20 Apr 07

Aeroplane wings that change shape in mid-air may sound like science fiction but radical new aircraft designs like this could become a reality thanks to a recently launched strategic partnership between the University of Oxford, the University of Bristol and Smiths Aerospace. The Smiths Aerospace University Technology Strategic Partnership (UTSP) in smart composites and metallics - SMARTCOMP - will deliver revolutionary research in composites technology and create new aerospace technologies for the future.

SMARTCOMP will have two broad themes of research: the first will focus on approaches such as using 3D composites to make aircraft parts lighter, more fuel-efficient and reduce manufacturing costs, in research led by Bristol in collaboration with Oxford; the second theme will concentrate on self-actuating composites and will be a joint activity by Bristol and Oxford, looking to create composite components that can actively change their geometry or shape in response to force applied internally or externally.

Professor Patrick Grant, Cookson Professor of Materials, who is leading the work at Oxford, said: 'The joint Smiths-Bristol-Oxford team has already identified a number of specific applications for smart composites, and the strategic collaboration provides a long-term platform essential for continuing such an ambitious project.'

'Investment in research and technology for future aerospace programmes is vital to our industry,' said Dr John Ferrie, President of Smiths Aerospace. 'At Smiths we have made R&D a priority by investing more than 10 percent of our annual sales. Strategic partnerships on projects like SMARTCOMP fulfil our objective to cultivate new, advanced technologies, while giving us the added benefit of developing the future leaders in our industry,' he added.

A dedicated centre for work on SMARTCOMP has been established at the University of Bristol's new Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS) where staff, students and visitors from Oxford and Smiths will conduct their research.