Our new KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) with WMG starts this month

This is a 9 month KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) with WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group). KTP's are a UK-wide programme designed to help businesses to maximise their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base. They serve to meet a core strategic need and to identify innovative solutions. They often result in significant increased profitability for business partners as a direct result of the partnership through increased sales and access to new markets.

Simpact’s knowledge of CAE for structural assessment & development extends to a wide range of existing engineering materials & ability to model composites for static & dynamic load is advanced. However, we know less about the positive effects that lifetime loading can have on impact performance. The use of composites for impact protection is very innovative & important for our High Value armour system customers who are increasingly substituting composites where weight is a burden but they need to guarantee protection of troops in harsh environments. The project allows Simpact to derive methodologies for advancement of new products made from composites.

Carrying out the project in conjunction with WMG will enable us to obtain;

• The know-how of how environmental factors (ageing, temperature, humidity and moisture) affect the mechanical properties of a composite component.
• An understanding of composite fatigue, specifically the identification of failure modes in composite materials after extended loading periods.
• The expertise to make the most of the state-of-the-art metrology and experimental testing equipment required for detailed material characterisation and impact assessment.
• An understanding on how to develop and apply test methodologies to non-standard load cases to represent real-life use of composite materials.
• An understanding of the most appropriate manufacturing method suitable for the build of a 'technology demonstrator'

For more information on the KTP scheme, please click on the following link http://ktp.innovateuk.org/background/