Institute for Aerospace Technology
The Institute for Aerospace Technology at The University of Nottingham is a major centre for aerospace research and includes a number of internationally leading research groups.
Our aerospace research base is broad, with current activity involving over 50 academic staff supporting many researchers and PhD students developing a range of underpinning technologies. Our research portfolio currently includes over 70 externally funded projects valued at c.£35 million. Our researchers have an excellent track record of undertaking industry focused research, technology validation and transfer activities with many industrial partners including SMEs and major multinationals. These relationships include several strategic partnerships with major UK and international aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus UK, Boeing and GE Aviation.
Aerospace Technology Centre
The Aerospace Technology Centre (ATC) opened in 2012 as a dedicated research & knowledge transfer centre, providing new, state-of-the-art, facilities for aerospace R&D. Projects in ATC will be multi-disciplinary, building on our leading basic research activities and evolving towards large-scale demonstrators. The ATC is based at University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP), and comprises 1200m2 of dedicated laboratory space and office / meeting space for our research teams and industry partners.
Case Studies
Our Aerospace research base is broad as demonstrated by these diverse case studies.
Clean Sky JTI
The University of Nottingham is an associate member of the €1.6 billion EU Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative. Clean Sky is expected to lead the earlier introduction of new, radically greener air transport products. The University is a member of the Systems For Green Operations Integrated Technology Demonstrator (ITD).
Centre for Aerospace Manufacturing with Airbus
An R&D hub for Advanced Tooling, Jigs and Fixtures, the Centre has supported Airbus by engaging with its tooling suppliers to provide support for Jigs and Fixtures research for Advanced Low Cost Aircraft Wing Structures.
The Boeing Strategic Collaboration in Composites Recycling
This activity is developing the composites recycling process pioneered at the University of Nottingham and working to insert recycled materials back into the manufacturing process (i.e. on the plane in non-structural sustainable interiors applications, or in the tooling.)
Spatially Resolved Acoustic Spectroscopy (SRAS)
This work, developed in partnership with Rolls Royce and the Research Centre in Nondestructive Evaluation SRAS is a novel and cost effective characterisation and nondestructive evaluation technique for imaging the microstructure of materials such as titanium, steel, aluminium, silicon and hard ceramics.
Research Groups
The following research groups are associated with the IAT:
- The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing is a leading international research centre and preferred supplier to industry of research and innovation products in advanced manufacturing technology. The IAM works closely with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and hosts the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre in manufacturing technology.
- Human Factors Group contributes to informing safe, reliable, efficient and comfortable transport systems including Air Traffic Management and passenger comfort.
- The Structural Integrity and Dynamics Research Group is developing transmission systems using advanced computational methods and incorporates the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre in gas turbine transmission systems.
- The Thermofluids Research Group investigates complex air/oil flows in applications such as bearing chambers and drag reduction and flow control technologies that are applicable to future aircraft.
- The Composite Materials Group has an international reputation in polymer composites and processes required to form structures for advanced aerospace applications. The group leads the EPRSC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Composites.
- The Advanced Material Group focuses on processing techniques such as light alloys, powder processing and surface engineering.
- The Power Electronics Machines and Control Group is internationally renowned for an integrated approach to the design of motor, power electronic drive, mechanical actuator and thermal systems and their application to More Electric Aircraft.
- The Ultrasonics and Non-destructive Evaluation Group is a leader for industrial plant applications and advanced electronic platforms to support rapid application of new measurement and monitoring techniques.
- The Nottingham Geospatial Institute is one of the world's largest academic centres of excellence in the field of navigation, sensor integration and data dissemination and display.
- The George Green Institute for Electromagnetics is at the forefront of research in Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Computational Electromagnetics (CEM).
- Horizon Digital Economy Hub focuses on the role of ‘always on, always with you’ ubiquitous computing technology in areas such as transport decision making and airport operations optimisation.
- The University of Nottingham Business School has strong relationships with Rolls-Royce through the MBA programme and the Operational Management Group which researches multi-disciplinary developments in technology and rapid product development.
Contacts
Professor Pat Wheeler IAT Deputy Director
Ben Sumner Project Manager
Institute for Aerospace Technology
Tel: 0115 846 7617
Links: Institute for Aerospace Technology www.nottingham.ac.uk/aerospace
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