Research
The Northwest Composites Centre (NWCC) carries out a range of research activities for the evaluation and improvement of advanced composites.
Activity within the NWCC centres around the manufacture, design and testing of advanced composites. The research undertaken is having a marked impact on the development of composite processing routes for use in component and demonstrator build, and the centre plays a key role in composite design innovation.
The six key research areas and activities within the NWCC are:
- composites design, modelling and mechanical testing;
- composite materials for wind generation, delivered through the EPSRC Supergen Wind Energy Hub;
- 3D fibre architectures: 3D weaving, braiding, Robotic forming of multi-functional multi-material preforms, delivered through the Robotics and Textile Composites Group and the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Composites;
- NDT and structural health monitoring;
- novel nano-additives to resin systems;
- development of novel test methods and materials database, delivered through the Composites Innovation Cluster and funded through BIS AMSCI.
PhD students and postdoctoral RAs
The Centre hosts over 35 PhD students and postdoctoral research assistants (RAs), with funding provided by the EPSRC, TSB, BIS, EU, MoD, DSTL and the US Air Force. The centre supports the research activities of many academics from various research themes and institutes, including: