Materials and Structures
The Centre for Materials, Surfaces and Structural Systems (MaSSS) is a multidisciplinary group of researchers whose interests cover the complete range of length scales from nanomaterials and nanocharacterisation, through solid mechanics and materials engineering, to large-scale structures and reliability engineering of large infrastructure systems.
The Centre has excellent facilities for mechanical testing, numerical modelling, metals processing, composites fabrication and electron microscopy. The Surface Analysis Laboratory is probably the best-equipped laboratory of its type in Europe, and the instrumentation has recently been augmented by the high specification instrumentation for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning Auger microscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.
The research conducted in the Centre contributes to the portfolio of activities of the Surrey Materials Institute, a University-wide initiative bringing together researchers in engineering, physics, chemistry and the biomedical sciences.
Materials Science & Engineering (MSE)
Research within this area addresses processing-microstructure-relationships across the full range of engineering materials. The work is underpinned by excellent facilities within the Microstructural Studies Unit (MSSU) and Surface Analysis Laboratory (SAL), which, in addition to enabling research students to have access to state-of-the-art instruments, provide a service for industry across a comprehensive range of techniques. There are three overlapping sub-groups:
- Engineering Ceramics and Metallurgy
- Particulate and Multiphase Process Engineering
- Surface and Interface Reactions Group
In ceramics, there is an established reputation for research on localised fracture, as a result of indentation, wear or thermal shock, and long-term stability in a range of environments. Monolithic ceramics, in bulk and thin layer form, and ceramic matrix composites are also studied. In the area of metallurgy the study of phase transformations is central to our research programmes. This focus is applied, for example, in the design of metallic and intermetallic microstructures for optimum property combinations
Research in particulate multiphase engineering is focused on the study of particulate matter and gas, and liquid-borne dispersed systems for the development of new and improved processes, techniques and instruments. It is based on the investigation of microscopic properties and phenomena, and the identification of relationships between microscopic and macroscopic bulk behaviour.
Work in the Surface and Interface Reactions Group combines the expertise in the surface analysis methodologies with the topic areas of adhesion, biomaterials, cultural heritage, electrochemistry, polymers, surface engineering and surface pre-treatment. The Group has experience of studying the surfaces and interfaces of a vast range of materials used in diverse industrial sectors such as power generation, aerospace, electronics, transport and pharmaceuticals. Recent and current areas of study include the use of high energy XPS to investigate the electronic structure of alloys, the use of surface analysis to elucidate the interface chemistry of bonding in adhesive systems and polymer composites and the characterisation of hard nano-structured coatings.
Mechanics of Materials and Structural Systems
An underpinning theme in this strand of research is the identification, characterisation, modelling and consequence assessment of “damage”, as applied to adhesive bonding, skeletal structures, composites, concrete, steel and structural systems. The activities are grouped into topic areas indicated below:
- Composite Materials & Structures, Solid Mechanics & Design
- Construction Materials
- Smart Materials and Structures
- Space Structures Research Centre
- Whole-life Performance of Structures and Infrastructure Systems
The Group has excellent facilities for fabrication and testing of composite materials and structural units. Work includes continuous fibre composites based on a range of reinforcement types (nonwoven, woven fabric, stitched fabrics) and short fibre systems. In addition, novel nanomaterials are being investigated, including nanocomposites, biocomposites and drug delivery nanopolymers. Design and lifing are important thematic areas, including work on design allowables, impact damage in composite structures, the behaviour of composite beam systems and the stochastic modelling of composite materials and structures.
Lifting and durability are also strong themes in the experimental and numerical modelling of adhesively bonded joints and structures. Research on dynamics encompasses buildings, footbridges, brush dynamics and satellites. Work is also carried out in the field of muscular-skeletal biomechanics, with the focus on the modelling of femoral, tibial and mandible implants and the associated remodelling of the bone that occurs.
In Construction Materials, recent work has considered the effectiveness of surface coatings and their ability to prevent the access of corrosive materials, such as chloride ions, to the reinforcement of concrete bridges. Investigation of materials for the water industry is another major theme.
The Space Structures Research Centre, founded at Surrey in 1963, has been highly active ever since in promoting the utilisation of space structures. Current research is aimed at enhancing the methods of analysis and design as well as understanding of the behaviour of all forms of space structures under extreme loading.
Research in civil infrastructure systems examines the response of individual structures and networks to extreme events, such as blast, impact and earthquakes, as well as the effects of long-term wear and deterioration. Development of probabilistic methods and reliability assessment is a key part of the research, with significant contributions in fatigue assessment and corrosion of metallic and concrete bridges, and the progressive collapse of multi-storey frames under extreme loading.
Development of Structural Health Monitoring technologies links much of the materials and structures work. Fundamental and applied work is carried out using optical fibre sensors, damage limitation using shape-memory alloys (SMAs), process monitoring using optical fibre sensors, and the robustness of corrosion sensors in concrete structures.
