Current Research - Hugh Shercliff

1. Thermomechanical process modelling and knowledge management
2. Design and manufacturing, sustainability and process selection
3. Resources for teaching of materials and design, and sustainability

(1) Thermomechanical process modelling and knowledge management

1a. Modelling of materials and processing (thermomechanical processing, microstructural evolution and residual stresses in welding of metals)

Development and validation of numerical process models for material flow and thermal field in friction stir and ultrasonic welding of aluminium and other alloys; integration with modelling of microstructure evolution in aluminium alloys.
Hot deformation behaviour of engineering alloys for friction processing.
Finite element modelling of the thermal fields and residual stress in welding of aerospace alloys.

Collaborators: Dr. Joe Robson, Dr. Phil Prangnell, Prof. Phil Withers (Manchester Materials Science Centre);
Dr. Paul Colegrove, Prof Stewart Williams (Cranfield University);
Dr. Mike Russell (TWI).

1b. Knowledge management in materials processing

Development of methodologies for knowledge management and through-process modelling for multi-stage material processing.

1c. Materials modelling in the UK

Reports on status of modelling in the UK are available as follows:
Workshop on Constitutive Modelling for Materials Processing, Cambridge, 1999
Survey of Modelling of Materials and Processing, for OST and Institute of Materials, 1997

(2) Design and manufacturing, sustainability and process selection

2a. Application of process modelling to process selection in design and manufacturing

Integration of process modelling with methods for process selection and costing, particularly for joining, surface engineering, heat treatment of steels and casting.

2b. Property charts for mechanical properties of fibre-based materials and textiles.

2c. Sustainability: Life cycle analysis and recycling of materials and products.

(3) Resources for teaching of materials and design, and sustainability

3a. Materials: Science, Engineering, Processing and Design

Textbook for undergraduate teaching, 2nd edition published in October 2009, by Mike Ashby, Hugh Shercliff and David Cebon ( further details). Design-led introduction to material properties: mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical and magnetic. Interaction of manufacturing process on material properties and selection in design, and introduction to life cycle analysis and environmental impact of materials. "Guided Learning Units" on Crystallography, and Phase Diagrams & Transformations. Material property charts used throughout to illustrate data and relationships between properties, processing and underlying microstructural mechanisms. Fully integrated with Cambridge Engineering Selector software (CES), produced by Granta Design.

3b. Selection and Processing for post-16 Physics and Design Technology

Use of material property charts for 16-19 teaching (A Level Design Technology and Physics) to illustrate property data and to explain physical behaviour of different material classes, and as basis for selection in product analysis and design. CD-ROMs and supporting text produced for OCR Advancing Physics and Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP). Web version of resources at: Material Selection and Processing).

3c. aluMATTER: e-learning tool in aluminium science and technology

European Aluminium Association (EAA) project supported by Leonardo da Vinci programme. Web-based resource for training in all aspects of aluminium science and technology. Resources contributed to "Material Science and Engineering" and "Applications" sections of the resource, in particular definitions of properties and their measurement (Mechanical and Physical Properties) and introduction to material property charts to illustrate property data and to rationalise material selection. Website at: aluMATTER).

3d. Sustainable energy: teaching resources for schools

Adapted from David Mackay's book Sustainable Energy: Without the Hot Air, these resources present simple quantitative analyses of the potential for renewable energy generation in the UK, together with estimates of the typical energy consumption of transport, heating and lighting, food consumption, gadgets, and other "stuff". Website at: Sustainable Energy for Schools.

[ Cambridge University | CUED | Micromechanics and Materials Group]

hrs@eng.cam.ac.uk
Last Updated September 2010