Materials, Mechanics and Structures

NCG is a multi-disciplinary research institute that brings together expertise in mathematics, civil and mining engineering to address issues across the full range of geotechnical engineering areas, including:

• centrifuge modelling
• constitutive and numerical modelling
• laboratory and in-situ testing
• soil and rock structure interaction
• transportation geotechnics
• underground excavation and tunnelling

Researchers at the Centre are amongst the leaders in their respective fields and work in conjunction with industry partners to explore both fundamental and applied issues. The Centre is home to two major research facilities – the Soil Mechanics and Rock Mechanics laboratories – both of which are equipped with the best in modern experimental geomechanics apparatus.

The Centre has an excellent reputation for quality research that cuts across disciplines, and has expertise in a number of areas including computational engineering, concrete structures, construction management, structural mechanics, and wind mechanics. Academics from the Centre work alongside leading industry partners to address applied and fundamental issues.

Research activities are supported by the latest in computing and laboratory facilities. The Structures laboratory offers a range of resources for large-scale structural testing, static and dynamic testing, as well as facilities for producing a range of traditional and specialised concretes.

Housed in the recently refurbished Wolfson Centre for Materials Research, the Group has acquired an international reputation for research excellence at the forefront of materials processing and characterisation, spanning:

• hydrogen storage materials
• laser processing
• nanomaterials engineering
• nanotubes
• novel photonic glasses
• surface engineering

The Group has extensive resources to support its work, and researchers have access to materials-orientated equipment and expertise across the University.

The Group undertakes high quality research in the areas of biomaterials and biomechanics. It has an impressive and diverse research portfolio reflecting a high-quality multidisciplinary expertise and links with key industry and academic partners around the world.

Current research areas include:

• cardiac medical devices
• cell surface interactions and biocompatibility
• integrated systems biology
• spinal mechanics
• tissue engineering

Researchers have access to refurbished research space including new laboratories and offices as well as a very impressive range of state-of-the-art research equipment.

A leading international organisation in this area, the Group conducts applied and fundamental research on manufacture and performance of advanced fibre reinforced composites in a number of sectors spanning automotive, aerospace, wind energy and medicine.

The Group has partners in industry and linked academic research groups, conducting cutting-edge experimental and modelling studies in the development of novel manufacturing processes, materials characterisation, end-of-life and recycling, mechanical performance, and process simulation.

The Group undertakes research in diverse areas to resolve fundamental engineering problems. Activities span development and application of advanced boundary element and non-linear finite element, including damage mechanics, software, and stress analysis of composites; fatigue, creep and creep-fatigue of aeroengine and powerplant materials and structures; contact mechanics; crack propagation; micro-electro-mechanical sensors and actuators; modelling, balancing and control of machines, stochastic mechanics in structural dynamics and energy losses in heavy vehicle tyres and suspension; and experimental and computational (FE and CFD) investigations of aeroengine shafts, support structures, bearings and oil systems.