MAterials and STructures (MAST) Research Group

Our research group explores many aspects of structural, mechanical, marine, composites and civil engineering
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The MAterials and STructures (MAST) Research Group explores many aspects of structural, mechanical, marine, composites and civil engineering.

The strategic objective of MAST is to become a leading research centre for durable materials and structures in applications covering sustainable energy, the marine environment and medical technology.

Our five principal foci

Civil and Structural materials (composites, concrete and steel)

Principal contact: Professor Long-yuan Li

Composites Engineering (fibres or particles embedded in a matrix)

Principal contact: Professor John Summerscales

Medical engineering and biomaterials

Principal contact: Dr Alexander Besinis

Structural integrity (composites, metals and alloys)

Principal contact: Dr Alistair Cree

Surfaces and Coatings

Principal contact: Dr Maozhou Meng

There is no hard boundary between these fields and inter-disciplinary research is encouraged.

Discover more

 

Recent and ongoing research areas

Marine engineering
  • durability in the marine environment
  • marine renewable energy (MRE) devices
  • naval architecture
  • structural fire safety of offshore platforms
  • fatigue mechanism of reinforced concrete in marine applications
  • design and optimisation of connections in marine structures.
Composites engineering
  • composites manufacturing, especially resin infusion processes
  • engineered nanomaterials and nanotechnology applications
  • marine composites
  • materials characterisation by destructive and non-destructive techniques
  • medical implants and biomaterials Multi-phase modelling of biomaterials
  • numerical modelling and optimisation techniques for stress, heat and moisture transport
  • smart materials and intelligent structures
  • sustainable composites, including life cycle assessment (LCA) and waste management.
  • thin films and nano-coatings.
Civil and structural engineering
  • durability of concrete structures
  • sustainable homes for developing countries
  • dynamic testing and analysis of full-scale and model structures
  • reliability analysis of thin-walled stainless steel members
  • geopolymer concrete
  • properties of cement mortar/concrete with Graphene Oxide
  • fire safety engineering design of structures
  • concentrated solar power technology
  • ground improvement and soil-structure interaction.
Structural integrity
  • residual stresses in components and structures
  • fatigue design and life prediction
  • fatigue and fracture of surface coated engineering materials
  • elevated temperature fatigue.
 

Past events

Engineering solutions for marine plastic pollution

Towards a circular economy for fishing gear and marine composites

Tuesday 29 June 2021

Part of the Research Festival 2021

Is Biodegradability a Solution to Plastics Waste Management? – Understanding the Science

Presented by Ramani Narayan (Michigan State University)

Wednesday 04 November 2020

Read the abstract and watch the recording of this seminar

International Conferences on Composite Materials (ICCM series)

International Conference series on Flow Processes in Composite Materials

 
 

The MAST Research Group is a constituent part of:

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Marine Institute

Aerial view from high altitude of little planet earth with small village houses and distant green cultivated agricultural fields with growing crops on bright summer evening

Sustainable Earth Institute

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REF2021 Unit of Assessment 12 Engineering