Materials, Manufacture & Structural Design
The development of new materials and structures for seawater environments, long in-service lifetimes and high levels of fatigue loading is a key element in reducing costs and ensuring the survivability of Marine Renewable Energy devices. Within this field, PRIMaRE partners have developed expertise in the following research areas, working with a range of different companies:
- Environmental Lifecycle Analysis and sustainable use of materials (e.g. re-use and recycling)
- Manufacturing processes for complex components (e.g. tidal turbine blades)
- Material testing and certification programmes
- New composite materials specifically aimed at MRE devices
- Non-Destructive Testing and Structural Health Monitoring methods.
- Optimisation of welding and bonding procedures
- Structural design and analysis methods
- Surface coatings and material protection systems to minimise biofouling and extend lifetimes
Materials, Manufacture & Structural Design research in PRIMaRE
- The Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS) at the University of Bristol
- The Materials and Structures Research Group (MAST) at the University of Plymouth
- The Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)
Fluid Dynamics & Hydrodynamics →
↖ Back to: Research Themes