Category: Competitions

SAMPE is the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering. Originally formed in the USA, SAMPE is globally recognised as the leading professional body for engineers and technologists associated with advanced materials and processes, and in particular those based on high performance composite materials. For almost 20 years, SAMPE UK & Ireland has organised a competitive and enjoyable Students’ Seminar to foster technical excellence here in the UK and Ireland.

When and where:

Students are invited to join a panel of experts at the NIACE Centre, Belfast on Tuesday 7th March 2023, to give a 15-minute presentation with 5-minutes for questions, on their research project. SAMPE wishes to use this event to create a dialogue and network with tomorrow’s engineers.

The prize:

This event is being held the day before SAMPE UK & Ireland’s annual technical seminar (Expanding Horizons: Innovative Approaches for Composite Materials), which participants will be able to attend free of charge. Participants will also receive free student membership of SAMPE for one year. The two best presenters will be announced at the Annual Seminar on 8th March 2023. Both will win an expenses paid trip to the SAMPE Europe Conference held in Madrid, Spain on 3rd-5th October 2023, to participate in the European heat of the Students’ Seminar. This is a fantastic opportunity to network with other European researchers, in true SAMPE spirit. The overall European winners will go on to represent SAMPE Europe in the USA. In previous years, participants have very much enjoyed taking part and have gained useful experience, with SAMPE UK & Ireland providing five European winners to date.

The process:

UK & Ireland universities are encouraged to invite their Masters and Doctoral research students to participate in this competitive Students’ Seminar. An initial selection will be based on submitted abstracts, with students typically beyond the mid-point of their studies being favoured. Abstract acceptance is based on a relevant topic and appropriate stage of study; whilst presentation judging is based on content, technique, presentation skills, and overall engagement during the session. To participate in this event, please complete the form below no later than Friday 17th February 2023.

In case of technical issues with the form, you can also submit the Abstract Template and return it by email to YEScompetitions@sampe.org.uk using the following template

Questions?

For any further questions or comments please contact Dr Carwyn Ward at University of the West of England, carwyn.ward@uwe.ac.uk or Dr Lee Harper at University of Nottingham, lee.harper@nottingham.ac.uk. Download the summary here:

In conjunction with the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, the EPSRC Future Composites Manufacturing Research Hub would like to invite you to participate in a “Design and Make” competition to manufacture a composite crash structure. This is an opportunity to put your composites experience into action and represent your university in this national event.
Teams will have to use their composites knowledge and creativity to design a suitable structure to protect an egg during a crash landing. This competition is intended to give young engineers hands-on composites experience in design and manufacturing. The objective is to produce a structure that can be dropped from the highest height, whilst avoiding any damage to the occupant (in this case, an egg). The contest will take place on the 13th September 2022 during the annual Hub Open Day. A prize will be awarded to the team with the winning structure.

About SAMPE UK and Ireland

SAMPE UK and Ireland is a networking organisation of 150+ professionals and students in advanced materials, which is very active in composites. An objective of SAMPE is to foster technical excellence in the UK, by promoting interest in new materials and processes within the composites community. SAMPE wishes to support this event to create a dialogue and network with tomorrow’s engineers. Free annual membership of SAMPE UK and Ireland will be offered to all participants who attend the contest in person. Further information about the UK and Ireland Chapter can be found at https://www.sampe.org.uk/

Rules

• Produce a composite crash structure from a polymeric resin and synthetic fibre only
• The egg can only be surrounded by fibre and resin. Polymeric foams, foaming adhesives, breather cloth, honeycomb or any other form of padding to wrap the egg is not permitted
• A parachute cannot be used to decelerate the egg. The total kinetic energy generated during the fall must be absorbed by the crash structure.
• Mechanical fasteners cannot be used
• The egg needs to be easily removable in the event of a failure. 60 seconds will be allowed to change over the egg.
• The egg needs to be visible for inspection at the end of each drop.
• The egg will be a standard medium size.
• The total mass of the structure must not exceed 250 g (not including the egg).
• All entries will initially be dropped from a starting height of 500 mm. The launch height will be increased incrementally until there’s only one undamaged egg remaining.

Participants

• Teams should consist of at least 2 members.
• Teams may contain undergraduate, postgraduate/postdoctoral researchers and early career engineers.
• Entries are welcome from all universities and companies in the UK and Ireland.
• Only one entry per team. However, universities/companies are welcome to enter multiple teams if they wish.
• At least one team member must be present during the Hub Open Day on 13th September 2022

Registration

Send an e-mail to Joanne Eaves by 12th August 2022 to register your team for the competition, or use the registration form below.

The Hub’s Open Day

Judging will take place during the Hub’s annual Open Day on 13th September 2022, which will be held at the AMRC in Sheffield. The Hub’s free-to-attend Open Day will celebrate another year of manufacturing excellence, providing an opportunity for Hub researchers to highlight and showcase project outputs. This will be a great opportunity for those across the composites sector to learn more about the latest research and developments in composites manufacturing. All team members are welcome to attend this event. Questions regarding the competition or the Open Day should be sent to Lee Harper.

Download all information from this page as PDF:

Are you a PhD, EngD, or Masters student researching Advanced
Composite Materials, Processing, or Manufacture?

How about an expenses paid trip to represent SAMPE UK & Ireland at an European Conference?

Come and present your work (in-person) at our Young Engineer and Students’ seminar at Cranfield University on the afternoon of Wednesday 27 April 2022; followed by free access to our Annual Seminar 2022 “Advanced Materials & Processes in Novel Sustainable Transport” on Thursday 28 April (Cranfield). The two students who give the best presentations will be announced at the Annual Seminar, with one having the chance to present their work to the seminar audience. Both students will win an expenses paid trip as SAMPE UK & Ireland student representatives to the SAMPE Europe Conference held in Hamburg (Germany) 15-17 November 2022, taking part in the European heat of the Young Engineer and Students’ Seminar. Win that, and go on to represent SAMPE Europe in the USA in 2023!

This is a great chance to meet and network with research students from across Europe. To enter, submit the form below. Should you run into technical difficulties using the form, please submit your abstract by email to YEScompetitions@sampe.org.uk alternatively. For more information contact Dr Carwyn Ward at University of Bristol: c.ward@bristol.ac.uk.

Deadline: Friday 22 April 2022

Download the competition details as pdf below!

In conjunction with the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, the EPSRC Future Composites Manufacturing Research Hub would like to invite you to participate in a “Design and Make” competition to manufacture a composite bridge.
This is an opportunity to put your composites experience into action and represent your university in this national event. Teams will have to use their knowledge and creativity to design a suitable simply-supported structure to carry a 1kg load at the mid-span. This competition is intended to give young
engineers hands-on composites experience in design and manufacturing. The objective is to produce the longest structure to support the defined load.
The contest will take place on the 19th October 2021 and a prize will be awarded to the team with the longest functioning design.

About SAMPE UK and Ireland

SAMPE UK and Ireland is a networking organisation of 150+ professionals and students in advanced materials, which is very active in composites. An objective of SAMPE is to foster technical excellence in the UK, by promoting interest in new materials and processes within the composites community. SAMPE wishes to support this event to create a dialogue and network with tomorrow’s engineers. Free annual membership of SAMPE UK and Ireland will be offered to all participants who attend the contest in person. Further information about the UK and Ireland Chapter can be found at https://www.sampe.org.uk/

Rules

• The bridge must be a standalone, simply supported structure.
• The bridge must support a mass of 1kg at the mid-span (1 bag of sugar, 200 x 100 x 70mm each)
• The mass of the structure must be less than 250g
• There is no minimum specification for the width of the bridge, providing the load can be held in position unaided
• The bridge must be manufactured from the materials provided:
  • 15mm wide, 80gsm spread tow carbon ribbon (50 linear metres)
  • 1kg epoxy laminating resin
  • 625 X 625mm Rohacell 31 IG-F PMI foam core, 3mm thick
• Mechanical fasteners must not be used. Joints should be created by co-curing
• The longest span to carry the central load wins
• In the event of a tie-break, the central load will be increased
• No more than 4 members per team
• Only one entry per team. However, universities/companies are welcome to enter multiple teams if they wish
• At least one team member must be present during the Hub Open Day on 19th October 2021

Participants

Teams may contain undergraduate, postgraduate/postdoctoral researchers and early career engineers, but must contain no more than 4 members. Entries are welcome from all universities and companies in the UK and Ireland.

Registration

Send an e-mail to Joanne Eaves by Friday 17th September 2021 to register your team for the competition, or use the registration form below. Entries beyond this date will not be accepted, as sufficient time is required to organise the material kits.

APPLICATION CLOSED!

Judging will take place during the Hub’s annual Open Day on 19th October 2021, which will be held virtually. Participants will be expected to demonstrate that the central load can be supported whilst live on camera during the lunch-time session. A laptop with a web camera is therefore required to take part. Please note that the event will be recorded and shared via social media in whole or in parts.

The Hub’s Open Day

The Hub’s free-to-attend Open Day will celebrate the midpoint of the Hub, providing an opportunity for Hub researchers to highlight and showcase project outputs. This will be a great opportunity for those across the composites sector to learn more about the latest research and developments in composites manufacturing. All team members are welcome to attend this event. Please register to the event via the button below. Questions regarding the competition or the Open Day should be sent to Lee Harper.

Are you a PhD, EngD, or Master student researching Advanced Materials, Processing or Manufacture?

How about an expenses paid trip to represent SAMPE UK & Ireland at a European Conference?

Come and present your work online at our Young Engineer and Students’ competitive seminar on the morning of 10^th March 2021; followed by free access to our online Annual Seminar 2021 “Composites – Progressing from the Pandemic” on 10^th (PM) & 11^th March. The two students judged to give the best presentations will be announced at the Annual Seminar, and one will have the chance to present their work live to the audience. The two students win an expenses paid trip as the SAMPE UK & Ireland student representatives to the SAMPE Europe Conference held in Baden / Zürich (Switzerland) on 29 – 30 September 2021, and take part in the European heat of the Students’ Seminar. Win that and go on to represent SAMPE Europe in the USA in 2022!

This is a great chance to meet and network with research students from across Europe. To enter submit a short 200 word abstract of your work to be presented online or email YEScompetitions@sampe.org.uk,; or for more information contact Dr Carwyn Ward at University of Bristol: c.ward@bristol.ac.uk.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: Thursday 25^th February 2021.

Students are invited to join a panel of experts online on the morning of Wednesday 10^th March 2021, to give a 15-minute presentation with 5-minutes extra for questions, on their research project. All participants will get free student membership of SAMPE for one year, and free access to our online Annual Seminar 2021 “Composites – Progressing from the Pandemic” on 10^th (PM) & 11^th March.

The two best presenters will be announced at the Annual Seminar and one will have the chance to present their work live to the audience. The two students win an expenses paid trip[1] as the SAMPE UK & Ireland student representatives to the SAMPE Europe Conference held in Baden / Zürich (Switzerland) on 29-30 September 2021, as well as taking part in the European heat of the Students’ Seminar.

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Participation in that European conference and students’ seminar is a fantastic opportunity to network with other European researchers, in the true SAMPE spirit. The overall European winners will go on to represent SAMPE Europe in the USA on an expenses paid trip[1] in 2022. In previous years, students have very much enjoyed taking part and have gained useful experience, with SAMPE UK & Ireland providing five European winners to date.

UK & Ireland University and HE Colleges are encouraged to invite their Masters and Doctoral research students to participate in this competitive Students’ Seminar. An initial selection will be based on submitted abstracts, and usually students nearing the end or beyond the mid-point of their studies are favoured. Abstract acceptance is based on a relevant topic and appropriate stage of study; whilst presentation judging is based on content, technique, presentation skills, and overall participation in the online session.

To be considered as a participant for this event, please complete the Abstract Template available for download below or use the submission form at the bottom of the page with a short 200 word description of your work to be presented, and return it by email to YEScompetitions@sampe.org.uk no later than Thursday 25^th February 2021. For any further questions or comments please contact Dr Carwyn Ward at University of Bristol, c.ward@bristol.ac.uk, or Dr Lee Harper at University of Nottingham, lee.harper@nottingham.ac.uk.

PDF:

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Word document:

Download the competition announcement:

Chris Hunt of Bristol Composites Institute, University of Bristol, presenting his SAMPE UK & Ireland and SAMPE EU winning presentation during the SAMPE EU Conference in Nantes 2019.

[1] Accommodation and conference fees paid by SAMPE Europe; reasonable travel fees paid by SAMPE UK & Ireland.

[2] Cost of flights, accommodation and conference fees paid by SAMPE.