Spencer Institute of Theoretical and Computational Mechanics

1
Spencer Institute of Theoretical and
Computational Mechanics

• Introduction and Welcome Event
• Dr Hitendra Hirani
• BDE for the Spencer Institute

2
Aims of Today

• To increase awareness of the Spencer Institute
  and the services available
• To increase awareness of the funding
  opportunities for collaborative projects
• To increase interdisciplinary dialogue

3
Introduction

• Integration of Research in
• Mechanics of Solids
• Mechanics of Fluids
• Mechanics of Multiphase Media
• Schools Involved
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing
  Engineering
• Mathematical Sciences
• Chemical, Environmental and Mining Engineering
• Now included as official institute of the
  University (Category 2B)

4
Key Activities

• Development of cross-school joint research (e.g.
  proposals, workshops, seminars)
• Development of cross-school MSc courses (e.g. MSc
  in Scientific Computation)
• Sharing of Knowledge in
• Finite element methods
• Boundary element methods
• Finite difference methods
• Discrete element methods
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Finite volume methods
• Meshfree Methods

5
Support Available

• Pulling together multi-disciplinary proposals
• Arranging meetings
• Help with some of the initial writing
• Contacting and bringing in external partners
• Specific and focussed intelligence on forthcoming
  Calls
• Focussed seminars around topics
• Contact
• Email Hitendra.hirani_at_nottingham.ac.uk
• Tel [phone]

6
Mindmap
Solids
Fluids
Carol Eastwick
Carlo Sansour
Stephen Hibberd
Tom Hyde
Fluid Mechanics in Aeroengines
Modelling of manufacturing processes welding,
inertia friction welding, casting and
superplastic forming.
Developing computational tools
Flow around cables
Adib Becker
Flow over structures
Structural integrity of aeroengine transmission
systems
Structural integrity of high temperature welded
components in electrical power generation plant
and aeroengines.
Paul Houston
Herve Morven
Flow in membranes such as sailing yachts
Flow in Pipes and channels
Paul Langston
Flow of fluids through fibre beds
Sean Leen
Nick Warrior
CFD
Andrew Cliffe
Andrew Long
FEM
Structural Analysis and damage accumulation
Mechanics of coated textiles
DEM
Modelling neutron transfer in a reactor
Modelling of plasticity composite materials
Treatment and modelling of uncertainty
Kostas Soldatos
Henry Power
Glenn McDowell
Mechanics of consolidating beds of fibres
Behaviour of railway ballast
granular material flow
Chris Rudd
Aggregates and soil behaviour
Nick Miles
Andy Collop
Modelling of asphalt and road structures
Hai-Sui Yu
Materials and composites in bone replacement and
fracture
Multiphase flow
Helen Byrne
Theoretical and computational geomechanics
Finite Element Modelling of Disc and Surgical
Devices
Modelling of tumour growth and therapies
Donal McNally
Dry cleaning of coal
Multiphase flow and nutritional transport
Ian Lowndes
Fine particle processing
Multiphase
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Planned Activities
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Website

• Aim
• To showcase research expertise and potential to
  both internal and external collaborators
• To form the hub for Spencer Institute activities
• Current Status
• Webspace Reserved and IS will implement and
  maintain through University Content Management
  System
• Collecting information from various sources
• Summary of Research Expertise
• Case Studies and Summaries of Current Research
  Projects
• Information Needed
• Case Studies
• Current Project Portfolio
• Pictures and Diagrams

9
Seminars and Events

• Official Launch Event September 2007
• CFD Forum?
• DEM Forum?
• FEM Forum?
• Seminars for Postgrads and Postdocs?
• Software Training
• Ideas Factory
• EPSRC Summer School in Mechanics
• EPSRC Summer School in CFD
• Courses for Industry
• Host software training workshops

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Some Things to Think About

• Which topics can I collaborate on?
• Which events am I interested in?
• What can the Spencer Institute do for me?
• Suggest a postdoc/PhD Student who could benefit
  from the institute or participate in activities
  on your behalf.
• Are there any case studies I can provide to make
  other people more aware of what I can offer?
• Are there any calls from the following that
  interest me?

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Bridging the Gaps Maths Engineering ICT

• Aims of the Bridging the Gaps Project
• Encourage and facilitate new and existing
  interdisciplinary research collaborations across
  the traditional boundaries
• Generate staff mobility across the interfaces,
  breaking down geographical and discipline-specific
  knowledge barriers
• Develop new spin-out companies and intellectual
  property reflecting areas of interdisciplinary
  expertise
• Develop novel mechanisms for promoting
  interdisciplinary research

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Bridging the Gaps Maths Engineering ICT

• Mechanisms for Promoting Interdisciplinary
  Research (2007-2010)
• Speed-networking events
• Make-fests - hands-on software workshops
• EPSRC-style sandpits - 30k pump-priming grants
• Business plan competition - 30k cash prize
• Bridging the Gap awards - 1000 per month
• Visiting scholar programme funding available
• Interdisciplinary seminar programme
• Please contact Dr. Sophie Dale for further
  details
• Email sophie.dale_at_nottingham.ac.uk
• Tel [phone]

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Current Calls for Funding
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EPSRC

• Mathematics for industry and business
• Encourage high quality research in mathematics,
  statistics or mathematical foundations of
  operational research in collaboration with
  industry, business or other non-academic users of
  research. The aim of the call is twofold
• to generate innovative research in the
  mathematical sciences
• to utilise this research to give industry and
  business a competitive edge by developing dynamic
  collaborations outside the academic community.
• Novel approaches to academic/industry research
  collaboration in the mathematical sciences are
  encouraged. Proposals for this call might
  include, but are not restricted to, collaborative
  research projects, networks or study groups.

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EPSRC (Mathematics Programme)

• Science and innovation awards
• Large, long-term grants supporting staff in a
  research group, with commitment from the host
  institutions to continue support after the end of
  the grant.
• The research areas to be addressed in this call
  are analytical science energy operational
  research structural ceramics tribology.
• Demonstrate that they have a supportive research
  environment in which the new research activity
  will be nurtured and helped to contribute fully
  to raising the international standing of UK
  research.
• A typical award would fund
• three lecturer posts for five years each,
• three postdoctoral research assistants supported
  for three years each
• three project studentships supported for three to
  four years,
• support funds for travel and subsistence,
  equipment and other costs.
• Deadline 4pm, 10 April 2007

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EPSRC (Engineering Programme)

• Industry fellowship scheme
• Jointly funded by Royal Society, EPSRC, BBSRC,
  NERC, Rolls-Royce plc and Astra Zeneca.
• To enhance knowledge transfer in science and
  technology between those in industry and those in
  academia. It provides opportunities for an
  academic scientist to work on a collaborative
  project with industry, or someone employed in
  industry to work on a collaborative project with
  a university department or not-for-profit
  research organisation.
• Research may be in any discipline within the
  natural sciences, including agriculture,
  mathematics, biotechnology, environmental
  research, medical and engineering sciences.
  Projects at any stage from fundamental science to
  industrial innovation will be supported.
• Applicants may be of any nationality. They should
  hold a PhD or be of equivalent standing in their
  profession and hold a permanent academic post in
  either a UK university, a UK not-for-profit
  research organisation or in UK industry.
• Fellowships last for up to two years and provide
  a salary, as well as research expenses of up to
  1,500 per annum.

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Royal Society, UK

• Postdoctoral fellowships to the UK from China
• To foster academic links between the UK and
  China, enabling outstanding postdoctoral
  scientists to conduct cutting-edge research with
  their UK counterparts.
• Research must be on a subject within the natural
  sciences, including physics, chemistry,
  mathematics, engineering science, agricultural
  and medical research, the scientific aspects of
  archaeology, geography, experimental psychology
  and the history of science.
• The society does not cover social sciences or
  clinical medical research. Applications must be
  submitted by the UK host scientist on behalf of
  an overseas candidate.
• Applicants and their overseas candidates must be
  of postdoctoral or equivalent status at the time
  the award is taken up.
• Fellowships last between 6 to 12 months and
  consist of an annual award of 18,200 payable
  quarterly in arrears to the host institution.

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Royal Society, UK

• Postdoctoral fellowships to the UK from India
• To foster academic links between the UK and
  India, enabling outstanding postdoctoral
  scientists to conduct cutting-edge research with
  their UK counterparts.
• Research must be on a subject within the natural
  sciences, including physics, chemistry,
  mathematics, engineering science, agricultural
  and medical research, the scientific aspects of
  archaeology, geography, experimental psychology
  and the history of science.
• The society does not cover social sciences or
  clinical medical research. Applications must be
  submitted by the UK host scientist on behalf of
  an overseas candidate.
• Applicants and their overseas candidates must be
  of postdoctoral or equivalent status at the time
  the award is taken up.
• Fellowships last between 6 to 12 months and
  consist of an annual award of 18,200 payable
  quarterly in arrears to the host institution.

19
EU FP7 Overview (Source http//cordis.europa.eu/
fp7/organisations_en.html)

• The biggest in budgetary terms, with 32.4
  billion, called Cooperation, has the ambition to
  help Europe gain leadership in key areas of
  science and technology by having our best brains
  from across Europe working together.
• The second programme is called Ideas, with a
  budget of 7.5 billion to foster competition and
  excellence in frontier or fundamental research.
• The third programme, People with 4.7 billion
  will enable tens of thousands of researchers to
  benefit from fellowships for research training.
• The fourth programme is Capacities, with a budget
  of 4.2 billion to ensure scientific and
  technological capacity-building, for example in
  the area of infrastructures or in helping
  European regions to gear up their scientific
  potential.

20
EU FP7 (COOPERATION)
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What Will be Funded?

• Aeronautics and air transport
• reduction of emissions, work on engines and
  alternative fuels,
• air traffic management, safety aspects of air
  transport,
• environmentally efficient aviation
• Sustainable surface transport - rail, road and
  waterborne
• development of clean and efficient engines and
  power trains,
• reducing the impact of transport on climate
  change,
• inter-modal regional and national transport,
• clean and safe vehicles,
• infrastructure construction and maintenance,
  integrative architectures
• Support to the European global satellite
  navigation system
• Galileo and EGNOS
• navigation and timing services,
• efficient use of satellite navigation

22
EU FP7 (AERONAUTICS AND AIR TRANSPORT)
23
RESEARCH THEMES IN AERONAUTICS AND AIR TRANSPORT

• The Greening of Air Transport
• Increasing Time Efficiency
• Ensuring Customer Satisfaction and Safety
• Improving Cost Efficiency
• Protection of Aircraft and passengers
• Pioneering the Air Transport of the Future

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AAT.2007.1.1.2. Aerostructures (Greening)

• Research Topics
• Advanced concepts and technologies for increased
  and optimised use of light-weight metallic,
  composite materials and metal laminates in
  primary structures
• Advanced concepts and techniques for application
  of smart materials, multi-functional materials,
  micro and nano-technologies
• Aeroelasticity, smart structures and morphing
  airframes.
• Funding scheme Collaborative Projects small or
  medium-scale focused research, Coordination and
  Support Actions aiming at coordinating research
  activities
• Open in call FP7-AERONAUTICS and AIR TRANSPORT
  (AAT) 2007-RTD-1

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AAT.2007.1.1.3. Propulsion (Greening)

• Research Activity
• Advanced concepts and technologies for improving
  engine thermal efficiency and reducing secondary
  air losses
• Advanced concepts and technologies for improving
  engine propulsive efficiency
• Design tools and techniques for increased
  application of advanced light-weight
  high-temperature materials
• Advanced light-weight engine architectures and
  components
• Technologies for optimal use of intelligent and
  fully digital engine control systems design
  tools and techniques for modelling and control of
  the aerothermodynamics of combustion
• Technologies for advanced combustor and injector
  systems
• Tools and techniques for modelling and measuring
  engine exhaust gaseous emissions
• Investigation of the potential opportunities and
  obstacles and of the required technologies for
  greater utilisation of alternative fuels (e.g.
  liquid hydrogen, second generation bio-fuels and
  other "green" synthetic fuels)
• Concepts and technologies to reduce power-plant
  (turbofan, propeller, propfan, rotorcraft rotor)
  noise by active and/or passive methods.
• Funding scheme Collaborative Projects small or
  medium-scale focused research, Coordination and
  Support Actions aiming at coordinating research
  activities
• Open in call FP7-AERONAUTICS and AIR TRANSPORT
  (AAT) 2007-RTD-1

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AAT.2007.2.1.1. Systems and Equipment (Time
Efficiency)

• Research Topics
• Advanced technologies for improved modelling,
  prediction and detection of wake vortex and wind
  shear
• Advanced technologies to enable full automatic
  approach and landing in all weather taking into
  account concepts developed in SESAR
• Advanced cockpit display technologies for
  all-weather, 24-hour (day/night) operation
• Advanced concepts for fault tolerant systems,
  including auto reconfiguration capabilities
  advanced concepts for multi-access cabin
  architectures
• Advanced concepts and technologies for increased
  independence of the aircraft from the
  infrastructure at apron area.
• Funding scheme Collaborative Projects small or
  medium-scale focused research, Coordination and
  Support Actions aiming at coordinating research
  activities
• Open in call FP7-AERONAUTICS and AIR TRANSPORT
  (AAT) 2007-RTD-1

27
AAT.2007.3.1.2. Noise and Vibration (Safety)

• Research Topics
• Advanced modelling tools, concepts and
  technologies (active and passive) to reduce
  overall cabin noise as well as noise at passenger
  level
• Advanced techniques to reduce vibration and
  other unwanted dynamics effects of flight (ride
  comfort).
• Funding scheme Collaborative Projects small or
  medium-scale focused research, Coordination and
  Support Actions aiming at coordinating research
  activities
• Open in call FP7-AERONAUTICS and AIR TRANSPORT
  (AAT) 2007-RTD-1

28
AAT.2007.4.2.2. Aerostructures (Cost Efficiency)

• Research Topics
• Advanced concepts and technologies for increased
  and optimised use of light-weight metallic,
  composite materials and metal laminates in
  primary structures
• Advanced concepts for increased integration of
  additional functions (sensing, actuating,
  electromagnetic, electrical conductivity, etc.)
  in structural components for wider applications
  at low cost and weight.
• Funding scheme Collaborative Projects small or
  medium-scale focused research, Coordination and
  Support Actions aiming at coordinating research
  activities
• Open in call FP7-AERONAUTICS and AIR TRANSPORT
  (AAT) 2007-RTD-1

29
AAT.2007.4.2.3. Propulsion(Cost Efficiency)

• Research Topics
• Advanced concepts and technologies for improving
  engine thermal efficiency and reducing secondary
  air losses
• Advanced concepts and technologies for improving
  engine propulsive efficiency
• Design tools and techniques for increased
  application of advanced light-weight
  high-temperature materials
• Advanced light-weight engine architectures and
  components.
• Funding scheme Collaborative Projects small or
  medium-scale focused research, Coordination and
  Support Actions aiming at coordinating research
  activities
• Open in call FP7-AERONAUTICS and AIR TRANSPORT
  (AAT) 2007-RTD-1

30
AAT.2007.6.1.1. Lift (Future)

• Research Topics
• Investigation of new approaches to produce or to
  control the forces that govern flight, in
  particular those that lift the vehicle. It could
  consider topics such as other principles of
  physics as alternative to conventional fluid
  dynamics, computer controlled aircraft morphing
  into different aerodynamic forms for different
  flight phases, thrust vectoring to provide lift
  and control.
• Funding scheme Collaborative Projects small or
  medium-scale focused research, Coordination and
  Support Actions aiming at coordinating research
  activities
• Open in call FP7-AERONAUTICS and AIR TRANSPORT
  (AAT) 2007-RTD-1

31
EU FP7 (IDEAS)

• Call Title Call for proposals for ERC Starting
  Independent Researcher Grant
• Call identifier ERC-2007-StG
• Date of publication 22 December 2006
• Date from which proposals are receivable 1 April
  2007
• Call deadline 25 April 2007 at 17.00 (Brussels
  local time)
• Indicative budget 289.5M from 2007 budget
• Activity European Research Council Starting
  Grants
• Minimum number of participants At least 1
  independent legal entity established in a Member
  State (MS) or in an Associate Country (AC).
• Topics Applications may be made in any field of
  research, other than those specifically excluded
  from the 7th framework programme

32
EU FP7 PEOPLE
33
Activity 1 Initial Training of Researchers

• 1.1 Marie Curie Action " Initial Training
  Networks " (ITN)

34
Activity 2 "Life-long Training and Career
Development"

• 2.1. Marie Curie Action "Intra-European
  Fellowships for Career Development" (IEF)
• 2.2 Marie Curie Action "European Reintegration
  Grants" (ERG)
• 2.3 Marie Curie Action "Co-funding of Regional,
  National and International Programmes"(COFUND)

35
Activity 3 "Industry-Academia partnerships and
pathways

• 3.1 Marie Curie Action "Industry-Academia
  Partnerships and Pathways" (IAPP)

36
Activity 4 "International Dimension"

• 4.1 Marie Curie Action "International Outgoing
  Fellowships for Career Development (IOF)
• 4.2 Marie Curie Action "International Incoming
  Fellowships" (IIF)
• 4.3 Marie Curie Action "International
  Reintegration Grants" (IRG)
• 4.4 International activities not implemented
  through calls for proposals

37
Activity 5 "Specific Actions

• 5.1 Marie Curie Action "Researchers' Night"
  (NIGHT)
• 5.2 Marie Curie Action "Marie Curie Awards 2007"
  (AWARDS)
• 5.3 Trans-national collaboration among ERA-MORE
  members (ERA-MORE)
• 5.4 Trans-national co-operation among NCPs (NCP)
• 5.5 Specific actions not implemented through
  calls for proposals

38
EU FP7 Capacities
39
Capacities Infrastructure

• research infrastructures refers to facilities,
  resources and related services that are used by
  the scientific community to conduct top-level
  research in their respective fields.
• This definition covers
• major scientific equipment or set of instruments
  
• knowledge based-resources such as collections,
  archives or structured scientific information
• enabling ICT-based infrastructures such as Grid,
  computing, software and communications
• any other entity of a unique nature essential to
  achieve excellence in research.
• Such research infrastructures may be
  single-sited or distributed
• 164,4 M

40
Integrating Activities

• INFRA-2008-1.1.1 Bottom-up approach
• Integrating Activities in all scientific and
  technological fields. Open to all fields of
  science and technology without any preference for
  one field over another. The specific topics
  defined under the targeted approach below are
  excluded from this topic.
• INFRA-2008-1.1.2.x Targeted approach
• Integrated Activities to support the specific
  needs of thematic priority areas. Integrating
  Activities to be considered under this topic
  should correspond to strategic research needs of
  the thematic priority areas.

41
e-Infrastructures

• INFRA-2007-1.2.1 Scientific Digital
  Repositories.
• This topic fosters a coordinated approach to the
  deployment of digital repositories for the
  scientific communities by pooling existing
  resources at European level and supporting data
  storage, archiving, access, interpretation,
  interoperability, management and curation
  activities.
• INFRA-2007-1.2.2 Deployment of e-Infrastructures
  for scientific communities.
• This topic aims at reinforcing the impact,
  adoption and global relevance of the
  e-Infrastructure across various areas of science
  and engineering. It supports its continuous
  consolidation and expansion by addressing the
  specific needs of new scientific communities
  within a coherent pan-European model, regardless
  of the location of their research facilities.

42
e-Infrastructures

• INFRA-2007-1.2.3 e-Science Grid infrastructures.
• This topic supports the further deployment,
  extension in time and evolution of core European
  grid-empowered e- Infrastructures, exploiting the
  sharing of more computing resources (including
  distributed supercomputing), scientific
  instrumentation and data facilities across
  multiple scientific disciplines.
• INFRA-2008-1.2.5 Scientific Data Infrastructure.
  
• This activity supports the deployment of a broad
  European multidisciplinary scientific data
  infrastructure able to be easily federated with
  other knowledge infrastructures in other parts of
  the world, building upon the achievements of
  network and grid infrastructures and opening its
  benefits to other potential research areas such
  as e-health, e-learning and others.

43
Design Studies

• The aim is to support conceptual design studies
  for new research infrastructures, which are of a
  clear European dimension and interest. Such
  studies should address all key questions which
  will help to assess the scientific and technical
  and financial feasibility of the proposed new
  facility.
• INFRA-2007-2.1.1 Design studies for research
  infrastructures in all ST fields.
• INFRA-2007-2.1.2 Design studies for
  e-Infrastructures.

44
Support for policy development and programme
implementation, including support to emerging
needs

• INFRA-2008-3.2 Studies, conferences and
  coordination actions supporting policy
  development, including international cooperation,
  in all ST fields.
• The monitoring and further development of a
  European policy for research infrastructures,
  including international cooperation, needs the
  development of specific actions, such as impact
  studies, surveys, development of a catalogue of
  research services or conferences. This helps to
  take stock of the advancement of knowledge in the
  various areas covered, as well as of the
  development of access and IPR policies for
  pan-European research infrastructures.
• INFRA-2007-3.3 Studies, conferences and
  coordination actions supporting policy
  development, including international cooperation,
  for e-Infrastructures.
• Measures will aim at encouraging the coordination
  between National and pan-European e-
  Infrastructure initiatives, namely through the
  support of policy oriented groups such as the
  e-IRG. Support would also be given to specific
  studies and conferences on e-Infrastructure
  related topics, complementing and paving the way
  to improved multidisciplinary ICT based
  infrastructures.
• INFRA-2008-3.4 Coordination actions to support
  emerging needs.
• Coordination actions covering networking
  activities are provided for research
  infrastructures in areas where strategic needs
  are emerging and for which a culture of
  cooperation is less developed

45
Other European

• Human Frontier Science Program
• Young investigator grants
• Novel collaborations that bring biologists
  together with scientists from other scientific
  disciplines to focus on problems at the frontiers
  of the life sciences
• European Research Consortium for Informatics and
  Mathematics
• Cor Baayen award
• the most promising researcher in computer science
  and applied mathematics.
• open to any young researcher having completed
  their PhD thesis in one of the ERCIM countries
• 5,000 euros. Nominees must have been awarded
  their PhD or equivalent not more than two years
  prior to the date of nomination.

46
Other European

• European Doctoral College
• For students primarily from European countries
  who are interested in preparing a PhD in two
  different institutions one in Strasbourg and the
  other in another European country of the
  students choice.
• Applicants must have been accepted for doctoral
  studies at one of these universities by 15
  October, must be under 32 years old, and must
  have European or associated states citizenship.
• The EDC offers help with accommodation, travel
  expenses and a limited number of grants to work
  in conjunction with the applicant's other source
  or sources of funding.
• The European Doctoral College accepts students in
  all subjects.
• Deadline 15 May and 15 September 2007

47
Reminder

• Which topics can I collaborate on?
• Which events am I interested in?
• What can the Spencer Institute do for me?
• Suggest a postdoc/PhD Student who could benefit
  from the institute or participate in activities
  on your behalf.
• Are there any case studies I can provide to make
  other people more aware of what I can offer?
• Are there any calls from the following that
  interest me?

48
Thank you for your attention

• The Spencer Institute Benefits from a
• Full-Time Business Development Executive
• Dr. Hitendra Hirani
• Hitendra.hirani_at_nottingham.ac.uk
• 0115 951 3988