Advanced Composite Materials and Structures

Investigating various applications of advanced composite materials in the aerospace, civil infrastructure, and marine industries, including: the development of new structural design and analysis methods; experimental characterisation of new materials; and studies of structural performance and manufacturing effects.

Competitive advantage

  • Advanced expertise in the mechanics of composite materials and structures
  • Internationally recognised expertise in composite technology (modelling, design and analysis, material characterisation, sample and prototype manufacture and testing)
  • Advanced computational mechanics (nonlinear numerical, thermal and thermal-mechanical, progressive damage, and buckling analyses)

Impact

  • Higher performance of composite materials and structure

Successful applications

  • Composite sandwich panels with improved structural characteristics
  • Novel materials for photonics, materials for nano-antennas, and new high temperature ceramics
  • Damage detection in polymer composites using vibration measurements
  • Analysis and experimental assessment of adhesively bonded metal-composite joints
  • Additive manufacture and characterisation of LENS 3-D printed titanium - titanium carbide functionally graded composites
  • Influence of a steel strike face on the ballistic response of an UHMWPE hybrid composite
  • Photopolymer resin extrusion 3-D printing

Capabilities and facilities

  • Composites manufacturing laboratory including:
  • Autoclave
  • Hot press (thermoplastic composite manufacture)
  • Heat blanket vacuum bagging
  • Mechanical testing facilities

Our partners

  • Directorate of Aviation (Specialist) Engineering Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA) (DAVENG-DASA)
  • Defence Science and Technology (DST)
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Tags
lensMaterials & Manufacturing