Joint Research Institute for Mechanics, Materials and Bioengineering

This JRI will be a centre of research excellence in which Mechanics is a unifying theme which cuts across the disciplines of Civil, Mechanical, Bio-mechanics, Healthcare, Aerospace and Marine Engineering. The JRI will build on the strengths and aspirations of existing research groups in mechanics, materials, bioengineering and rehabilitation engineering in the University of Glasgow, the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian University and Paisley University. Research will be focussed on three interrelated research themes that respond to major research challenges and opportunities.

The first theme addresses the "Performance of Materials and Structures". Rational integrity assessment of structures and structural systems is vital to sustain ageing infrastructure. In many cases, procedures for this are well established, however there are a number of key areas where the mechanical behaviour of materials and structures is still poorly understood. In addition, new infrastructure must be developed to meet enhanced standards of safety, durability and energy consumption. Concurrently there is a need to consider exposure to extreme scenarios such as high temperatures and fire; blast, earthquakes, and impact loadings; as well as the effects of damage in the form of cracks or other defects. These can interact with environmental factors that affect the long-term durability, and ultimately lead to the degradation of structural performance. As these effects often arise from processes that originate at a micro or a nano size scale, there is a need for understanding and numerical modelling to address the relevant physical processes over a hierarchy of size scales.

The second theme addresses the "Design and Processing of Composites and Emerging Materials". New materials include novel applications of shape memory alloys (SMAs), new cementitious composites, nano- and micro-structured materials, surface engineering, nano-particle and nano-composites microstructure patterning, nano-additives, and the determination of mechanical properties at micro-scale using Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). A key issue associated with all structural materials, and composites in particular, is the optimisation of manufacturing processes during which the fibre architectures must be controlled to produce the required overall response for the composite component. Numerical modelling of these processes requires the use of finite deformation non-linear constitutive relations for the matrix, and appropriate stress-strain idealisations for the fibres. The necessary numerical techniques are common to the large deformation theory necessary for the modelling of soft tissue and biological materials such as veins and arteries. Synergies such as this one between medical systems and materials and structures research will be central to the research ethos of the Institute.

The third theme will address "Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Engineering". This theme focuses on the increasingly important interface between engineering and medical science e.g. biomechanics, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, assistive technologies for augmenting mobility, computational modelling of the spine, soft and hard tissue modelling and characterisation, bone remodelling, smart biomaterials, advanced surgical procedures, diabetic foot, etc. Here expertise in engineering disciplines can provide the foundation necessary to promote research that advances and improves the quality of human life. The goal of the Biomechanics and Rehabilitation theme is therefore to advance research in systems, materials and processes that can lead to improved mobility and communication for disabled people and to create opportunities for collaborative and novel research.