Tom Turner

Contact

• workRoom C22 Advanced Manufacturing Building
  Jubilee Campus
  Wollaton Road
  Nottingham
  NG8 1BB
  UK
• work0115 748 6164
• fax0115 846 6771
• thomas.turner@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

Tom has been a part of the Composites Research Group since 2000 when he graduated with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering. He gained his PhD in Crashworthiness of composite materials in 2005 and remained in the group as a researcher. He became a member of the academic staff in 2015 to teach on the Aerospace undergraduate programme.

He is active in both the Polymer Composites group and the Centre for Aerospace Manufacturing. He has a wide range of interests in composites manufacturing & assembly, process automation, composites design and analysis, discontinuous fibre composites process design & modelling and carbon fibre recycling & fibre reuse, he has approaching 60 papers in these areas. He recent years he has been a key member of the composites recycling team where he has been active in the development of a large fluidised bed recycling plant and several lab scale processes for fibre alignment and recycled fibre quality control. He has also been active in the development of business cases for several novel processes and has worked closely with a number of industrial partners in the aerospace and automotive sectors. He has supervised 17 PhD students to completion and is the winner of the 2006 Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining Robotham Medal. Chartered Engineer and Member of the IMechE

Teaching Summary

I lead the first and second year Aerospace Programme modules in Engineering Design - MMME1049 Aerospace Design & Materials and MMME2033 Aerospace Design & Manufacture. I also run the… read more

Research Summary

I am deputy Director of the EPSRC-sponsored CIMCOMP Future Manufacturing Hub in Composites, a £10.3m investment into composites manufacturing in the UK. As part of this work i lead the Strategic… read more

Selected Publications

• HARPER, L.T and T.A. TURNER, N.A. WARRIOR, J.S. DAHL, AND C.D. RUDD, 2006. Characterisation of random short-fibre composites from automated spray-processes:: Analysis of microstructural parameters Composites Part A. (In Press.)
• HARPER, L.T., TURNER, T.A., MARTIN, J.R.B. and WARRIOR, N.A., 2010. Fiber alignment in directed carbon fiber preforms: mechanical property prediction Journal of Composite Materials. 44(8), 931-951
• HARPER, L.T., TURNER, T.A., MARTIN, J.R.B. and WARRIOR, N.A., 2009. Fiber alignment in directed carbon fiber preforms - a feasibility study Journal of Composite Materials. 43(1), 57-74
• TURNER, T.A., WARRIOR, N.A. and PICKERING, S.J., 2010. Development of high value moulding compounds from recycled carbon fibres Plastics Rubber and Composites. 39(3-5), 151-156

• View all publications

I lead the first and second year Aerospace Programme modules in Engineering Design - MMME1049 Aerospace Design & Materials and MMME2033 Aerospace Design & Manufacture. I also run the integrating Project component of MMME1050 which is a project to develop a small powered aircraft. As part of my role i am responsible for our 3D CAE software package which is used throughout the course.

Current Research

I am deputy Director of the EPSRC-sponsored CIMCOMP Future Manufacturing Hub in Composites, a £10.3m investment into composites manufacturing in the UK. As part of this work i lead the Strategic Development Committee to develop new funding opportunities and i run a Hub core project on Automated Dry Fibre Placement.

I am also active in the area of composites recycling and the reuse of carbon fibres from recycling processes. i develop processes and methods to transform recycled fibres into materials that can be reintroduced into the composites supply chain with greater mechanical properties than those available from current materials.

I have a general interest in composites manufacturing automation - using the increasing power of computational tools to improve the rate and quality of composites, to increase the level of automation by replacing hand labour and understanding the capabilities of manufacturing equipment and how to rationalise that with the requirements of composite components.

Past Research

My PhD is in crashworthiness of composite structures - how to increase energy absorption from composite laminates and understand the effect of material and manufacturing choices on the performance of the component.

Future Research

I welcome enquiries from potential PhD candidates from Home, EU and International countries who are interested in the following research areas: Aerospace design for manufacture, Automation of composite manufacturing processes & Carbon fibre composite materials recycling and reuse.

• EVANS, A. D., TURNER, T. A., HARPER, L. T. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2022. Design guidelines for hybrid continuous/discontinuous carbon fibre laminates: Journal of Composite Materials Journal of Composite Materials.
• LIU, Z., TURNER, T. A., WONG, K. H. and PICKERING, S. J., 2021. Development of high performance recycled carbon fibre composites with an advanced hydrodynamic fibre alignment process: Journal of Cleaner Production Journal of Cleaner Production. 278,
• TRAIFOROS, N., TURNER, T., RUNEBERG, P., FERNASS, D., CHRONOPOULOS, D., GLOCK, F., SCHUHMACHER, G. and HARTUNG, D., 2021. A simulation framework for predicting process-induced distortions for precise manufacturing of aerospace thermoset composites: Composite Structures Composite Structures. 275,
• LIU, Z., TURNER, T. A., WONG, K. H. and PICKERING, S. J., 2019. Effect of fiber suspension jet stability on alignment quality of discontinuous carbon fiber tapes: International Journal of Multiphase Flow International Journal of Multiphase Flow. 120,
• EVANS, A. D., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2019. Damage tolerance of high performance continuous/discontinuous hybrid carbon fibre composites
• CHOWDHURY, M. T. and TURNER, T., 2019. A novel methodology to quantify shape complexity of composite aerospace parts
• EVANS, A. D., TURNER, T. A. and ENDRUWEIT, A., 2019. Development of automated dry fibre placement for high rate deposition
• EVANS, A. D., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2017. Joint design of continuous/discontinuous hybrid carbon fibre composites
• JIANG, G., TURNER, T. A. and PICKERING, S. J., 2016. The shear viscosity of carbon fibre suspension and its application for fibre length measurement: Rheologica Acta Rheologica Acta. 55(1), 1-10
• EVANS, A. D., QIAN, C. C., TURNER, T. A., HARPER, L. T. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2016. Flow characteristics of carbon fibre moulding compounds: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 90, 1-12
• PICKERING, S. J., LIU, Z., TURNER, T. A. and WONG, K. H., 2016. Applications for carbon fibre recovered from composites
• QIAN, C. C., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2015. Structural optimisation of random discontinuous fibre composites: Part 2 – Case study: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 68, 417-424
• QIAN, C. C., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2015. Structural optimisation of random discontinuous fibre composites: Part 1 - Methodology: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 68, 406-416
• QIAN, C. C., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2015. Structural optimisation of random discontinuous fibre composites: Part 2 - Case study: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 68, 417-424
• PICKERING, S. J., TURNER, T. A., MENG, F., MORRIS, C. N., HEIL, J. P., WONG, K. H. and MELENDI, S., 2015. Developments in the fluidised bed process for fibre recovery from thermoset composites
• PICKERING, S. J. and TURNER, T. A., 2014. Research and development in support of carbon fibre recycling
• HARPER, L.T., QIAN, C., TURNER, T.A., LI, S. and WARRIOR, N.A., 2012. Representative volume elements for discontinuous carbon fibre composites - Part 1: boundary conditions Composites Science and Technology. 72(2), 225-234
• QIAN, C., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A., LI, S. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2012. Establishing size effects in discontinuous fibre composites using 2D finite element analysis COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE. 64, 106-111
• NORTON, T. W., PUJOL, S., JOHNSON, M. S. and TURNER, T. A., 2011. Cold-Cure Adhesives for Use in Structural Aluminium Bonding: Journal of Adhesion Journal of Adhesion. 87(7-8), 858-883
• TURNER, T.A., PICKERING, S.J. and WARRIOR, N.A., 2011. Development of recycled carbon fibre moulding compounds: preparation of waste composites Composites Part B: Engineering. 42(3), 517-525
• QIAN, C., HARPER, L.T., TURNER, T.A. and WARRIOR, N.A., 2011. Notched behaviour of discontinuous carbon fibre composites: comparison with quasi-isotropic non-crimp fabric Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 42(3), 293-302
• WONG, K. H., PICKERING, S. J., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2011. Alignment of Discontinuous recycled carbon fibre. In: Proceedings of the 2011 SAMPE conference
• QIAN, C., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A., LI, S and WARRIOR, N. A., 2011. Determination of the size of representative volume elements for discontinuous fibre composites. In: 21st International Workshop on Computational Mechanics of Materials
• QIAN, C., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2011. Determination of the size of representative volume elements for discontinuous fibre composites. In: 18th international conference on composite Materials
• ENDRUWEIT, A., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A., WARRIOR, N. A. and LONG, A. C., 2010. Random Discontinuous Carbon Fiber Preforms: Experimental Permeability Characterization and Local Modeling: Polymer Composites Polymer Composites. 31(4), 569-580
• HARPER, L.T., TURNER, T.A., MARTIN, J.R.B. and WARRIOR, N.A., 2010. Fiber alignment in directed carbon fiber preforms: mechanical property prediction Journal of Composite Materials. 44(8), 931-951
• TURNER, T.A., WARRIOR, N.A. and PICKERING, S.J., 2010. Development of high value moulding compounds from recycled carbon fibres Plastics Rubber and Composites. 39(3-5), 151-156
• WONG, K. H., TURNER, T. A., PICKERING, S. J. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2010. The Potential for Fibre Alignment in the Manufacture of Polymer Composites from Recycled Carbon Fibre: SAE international Journal of Aerospace SAE international Journal of Aerospace. 2(1), 225-231
• HARPER, L.T., TURNER, T.A., MARTIN, J.R.B. and WARRIOR, N.A., 2009. Fiber alignment in directed carbon fiber preforms - a feasibility study Journal of Composite Materials. 43(1), 57-74
• JIANG, G., PICKERING, S. J., LESTER, E. H., TURNER, T. A., WONG, K. H. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2009. Characterisation of carbon fibres recycled from carbon fibre/epoxy resin composites using supercritical n-propanol: Composites Science and Technology Composites Science and Technology. 69(2), 192-198
• WONG, K. H., PICKERING, S. J., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2009. Compression moulding of a recycled carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composite. In: Proceedings of the 2009 SAMPE international Conference
• WONG, K. H., PICKERING, S. J., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2009. The Potential for Fibre Alignment in the Manufacture of Polymer Composites from Recycled Carbon Fibre. In: Proceedings of the 2009 SAE Aerotech conference
• BOND, M. D., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2009. Full Field Strain Measurement of Notched Discontinuous Carbon Fibre Composites. In: 17th International Conference of Composite Materials
• ENDRUWEIT, A., HARPER, L.T., TURNER, T.A., WARRIOR, N.A. and LONG, A.C., 2008. Random discontinuous carbon fibre preforms: permeability modelling and resin injection simulation Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 39(10), 1660-1669
• MARTIN, J. R. B., HARPER, L. T, TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A, 2008. The characterisation of aligned discontinuous fibres from a directed fibre preform process At: Paris, France
• TURNER, T.A., HARPER, L.T., WARRIOR, N.A. and RUDD, C.D., 2008. Low-cost carbon-fibre-based automotive body panel systems: a performance and manufacturing cost comparison Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering. 222(1), 53-63
• WARRIOR, N. A., TURNER, T. A., COOPER, E. and RIBEAUX, M., 2008. Effects of boundary conditions on the energy absorption of thin-walled polymer composite tubes under axial crushing: Thin-Walled Structures Thin-Walled Structures. 46(7-9), 905-913
• ENDRUWEIT, A., HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A., WARRIOR, N. A. and LONG, A. C., 2008. The Permeability of Random Discontinuous Carbon fibre preforms. In: 13th European Conference on composite materials
• HARPER, L. T, TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A, 2007. A Random Fibre Network Model for Predicting the Stochastic Effects of Discontinuous Fibre Composites At: KICH, Kyoto, Japan
• HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A., WARRIOR, N. A. and RUDD, C. D., 2007. Characterisation of random carbon fibre composites from a directed fibre preforming process: The effect of tow filamentisation: Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing. 38(3), 755-770
• HARPER, L. T, TURNER, T. A. and WARRIOR, N. A., 2006. A computational method for investigating the stochastic nature of discontinuous meso structures At: Nottingham, UK
• HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A., WARRIOR, N. A., DAHL, J. S. and RUDD, C. D., 2006. Characterisation of random carbon fibre composites from a directed fibre preforming process: Analysis of microstructural parameters: Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing. 37(11), 2136-2147
• HARPER, L. T, TURNER, T.A, WARRIOR, N. A and RUDD, C. D, 2006. Low Cost Carbon-Fiber based Automotive Body Panel Systems At: Paris, France
• HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A., WARRIOR, N. A. and RUDD, C. D., 2006. Characterisation of random carbon fibre composites from a directed fibre preforming process: The effect of fibre length: Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing. 37(11), 1863-1878
• PICKERING, S. J, TURNER, T.A and WARRIOR, N. A, 2006. Moulding Compound Development using Recycled Carbon Fibres At: Dallas, TX
• TURNER, T. A., WARRIOR, N. A., COOPER, E. and RIBEAUX, M., 2006. Effect of Crush Zone Morphology on the Energy Absorption of Polymer Composite Tubes under Axial Crush: Composites Part A Submitted JCOMA-06-263,
• TURNER, T.A, WARRIOR, N. A, PICKERING, S. J and GUOZHAN, J, 2006. High value composite materials from recycled carbon fibre At: Paris
• HARPER, L. T., TURNER, T. A., WARRIOR, N. A. and RUDD, C. D., 2005. Coverage and Mechanical Properties of Spray-Processed Random Carbon Fibre Composites (15A) ICCM -PROCEEDINGS CD-ROM EDITION-. CONF 15, 447-448
• HARPER, L. T, TURNER, T.A, WARRIOR, N. A and RUDD, C. D, 2005. Automated preform manufacture for affordable lightweight body structures At: Paris
• HARPER, L. T, TURNER, T.A, WARRIOR, N. A and RUDD, C. D, 2005. Coverage and mechanical properties of spray-processed random carbon fibre composites At: Durban, South Africa
• TURNER, T. A., WARRIOR, N. A., ROBITAILLE, F. and RUDD, C. D., 2005. The influence of processing variables on the energy absorption of composite tubes: Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing. 36(9), 1291-1299
• TURNER, T.A, WARRIOR, N. A, RUDD, C. D and HARPER, L. T, 2005. Spray-processed carbon composites for affordable lightweight body structures At: Warwick, UK
• WARRIOR, N.A., TURNER, T.A., ROBITAILLE, F. and RUDD, C.D., 2004. The effect of interlaminar toughening strategies on the energy absorption of composite tubes Composites. Part A, Applied Science and Manufacturing. 35(4), 431-437
• TURNER, T.A, 2004. The effects of processing variables on the energy absorption of composite crash structures
• WARRIOR, N. A, HARPER, L. T, TURNER, T. A., SCHUBEL, P. J., RUDD, C. D. and KENDALL, K. N., 2004. Affordable Lightweight Body Structures (ALBOS) At: Pacifico, Yokohama
• WARRIOR, N.A., TURNER, T.A, ROBITAILLE, F. and RUDD, C.D, 2004. Fabrication methods for crash energy absorbing composite structures At: Paris
• WARRIOR, N. A., TURNER, T. A., ROBITAILLE, F. and RUDD, C. D., 2004. The effect of interlaminar toughening strategies on the energy absorption of composite tubes: Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing. 35(4), 431-437
• WARRIOR, N.A., TURNER, T.A., ROBITAILLE, F. and RUDD, C.D., 2003. Effect of resin properties and processing parameters on crash energy absorbing composite structures made by RTM Composites. Part A, Applied Science and Manufacturing. 34(6), 543-550
• TURNER, T.A, WARRIOR, N.A, ROBITAILLE, F. and RUDD, C.D, 2003. Fabrication methods for Energy Absorbing Composite Automotive Structures
• WARRIOR, N. A., TURNER, T. A., ROBITAILLE, F. and RUDD, C. D., 2003. Effect of resin properties and processing parameters on crash energy absorbing composite structures made by RTM: Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing. 34(6), 543-550
• WARRIOR, N.A, RUDD, C.D, HARPER, L. T, TURNER, T.A and SCHUBEL, P.J, 2003. Affordable Lightweight BOdy Structures
• TURNER, T.A., ROBITAILLE, F., WARRIOR, N.A., RUDD, C.D. and COOPER, E.J., 2002. Effect of resin formulation on crash energy absorbing composite structures made by RTM Plastics, Rubber & Composites: Macromolecular Engineering. 31(2), 49-57
• WARRIOR, N.A., TURNER, T.A., ROBITAILLE, F. and RUDD, C.D., 2002. Effect of interlaminar toughening on energy absorption of composite structures, proceedings of the tenth US- In: Japan Conference on Composite Materials.
• TURNER, T. A., ROBITAILLE, F., WARRIOR, N. A., RUDD, C. D. and COOPER, E. J., 2002. Effect of resin formulation on crash energy absorbing composite structures made by RTM: Plastics Rubber and Composites Plastics Rubber and Composites. 31(2), 49-57
• F. ROBITAILLE, T.A. TURNER, E. COOPER, N.A. WARRIOR and C.D. RUDD, 2001. The Effect of Processing Parameters on Crash Energy Absorbing Composite Structures made by RTM At: Belfast, Ireland