has directly enabled life-saving operations by i) Developing synthetic vision systems to improve the safety of emergency services helicopter operations involving low level flight during day, night, all weather and conditions of zero visibility, and ii) Saving lives through a reduction in morbidity and mortality of babies born with congenital heart defects.
The impact translates directly into significant cost savings and safety risk reductions in expensive flight trials costing millions of pounds by BAE Systems [5.1], and in supporting clinical practice/surgical interventions by University Hospital of Rennes [5.2] with a reduction in the morbidity and mortality of babies born with congenital heart defects in Brittany, France.