Shape shifters

Aeroplane wings that change shape in mid-air may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but radical new aircraft designs like this could become a reality thanks to a five-year strategic partnership formally launched today between the University of Bristol, the University of Oxford and Smiths Aerospace.

The Smiths Aerospace University Technology Strategic Partnership (UTSP) in smart composites and metallics, or SMARTCOMP, will deliver new research in composites technology and lay the foundations for more far-reaching innovation over the longer-term.

Originally established in 2005 with an initial investment of £1.25 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Smiths, SMARTCOMP will have two broad themes of research.

The first will focus on approaches, such as using 3-D composites to make aircraft parts lighter, more fuel efficient and reduce manufacturing costs. This research will be led by Bristol with input from Oxford.

The second will centre on self-actuating composites and will be a joint activity by Bristol and Oxford, looking to create composite components that can actively change their geometry or shape in response to force applied internally or externally.