Composites Research Unit, University of Bath

The Composites Research Unit (CRU) investigates the mechanical behaviour of composite materials and lightweight structures and exploits this understanding for use in design and manufacture. CRU has an international reputation for modelling compressive failure in laminated material, and close regional links with the South West RDA, the aerospace industry (Airbus, Agusta-Westland and Rolls-Royce) and with the Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS) at the University of Bristol. 

CRU has expertise in the following areas:

• Manufacture and test
• Topological optimisation and stiffened panel sizing
• Damage tolerance
• Optimised laminates and fibre placement
• Buckling, post-buckling and kink banding
• Aeroelastic tailoring
• Morphology and detection of impact damage and manufacturing defects
• Fatigue and compressive strength of damaged composites
• Natural materials and biomimetics
• Smart materials
• Shape control and morphing
• NDE and structural health monitoring
• Impact and crashworthiness
• Modelling and simulation of non-linear transient phenomena

For more information visit the CRU website.