The Fractography and Failure Analysis Short Course is open to external parties and should appeal to individuals with a basic knowledge of composites, together with a modest understanding laminate analysis. It is suitable for delegates who are interested in applying fractographic methods, or wishing to expand their expertise in this field, or for more senior personnel who have responsibility for such practitioners.

The course is also open to Research Students with an interest in the field.

The course will not be taking place in Short Course format in 2017.

Full details regarding the course can be found on the Short Course Flyer.

Why should I take this course?

Composite failure analysis and fractography is a growing discipline and has proved to be invaluable for studying fibre reinforced polymer composites. By interpreting the fracture surface morphology, the source and sequence of fracture can be determined. Failure analysis is a powerful research tool for solving real engineering problems and can deliver significant cost savings to component development.

Course Aims

1. Familiarisation of the procedures for failure analysis of composites
2. Identification of the morphology of the different fracture modes
3. Application of the basic methodology to the investigation of failed components

Course Structure

The course is delivered over one day in the form of 7 hours’ worth of lectures. The course text is provided in full to the delegates.

About the Lecturer

Dr Emile S. Greenhalgh is a Reader in Composite Material at Imperial College London. Between 1987 and 2003, Emile worked at RAE (now QinetiQ) in Farnborough in the Composite Structures Section, conducting research on a broad range of aspects of polymer composites and has published over one hundred reports and papers in this field. He was trained by David Purslow, one of the founders of fractographic analysis of composites, and subsequently further developed the field of fractography, focusing on delamination and damage tolerance. Emile has developed new methods for identifying crack growth directions and failure modes in compression and delamination failure.

Throughout his career Emile has used fractographic analysis to underpin his research findings. He has initiated a European working group on composites fractography, conducted numerous failure investigations and his expertise has led involvement in high profile component failures (e.g. Formula One crashes) and as an expert witness in litigation cases. Through this work, he is one of the leading world experts on failure analysis of composites, and has given courses on fractography to organisations such as AAIB, NASA and Rolls Royce. In 2009 he published a book on Failure Analysis and Fractography of Polymer Composites.

Venue

The course will take place in the Department of Aeronautics, Roderic Hill Building, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ. The nearest tube station is South Kensington (Circle, District and Piccadilly lines). Car parking is not available on the College campus.

More information about getting to the campus.

Interest for 2017

If you would like to express an interest in future opportunites to attend this course, please email Miss Joanne Cooke:
Email: joanne.cooke@imperial.ac.uk

Further Information

If the answer to your query cannot be found on the Short Course Flyer and is relating to the technical content of the course, please contact Dr Emile Greenhalgh:
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5070
Email: e.greenhalgh@imperial.ac.uk

Queries about registration should be directed to Miss Joanne Cooke:
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5066
Email: joanne.cooke@imperial.ac.uk