MAST STC Materials And Structures Technology

Science & Technology Centre

UK OFFICIAL © Crown copyright

27 June 2014

Professor Ian Youngs

Project Technical Authority

Physical Sciences Department

Porton Down

maststc@dstl.gov.uk

www.dstl.gov.uk/maststc

Contents

• What is MAST

• Who delivers research for MAST

• Technical scope

• Link to military capability

• The challenges

UK OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2013 Dstl

27 June 2014

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27 June 2014

Programme vision

“MAST is the recognised hub for exploiting global

investment in state of the art materials and structures

science for enhanced defence and security capability.”

Future proofing that from which defence equipment is made!

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27 June 2014

Community: Defence Materials Forum

“MAST STC is now a shining example of how

Dstl is acting as S&T agent for MOD”

• 73 Members

– Industry

– Academia

• Capability database

• £7.2M invested FY14/15

• 90% EMR

• ~60 tasks contracted

Programme structure

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Programme management

and strategic direction

Elements delivered by industry and academia

Low observable

materials

Advanced materials

and structures

Core research programme

Innovation programme Studentship

programme

Affordable (air)

structures Maritime structures

Related programmes

Whilst the programme is led by Dstl, more than 90% of all funding is

spent with industry and academia.

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Low observable materials

• Radar absorbing materials

• Infrared/visible camouflage technology

• Vibro-acoustic materials

• Metamaterials

Advanced materials & structures

• Metals and Ceramics

• Polymers and Composites

• Multifunctional Materials

• Through Life Capability Management

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Challenges: Materials unlocking capability

• Performance

• Availability

• Cost

• Future proof

Mapping MAST to capability

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Mapping MAST to capability

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Mapping MAST to capability

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Micro and nano to macro scale science in an

application context – e.g. accounting for platform

assembly not just materials performance

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Credit: TATA Steel

Credit: University of Cambridge

Accelerate progress: working with industry

to make new materials at scales that enable

testing under realistic conditions

• Spark Plasma Sintering

• Kennemetal Ltd

• e.g. Affordable titanium

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Credit: Wales Online Credit: Sheffield University

In-service performance: maintenance and

repair, costs of corrosion and bio-fouling

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Unlocking new sub-system capability from

emerging technology (e.g. metamaterials)

• Novel physics

• New design & fabrication paradigms

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Credit: MIMiCRA Project led by BAE Systems, EADS IW

Credit: Queen Mary University, BAE Systems

World class, state of the art computational

materials science and experimentation

e.g. polymeric armour materials

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Credit: Imperial College

Multi-function materials and systems inspiring

lightweight and miniaturised capability

e.g. Bio-inspired morphing wings

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Credit: Queen Blue Bear Systems Research

Relevant enduring challenge themes

• New capabilities: challenging current convention, disruptive

• All environments: personnel, platforms, facilities, materials

– Protection: physical, susceptibility to detection

– Mobility: lightweighting, comfort, propulsion

– Lower cost of ownership: maintenance, repair, life extension

• Multi-function or smart materials as enablers for structures:

– Situational awareness

– Power

– Communications

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Closing remarks

• We’re interested in most aspects of materials and

structures science and technology

• We want to capitalise global advances for UK defence

and economic benefits

• But we can’t fund work in every area

• So please identify where we can play a part

– To unlock technical progress

– And hence defence capability impact

UK OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2013 Dstl

27 June 2014