February 2018: New Research Projects Starting Soon in the Solid Mechanics Research Group
The University of Bristol Solid Mechanics Research Group (SMRG) will soon begin work on two major nuclear energy research projects:
- MAINTAiN, Multi-scAle INTegrity assessment for Advanced high-temperature Nuclear systems, funded by EPSRC. SMRG will lead this project, working with Universities of Oxford, Liverpool, and Manchester and a number of industrial partners notably, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, EDF Energy, Wood, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
- Improved Understanding and Modelling of Advanced Joining Technologies. SMRG will be a partner of Frazer-Nash Consultancy on behalf of Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Dr Mahmoud Mostafavi, Lecturer in Nuclear Structural Integrity, is the SMRG academic lead on both of these projects:
“We are delighted to be starting work on these two new projects in the first quarter of 2018. They both consider structural integrity issues in a nuclear industry context, building on substantial experience that SMRG has in this area. These projects will help shape engineering practice in the design of advanced nuclear systems, including Generation IV nuclear reactors.
Winning these two projects has allowed SMRG to recruit three new post doctoral researchers, therefore helping to develop the wider UK skill base in nuclear structural integrity issues. Their skills will be complementary to the new cohort of the PhD students who recently have joined or will be joining the group.
We are particularly excited that both projects are relevant to advanced nuclear energy systems and technologies, which is an important area of research for the UK.
At Bristol we will carry out a number of experimental and theoretical research activities on these two projects. We look forward to working with our academic and industrial partners to deliver high-impact research activities which can help contribute towards the UK’s reputation and progress in nuclear energy research.”
Solid Mechanics Research Group
You can read more about the Solid Mechanics Research Group, part of the Faculty of Engineering here: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/engineering/research/solids/