Materials, Manufacture & Structural Design

The development of new materials and structures for seawater environments, long in-service lifetimes and high levels of fatigue loading is a key element in reducing costs and ensuring the survivability of Marine Renewable Energy devices. Within this field, PRIMaRE partners have developed expertise in the following research areas, working with a range of different companies:

• Environmental Lifecycle Analysis and sustainable use of materials (e.g. re-use and recycling) 
• Manufacturing processes for complex components (e.g. tidal turbine blades)
• Material testing and certification programmes
• New composite materials specifically aimed at MRE devices
• Non-Destructive Testing and Structural Health Monitoring methods. 
• Optimisation of welding and bonding procedures
• Structural design and analysis methods 
• Surface coatings and material protection systems to minimise biofouling and extend lifetimes