John Buckingham
Academic and research departments
About
My research project
Enabling a sustainable future for composite assets in demanding environments through a validated lifetime predictive methodologyThe ongoing need for lightweight, corrosion-resistant, low-maintenance structures in environmentally challenging applications in renewable energy (e.g., wind turbines) has led to an increased use of advanced polymer composites. Despite their evident advantages, there are technical challenges that the sector needs to solve to maximise their benefits and increase their uptake and sustainable use, e.g., a validated methodology for the way composites age environmentally and how their properties change with time under realistic synergetic conditions is yet to be established. This project will contribute to the development of such a methodology by developing and validating predictive modelling tools through realistic (i.e., application-informed) lab-based accelerated ageing experiments, considering appropriate degradation mechanisms, and most importantly, demonstrating the approach for cases of mechanical loading with the synergetic presence of high humidity environments. The research will initially focus on defining an appropriate accelerated ageing strategy and in-depth investigation of the degradation mechanisms.
The boundaries of the accelerated approach will be drawn, and the experimentally obtained datasets will provide the basis for validation of a numerical tool for predicting the lifetime of composites when more than one synergetic degradation agents are acting on the material. The research work aligns with EPSRC’s Engineering Net Zero strategic priority under the Advanced Materials theme. The outputs will provide the means to increase efficiency across all greenhouse gas emitting, resource consuming, and polluting systems and sectors that utilise advanced composites.
The ongoing need for lightweight, corrosion-resistant, low-maintenance structures in environmentally challenging applications in renewable energy (e.g., wind turbines) has led to an increased use of advanced polymer composites. Despite their evident advantages, there are technical challenges that the sector needs to solve to maximise their benefits and increase their uptake and sustainable use, e.g., a validated methodology for the way composites age environmentally and how their properties change with time under realistic synergetic conditions is yet to be established. This project will contribute to the development of such a methodology by developing and validating predictive modelling tools through realistic (i.e., application-informed) lab-based accelerated ageing experiments, considering appropriate degradation mechanisms, and most importantly, demonstrating the approach for cases of mechanical loading with the synergetic presence of high humidity environments. The research will initially focus on defining an appropriate accelerated ageing strategy and in-depth investigation of the degradation mechanisms.
The boundaries of the accelerated approach will be drawn, and the experimentally obtained datasets will provide the basis for validation of a numerical tool for predicting the lifetime of composites when more than one synergetic degradation agents are acting on the material. The research work aligns with EPSRC’s Engineering Net Zero strategic priority under the Advanced Materials theme. The outputs will provide the means to increase efficiency across all greenhouse gas emitting, resource consuming, and polluting systems and sectors that utilise advanced composites.
ResearchResearch interests
My research and technical interests are in polymer composites, materials durability, sustainability, circular economy, recycling, and materials for both defence and renewable energy applications.
Research interests
My research and technical interests are in polymer composites, materials durability, sustainability, circular economy, recycling, and materials for both defence and renewable energy applications.
Publications
Glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites provide superior corrosion resistance, enhanced strength-to-weight ratios, in addition to an improved modulus-to-weight ratio in contrast to traditional materials like stainless steel or wood. They are often used in the automotive, wind energy, and energy (e.g., petroleum, natural gas) industry sectors. To develop an effective durability assessment methodology, understanding synergistic effects is necessary. This review paper examines the condition of GFRP materials today, with an emphasis on their longevity and highlighting the importance that a synergistic approach to material assessment may have in a way that improves our knowledge of material durability and functional lifetime. Specific degradation stressors discussed include water absorption, temperature, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, creep, and relaxation. The literature shows strong agreement that moisture, temperature, and sustained loading progressively reduce the glass transition temperature (Tg), stiffness, strength, and interfacial integrity in GFRP composites, with interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and creep particularly sensitive to ageing. Key mechanisms remain disputed, including the degree of non-Fickian diffusion, the roles of matrix hydrolysis versus interfacial degradation, and the legitimacy of the time–temperature superposition principle (TTSP) in submerged environments. Major gaps persist, including limited long-term field data, a poor understanding of multi-stressor interactions, an inconsistent reporting of degradation kinetics, and a lack of standardised ageing and lifetime-prediction protocols. Emerging machine-learning (ML) methods show promise but require larger, standardised, multi-stressor datasets and closer integration with physics-based models. To address these limitations, the paper recommends: (i) the development of a harmonised, multi‑stressor durability testing methodology; (ii) an expansion of long‑duration marine field trials to validate accelerated ageing assumptions; (iii) the creation of shared, standardised datasets capturing environmental, mechanical, and chemical interactions; and (iv) the integration of physics‑informed models with machine‑learning approaches to improve material lifetime prediction.
There has been extensive use of polymer composite materials in the offshore and marine industries, but understanding their durability remains a significant challenge. The use of thermoplastic matrix composites is attracting growing interest due to their potential for being recycled. However, their long-term ageing behaviour in marine environments is unknown. As a first step, it is necessary to understand the effect of water absorption. In this work, we investigated two polymer composite materials, a glass fibre reinforced thermoset (Epikote epoxy resin) and a glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic (Elium). Flat panels were fabricated using the wet hand lay-up method, and coupons were extracted for the two composite materials. Elevated water temperatures were used to accelerate the ageing of the two composites, and their diffusivity was evaluated, as well as their glass transition temperature (Tg) at several intervals. To truly understand the behaviour of these materials, it is important to observe changes in the rate of moisture absorption over a range of temperatures and the contrast in Tg between the two different types of resin. The results show that exposure to various water temperatures produces changes in material properties (i.e., glass transition temperature) that are complex in nature. We measured an initial drop in Tg (16% for GF/Epikote and 9% for GF/Elium) followed by an increase, and we investigated the mechanics of that change. Another key finding was that the GF/Epikote composite showed a higher diffusivity than the GF/Elium composite. At 60°C, we found that the rate was nearly double: 21.9×10-13 m 2 s-1 for the GF/Epikote compared to 11.4×10-13 m 2 s-1 for the GF/Elium. The findings from this research will have direct implications for applications within the renewable energy sector, aiming to replace the current epoxy-based fibre composite used in wind turbine blades with a more durable and recyclable thermoplastic glass fibre-reinforced composite.