World class scientists visit USQ to discuss frontier fibre composites research

Six scientists from prestigious universities and institutions across the world visited USQ's Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC) recently to discuss how advanced composites research can be globally utilised.

The delegates from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of California, Irvine (UCI), University of Wollongong, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and University of Auckland took part in the CEEFC's international advisory board meeting.

During the visit they co-organised a public lecture with the Queensland Government's Centre and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) for local industrialists on the recent research trend and future development in advanced composites.

"Several frontier composite technologies for aerospace, automotive and civil engineering applications were addressed and thoughtfully discussed with all participants," CEEFC Executive Director, Professor Alan Lau, said. 

"They afterward visited our Centre at Toowoomba to explore research opportunities with the Centre’s members in the region. During the discussion, many interesting projects and ideas have come up to identify the niche of composite science and technology that the Centre should go forward, to create a 'Composites Hub' at Queensland."

Within the discussion, it was identified that infrastructure development by using light weight and eco-design composites, and energy efficient composites should be the key directions of the Centre in the future.

Many projects in relation to natural fibre (plant-based and animal based) composites, geopolymer, smart wind turbine blades, artificial composite reefs and composite sleepers have been created to bid for external funding to groom the young generation to conduct high level research with other world class scholars.

“Research in wind energy is one of the main power sources that Australia should put more effort into, a recent established smart composite wind turbine blade design between the Centre and NASA can open up an important milestone in wind energy research in this region”, NASA Glenn Research Centre's John Gyekenyesi said.

UCI's Ayman Mosallam said infrastructure development, particularly for providing light and durable composite structures for house rebuilding certainly can help many areas in the world at the moment. 

Professor Lau said the Centre planned to expand its facilities to meet the challenge on frontier research projects with those top-ranked international institutions and organisations.

“We believe the potential of fibre composites is huge as many mature industries are located at the Queensland region. The Centre will keep on its principle to continue its research in composite science and technology and transfer our technologies to support the growth of the Industry”, Professor Lau said.