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Department of Engineering |
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University of Cambridge > Engineering Department > MMD |
Principal Investigators:
Project Details:
The overall weight and compactness of a system (eg. a wing structure) can be substantially
reduced if a material simultaneously provides load bearing and actuation capabilities. A
micro-architectured material with a statically determinate cellular structure has potential to
accomplish these functions simultaneously. The central idea is to replace one or more members of
the statically determinate structure with actuator/s. This allows us to change the shape of the
material without deforming any of the other passive members of the material. Locking the actuator
would convert this into a load bearing material.
The project involves exploring such statically determinate architectures (like the "Kagome"
structure) and mapping out their potential with respect to actuation authority and load bearing
(the design is contingent on stiffness and strength (yielding and buckling) constraints).
Prototypes of these materials will be built and tested in order to experimentally verify the
concepts and hone in on design details (eg. the fatigue life of these materials is strongly
dependent on the joint design of the statically determinate structure.) Finally, the performance
of these materials will be compared with other competing concepts like bimaterial and sandwich
beam morphing structures.
Background Required:
Candidates should have a BSc. and, preferably but not necessarily, a MSc. in Mechanical
Engineering with a background in solid mechanics, engineering design, testing and instrumentation.
The project will be a mix of experimental and theoretical work.
Funding Source:
Partial funding may be available.
Research Groups Involved:
Application Deadline:
Open
For further information and to apply contact:
Professor N A Fleck Cambridge University Engineering Dept Trumpington Street Cambridge, CB2 1PZ United Kingdom |
Phone: +44 (0)1223 332650 Fax: +44 (0)1223 332662 email: div-c@eng.cam.ac.uk |
Initial letters of application and CVs should be sent to Professor Fleck.
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