Interviews
Dr Julie Soden to develop new sustainable materials
05 Oct '07
2 min read
A University of Ulster designer is creating super strong materials that could help revolutionise the construction industry and has succeeded in a national competition for funding to support her work.
Dr Julie Soden, a lecturer in constructed textile design and member of the University's Art and Design Research Institute, is using 3D weaving techniques to develop load-bearing materials for the transport and construction industries.
Dr Soden has been awarded funding of £391,000 from the prestigious Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) – the highest research award ever made to an individual academic in the School of Art and Design from that source.
“The two-year project exploits cross-discipline research, traditionally associated with the aerospace industry, between technical textiles and engineering,” explains Dr Soden.
“The research focuses on the development of structural, load-bearing materials using natural yarns and resins from plant-derived renewable resources to create a new class of eco-composite material."
“Using 3D woven fabric as the lynchpin, the research combines the design of complex fabric architectures, with advanced fabric reinforced plastics technology pioneered at the University's Engineering Composites Research Centre."
“These new super strong materials can be designed to fit specific areas and will perform much better than laminated structures used at present. Before long, they could be in the wall, under the road and above your head without you even knowing it.”
Dr Julie Soden, a lecturer in constructed textile design and member of the University's Art and Design Research Institute, is using 3D weaving techniques to develop load-bearing materials for the transport and construction industries.
Dr Soden has been awarded funding of £391,000 from the prestigious Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) – the highest research award ever made to an individual academic in the School of Art and Design from that source.
“The two-year project exploits cross-discipline research, traditionally associated with the aerospace industry, between technical textiles and engineering,” explains Dr Soden.
“The research focuses on the development of structural, load-bearing materials using natural yarns and resins from plant-derived renewable resources to create a new class of eco-composite material."
“Using 3D woven fabric as the lynchpin, the research combines the design of complex fabric architectures, with advanced fabric reinforced plastics technology pioneered at the University's Engineering Composites Research Centre."
“These new super strong materials can be designed to fit specific areas and will perform much better than laminated structures used at present. Before long, they could be in the wall, under the road and above your head without you even knowing it.”
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Yohan Lawrence
Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAFSL)
Salesh Grover
OSL Luxury Collections Pvt. Ltd.
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
