DPCS
Welcome to the website of Design and Production of Composite Structures (DPCS), a disciplinary group with both educational and research interests within the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Delft University of Technology.
Why composites?
Thinking in terms of lightweight structures has gained great importance since the need for energy efficiency is constantly growing in many engineering applications. While improving traditional metal technology becomes increasingly difficult, fibre reinforced plastics, i.e. polymeric composites, allow a renaissance of lightweight construction that helps to achieve the performance targets set by an ever more demanding industry. The basis of composite product development is aimed traditionally at aerospace use; however, other application fields such as wind energy, transport and storage as well as automative, are increasingly being developed.
Our Philosophy
We concentrate on the development of new concepts for composite materials and structures preferably combined with novel "down-stream" production technologies in which material, structure and product are formed in one step in, as we like to call, the "trinity". In this way, we can reduce the number of intermediate steps between the basic materials and the product realisation. Put simply, our aim is towards a more straightforward approach to intrinsically durable and sustainable products.
The trinity ideology
Our Strategy
Proper design philosophies, tools and rules must be developed and integrated. This includes tools for process simulation and tools for dedicated manufacturing equipment development too. In addition knowledge and skills must be developed to ease optimal integration or segregation of functional, mechanical and physical product requirements in the materialised structure itself. Therefore, the research and development programmes are organised in such a way that the development of knowledge on composites emphasises the mutual relationship of the following subgroups of technological sciences:
These themes will interfere strongly with novel "integration or segregation" philosophies in support of new developed simulation and optimisation codes, with respect to functional, mechanical and physical behaviour per unit performance or cost. As a derivative activity the development of product or market dedicated manufacturing techniques for advanced composite structures and constructions will be intensified.
About Us
Our group is active nationally and internationally through collaborative projects with industry, other universities and research institutions as well as through its participation in numerous advisory boards. Patents and innovative designs emanating from our research and development activities have placed us in the forefront of this cutting-edge field of expertise. By using the navigation menu on the left, you will find a complete overview of our group and its activities. Please feel free to contact us should you have any inquiries about our projects or about possible research opportunities within our group.
