CRI - SIMLab

Concurrent research projects

The following selection of research projects have been run in 2010 utilizing the competence developed at the Centre:
• Crash systems in trucks (2009-2011):
SIMLab together with Kongsberg Automotive and SINTEF Raufoss Manufacturing is involved in a user defined research project (BIP project) funded by the Research Council of Norway. The activity at SIMLab is related to a PhD candidate (Espen Myklebust) who is working on robust design related to material variations.

• Duplex pipe fittings with sigma phase precipitation (2010): SIMLab in cooperation with SINTEF has been involved in a project for Statoil to evaluate the impact resistant of duplex pipe fittings with sigma phase precipitates. Both material tests at elevated rates of strain and impact tests in the SIMLab's pendulum accelerator have been carried out.

• FME BIGCCS (2009-2016): In the research task CO2 Pipeline Integrity, the main objective is to develop a coupled fluid-structure model to enable safe and cost-effective design and operation of CO2 pipelines. Further, requirements to avoid running ductile fracture in pipelines pressurized with CO2 and CO2 mixtures will be established.

• FME Centre for Solar Cell Technology (2009-2017): The overall objective is to give current and future companies in the Norwegian PV industry long-term access to world leading technological and scientific expertise.

• SECURE: SIMLab is involved in the research platform SECURE through post doc Heidi Moe Føre from SINTEF Fisheries and aquaculture (2010-2013). SECURE consists of 9 research partners, and involves technological and biological research within escape of fish from aquaculture. SIMLab contributes in modelling of fish farms and studies of material properties.

• BIP NextGenSi: SINTEF, NTNU and TU Bergakademie Freiberg together with 3 PV-related companies are involved in this BIP project for the period 2009-2013. The main objective of the project is to develop technologies for next generation production
line equipment for ultra-thin silicon wafers. A modelling activity is working on assessing and understanding the effects of selected parameters on wafer life in the production chain.
 
• KMB COMPACT (2009-2013): This project is based on collaboration with the research group ‘Polymers and composites' at SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, and other industries than those that are involved in the Centre. There is close analogy to the activities at the Centre as this project will develop design tools for advanced continuous fibre polymer composites. One PhD candidate is supervised by personnel from the Centre. Furthermore, the associated SINTEF team has been involved in the following new project initiatives:
 
• COPAT: Hydro Aluminium Precision Tubing (HAPT) has taken initiative to an innovation project related to cost efficient and competitive manufacturing processes for production of leak-free tubes. This project will be strongly linked to the research at SIMLab, and allow the involved scientists in the Centre to be actively engaged in a required industrial innovation. In addition to direct process innovations, this also enables efficient implementation of such methods in HAPT.
 
• FAST-Tunn: A main objective of this project initiative is to develop more efficient cutter rings for Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) used in hard rock formations. Numerical models will be developed to understand the rock/cutter interaction.

EU application involvements

In 2009 the centre has been involved in:

The Green Car Initiative within the 7th framework programme together with the Université de Valenciennes et du Hainaut-Cambrésis in France. The idea behind the initiative is to look at the crashworthiness of a small battery-driven city car.

Proposal -  Composite Materials under Dynamic Extreme Loading (CoDEx), 7th framework programme. The coordinator of the programme is Cranfield University, UK.

Cost proposal - Dynamic Testing for Materials and Structures Research. The research network covers totally 21 universities and research organizations. The coordinator of the proposal is the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland. The proposal did not pass the evaluation round, but will be modified and re-submitted in 2010.