About Structural Technology and Materials Group

Structural Technology and Materials Group (STMG) covers materials testing, behaviour modelling, numerical stress analysis, theoretical and experimental stress analysis.

Who we are

Structural Technology and Materials Group (STMG) covers:

• materials testing
• materials behaviour modelling
• numerical stress analysis
• theoretical and experimental stress analysis
and their relationship to design, structural integrity and component life assessment methods. A wide range of materials, including steel, aluminium alloys, fibre reinforced composites, metal matrix composites and ceramics, are of interest.

What we do

• Investigate these elements' relationship to design, structural integrity and component life assessment methods
• Disseminate information related to fatigue, fracture, creep, corrosion and the effects which manufacturing processes have on these material properties
• Organise seminars, conferences and short courses.

Industries or disciplines covered

• All materials are covered, particularly steel, aluminium alloys, fibre-reinforced composites, metal matrix composites and ceramics.

Objectives

• Promote the use of improved methods of designing and assessing the strength of components and of predicting their life in order to achieve minimum cost without compromising integrity
• Provide designers with information on established and new materials 
• Encourage theoretical and experimental studies on the mechanics of materials forming processes such as rolling, pressing and extrusion and the effect that these have on subsequent performance of the component
• Encourage the development of tools for the estimation of stresses, strains and deformations in structures. Including finite element and boundary element methods, simplified methods and experimental methods
• Develop computing technology in so far as it is relevant to materials and mechanics of solids
• Investigate the criteria covering the failure of components and life cycle analysis
• Ascertain the properties of materials needed for engineering design, including the effect of manufacturing, forming and joining processes on those properties
• Promote new ideas and publicise new information in a form which practising mechanical engineers can use
• Identify and evaluate new developments and emerging technologies in mechanical engineering with the potential to impact the structural materials and technologies industry.