Composite for Enhanced Lightning Performance

Background 

This project addresses the ‘Advanced Materials’ grand challenge through the development of innovative lightweight materials and coatings with improved mechanical and electrical properties under lightning strike for the aerospace sector. Aircraft manufacturers and operators are seeking to replace an increasing amount of traditional metal structures with composite materials to meet environmental legislation. However, unlike metals, such materials cannot effectively dissipate lightning energy leading to complex and destructive behaviour. There is a clear need for strategic cross-engineering research to meet the step-change required. 

Project Summary

This project has developed a new GW4 consortium specialising in lightning tolerant composites and coatings, material characterisation and lighting research. A series of workshops at each GW4 institution enabled knowledge sharing amongst project partners and the establishment of valuable new links. The consortium ran three pilot studies to test and co-ordinate the collaboration across the GW4. The combination of research capabilities, test facilities, expertise and industrial links of the four groups has the potential to place the GW4 consortium in a unique world-leading position, beyond the capabilities of any other group. 

All four members of the GW4 consortium attended the first EMC (Electromechanical Characterisation of Carbon Composites) Network colloquium. The only academic organisation to attend the industry focused network, they actively participated and helped to identify several key research and development ideas alongside industry.