Newcastle University

Design, Manufacture and Materials: Projects

Some current and recent research projects:

• a-footprint
  Project Leader(s): Prof Kenneth Dalgarno
  The overall objective of the A-FOOTPRINT project is to develop novel ankle/foot and foot orthoses for common disabling conditions which are cost-effective, high-speed to market, and personalised for form and function...
• Bearing Reliability Test Rig
  Project Leader(s): Dr Brian Shaw
• BESTFACT
  Project Leader(s): Mr TH Zunder
• CHARMA
  Project Leader(s): Dr Brian Shaw
• CleanER-D: Clean European Rail-Diesel
  Project Leader(s): Mr R Palacin
  CleanER-D is a research project partly funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme. It aims to develop, improve and integrate emissions reduction technologies for diesel locomotives and rail vehicles...
• CRC: Advanced Composite Structures
  Project Leader(s): Prof Geoff Gibson
• D RAIL
  Project Leader(s): Professor Mark Robinson
  D-RAIL will focus on freight traffic, identifying root causes of derailment of particular significance to freight vehicles, which have a wider range of operating parameters (as a result of the huge range in loads, speeds and maintenance quality) than...
• Design Refinement of a Hoist System
  Project Leader(s): Mr CD Lawrence (RCID)
• Development of a novel osteochondral implant
  Project Leader(s): Prof Kenneth Dalgarno
• e-Freight
  Project Leader(s): Mr TH Zunder
  The e-Freight Integrated Project (European eFreight capabilities for Co-modal transport) brings together 30 partners from 14 Member States and Norway for a programme of work that will cover four years, addressing the development, validation...
• EBSF - European Bus System of the Future
  Project Leader(s): Mr R Palacin
  EBSF, the European Bus System of the Future, is one of the largest surface transport R&D projects ever undertaken by the European Union with a consortium of 47 partners and a total budget of EUR 26 million...
• ERRAC Roadmap
  Project Leader(s): Prof Mark Robinson
  ERRAC Roadmap project addresses the broad coordinating challenges of the FP7’s call STT.2008.5.2.2 - Competitive transport operations; it is a Level 1 Coordination and Support Action aiming at the very important area of coordinating rail research...
• Factor 20: reducing CO2 emissions from inland transport by a major modal shift to rail
  Project Leader(s): Dr Francis Franklin
• FIRE-RESIST
  Project Leader(s): Professor AM Robinson
  

  FIRE-RESIST is a four-year €7.8 million initiative led by NewRail that brings together the rail, aerospace and marine industries to develop innovative solutions for improving composite material fire performance...

• HEMOW
  Project Leader(s): Professor GY Tian (EECE)
• IMAJINE: Innovative Multimaterials Jointly Integrity Engineering
  Project Leader(s): Prof Mark Robinson
• INNOTRACK
  Project Leader(s): Dr Francis Franklin
  INNOTRACK brings together researchers, rail infrastructure managers (IM) and industry suppliers, to concentrate on the research issues that will contribute to the reduction of rail infrastructure Life Cycle Cost (LCC)...
• KTP: Deepdale Solutions Ltd
  Project Leader(s): Prof Kenneth Dalgarno
• MOMENTUM: Multidisciplinary Research and Training on Composite Materials for Applications in Transport Modes
  Project Leader(s): Prof Mark Robinson
  

  Multidisciplinary research and provision of training on innovative composite materials applications for transport.

• NANO PIPE: the modelling of an impervious nanocomposite barrier
  Project Leader(s): Prof Geoff Gibson
• Performance Envelopes for Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) Pipe
  Project Leader(s): Prof Geoff Gibson
• Qinetiq MOD Gear Bending Project
  Project Leader(s): Dr BA Shaw
• RAILECT
  Project Leader(s): Dr George Kotsikos
  Alumino-thermic welding of rails has replaced the traditional ‘fishplate’ rail jointing method in the railway industry vastly improving the quality of ride for passenger trains...
• RETRACK
  Project Leader(s): Mr TH Zunder
  The EC has entered into a contract for the RETRACK consortium to research, develop and implement a rail freight corridor from Rotterdam to Constanza.  In the RETRACK Consortium, new and upcoming European rail freight operators...
• RRUK: Three-dimensional microstructural modelling of crack initiation in rail steel
  Project Leader(s): Dr Francis J Franklin (Newcastle) and Prof Claire Davis (Birmingham)
  This is Project A6 of the EPSRC-funded virtual research centre Rail Research U.K. The project is a collaboration between the University of Newcastle upon Tyne ...
• Samulet TSB Project
  Project Leader(s): Dr BA Shaw
• SecureMetro
  Project Leader(s): Dr S Ingleton
  The aim of the SecureMetro project is to increase the safety and security of metro vehicles from terrorist attacks by explosives and firebombs through materials choices and design, thereby increasing resilience and reducing the impact of attacks...
• SPECTRUM
  Project Leader(s): Mr TH Zunder
  Modern manufacturing techniques and logistics require reliable, time sensitive delivery of lower density and higher value goods. This presents a market opportunity for rail freight to grow, partly due to increasing congestion on roads...
• SuperGreen
  Project Leader(s): Mr TH Zunder
  The purpose of SUPERGREEN is to promote the development of European freight Logistics in an environmentally friendly manner. Environmental factors play an increasing role in all transport modes, and holistic approaches are needed...
• SUSTRAIL
  Project Leader(s): Dr Francis Franklin
  The purpose of the SUSTRAIL project is to contribute to the rail freight system to allow it to regain position and market. The proposed solution is based on a combined improvement in both freight vehicle and track components in an holistic approach...
• T-20 Test Rig
  Project Leader(s): Dr BA Shaw
• Tata Steel Electric Vehicle Electric Motor and Gearbox
  Project Leader(s): Mr JD Widmer (EECE)
• Transnew
  Project Leader(s): Prof Mark Robinson
  TransNEW covers all the transport modes including Aeronautics and aims to evaluate research capability in order to support the involvement of New Member States in a number of topics and potentially exploit the synergies between Air transport and surface..
• Ultrasonic position sensor for aero engine fuel systems
  Project Leader(s): Mr CD Lawrence (RCID)
• X-Gear: Development of gear drive trains based on new materials and novel gear systems
  Project Leader(s): Dr Brian Shaw