Professor Robert A Smith

Following an EPSRC Fellowship in Manufacturing entitled 'NDT for High Value Manufacturing of Composites' and the role of Director of the UK Research Centre for Non-destructive Evaluation, Robert is now pursuing a research portfolio in the NDT of Composites as an Honorary Professor. This involves researching new non-destructive testing methods for 3D characterisation of composites and evolving a strategy for ensuring they benefit the structural integrity of aerostructures and engines, wind turbines, etc. The ultimate aim is to enable the optimum use of composite materials by providing detailed information about the actual as-manufactured inner quality, thus moving from conservative designs to lightweight high-performance optimally designed components. An additional benefit would be facilitating the use of lower-cost manufacturing methods.