News from AMTAS
August 3, 2006
COMPOSITES SHORT COURSE
A new AMTAS Institute on Advanced Aircraft Composites is being offered September 18–22, 2006 at the University of Washington. This intermediate level course provides an in-depth introduction to the use of advanced composite materials for aircraft from an engineering and manufacturing point of view. Specifically, the course is designed to address critical areas of composite technologies, control, testing, analysis, design, inspection, repair, and product lifecycle management. The course does not contain any proprietary or export-controlled information and will be taught by leading experts from academia, industry and government.
For more information and to register, go to http://www.engr.washington.edu/epp/amtas/index.html.
PAST MEETINGS
- Our Spring 2006 semiannual AMTAS meeting was held on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at the University of Washington. The agenda featured reports on our planned educational opportunities, collaborative efforts between AMTAS and the University of Manchester (UK), DOE funding opportunities, and new research thrusts including nanotechnology. For a summary, go to http://depts.washington.edu/amtas/events/amtas_06spring/index.html.
- AMTAS hosted the 2nd Annual FAA Joint Advanced Materials & Structures (JAMS) Technical Review Meeting on June 20–22, 2006. This event featured reports from JAMS PIs on their FAA-funded research projects. Outcomes and presentations from the meeting are available on the AMTAS website at http://depts.washington.edu/amtas/events/jams_06/index.html.
- Our Autumn 2005 meeting held on October 13, 2005 at the University of Washington. The workshop summary and presentations are posted on the AMTAS website at http://depts.washington.edu/amtas/events/amtas_05fall/index.html.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
- The Autumn AMTAS meeting will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2006 at the Edmonds Conference Center. This promises to be a unique event. The morning will feature AMTAS business and reports from AMTAS PIs about their FAA-sponsored research. You can register for a luncheon to be served by the Edmonds Community College Culinary Arts Students. Speakers will include Sen. Maria Cantwell, representatives from Washington’s Dept. of Community, Trade & Economic Development, and others. The optional afternoon program hosted by Edmonds Community College will highlight the composites industry in Washington State with a small trade show featuring Washington composites companies. More details to come soon!
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
- Mark Tuttle and other AMTAS/UW faculty have been working on collaboration opportunities with faculty from the University of Manchester (UK). These activities include composites-related research and education and people exchange. Research areas of interest to Manchester are 1) design methodologies, 2) 3-D aeroelastic design concepts, 3) low-cost manufacturing assembly, and 4) market analysis. Representatives from Manchester have made several visits to both Boeing and UW facilities. Tentatively, the first formal exchange will include two University of Washington graduate students, Molly Phariss and Russ Caspe, who will begin their studies at the University of Manchester in September 2006. Profs. Brian Flinn and Mark Tuttle also plan to visit Manchester within the next few months.
- Mark Tuttle was invited to be a featured speaker at the May 12, 2006 opening festivities of Manchester’s new Northwest Composites Centre. His presentation is available at http://depts.washington.edu/amtas/publications/presentations/Tuttle_NWCC_5-06.pdf.
- On March 3, 2006, nine representatives from the UK Dept of Trade & Industry and several UK companies on behalf of the National Composites Network visited with AMTAS members on an aerospace composites mission. Their goal was to help facilitate technology collaboration opportunities between the UK and the U.S., specifically in the area of engineering & materials and advances in the manufacture of advanced structural composites in aerospace. The meeting included presentations from both the UK and AMTAS. The report of this mission is available at http://depts.washington.edu/amtas/publications/reports/index.html.
The UK group also visited C&D Zodiac, one of AMTAS’ industry partners.