Funding for lightning research
23 Nov 2015 by Evoluted New Media
The Universities and Science Minister – Jo Johnson – has announced £2.6 million for development of new ways of protecting modern aircraft from lightning strikes.
The Universities and Science Minister – Jo Johnson – has announced £2.6 million for development of new ways of protecting modern aircraft from lightning strikes.
The research project will aim to understand the phenomena and physics of mechanisms involved in aircraft joints when built from carbon composite materials at the newly redesigned Morgan-Botti Lightning Laboratory at Cardiff University.
Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson said: “As a One Nation Government we are backing science and innovation across the UK. We want to be the best place in Europe to innovate which is why we are investing in Cardiff University’s unique project to create new ideas for developing Wales’ world-class aerospace sector.
“This is the kind of expertise we are supporting to safeguard the future success of the nation and its economy.”
The researchers will focus their studies on the mechanisms involved when lightning strikes these carbon composite materials and devise ways of making the materials safer and more reliable. This information will then be used to make overall aircraft design more efficient and economical.
“Universities exist to create and share knowledge and the impact of that on UK society is huge. The research conducted in our Lightning Laboratory is just one example, among many, demonstrating how fundamental research supported by the research councils is developed into translational research of real value to the UK through partnership with industry, Government and Innovate UK. We are really proud of our long record of industrial collaboration across a wide range of sectors,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan.
