Prof William M  Banks

BSc, MSc, PhD, CEng, FIMechE, FIMMM, FRSA, FREng, FRSE

Professor

Current Funded Projects

• EPSRC Grant - GR/R82081/01: Thermal damage detection and stress modelling in the investigation of durability and ageing of plastics in offshore applications, 2002-2004, - Collaboration with P&A Chemistry and NA-ME Departments
• EPSRC Grant: - GR/R27920/01: A competition to design marbles using novel materials, 2002-2004 - Collaboration with P&A Chemistry Department
• Industry: Faraday Plastics: The catalyst for innovation in the supply chain , 2003-2006
• EPSRC Grant - GR/S60228/01: CODECO - Network grant for the development of industrial computational tools for the design of composite components and structures, 2004-2007 - Collaboration with UMIST, Cambridge, Nottingham, Surrey and Bristol Universities
• Industry: Flexible Foam Research Ltd: Development work on polyurethane foams, 2004
• EPSRC Speculative Engineering Initiative - EP/C509994/1: Cellulose Based Nanocomposite Materials, 2004-2007
• Industry: Proven Engineering Products: Design and produce a new 15KW wind turbine generator, develop and produce existing renewable energy sources, new control and grid connect systems, 2003-2006, with Prof Gorman and Dr Kirkwood
• Industry: RAPRA Technology Ltd: Faraday Plastics, the catalyst for innovation in the supply chain, 2003-2006

• GR/M24714/01 Networking: Scottish Polymer Technology Network
• GR/J512130/01 Design Optimisation studies for Multilayered GRP Pressure Vessels and Associated Support Problems, Principal Investigator
• GR/L25411/01 Non Contact Probe to Determine the Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials
• GR/H81696/01 Investigation of a Novel NDT Approach to Composite Structures Used in Marine Environment (Top 44), Principal Investigator
• GR/H20732/01 Teaching Company Programme, with Corrocoat Ltd
• GR/G26723/01 Molecular Modelling and Ageing Characterisation for Engineering Design Software, Principal Investigator
• GR/E24156/01 Teaching Company Programme, with Corrocoat Ltd

Research Interests

For a list of publications from 2001, please follow this link. Select 'Browse', 'Author or Creator', Banks, William M. http://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/view/depts/11048.html

Current research studies include those related to adhesive bonding, and the development of NDE tools to determine the quality, durability and ageing of adhesive bonds using dielectric technology. Applications include both composite and metal structures, particularly CFRP and aluminium.

New developments in the field of clay nanocomposites and carbon fibre tubes are opening up new prospects for advanced structural optimisation.

Other fields of interest include design with composite materials, aiming to use appropriate laminate theory for applications in a variety of areas including, for example, wind turbine technology and aircraft structures. Both finite element and experimental investigations are being undertaken.

Research Keywords: Load bearing composite materials, NDE of adhesively bonded joints

Professional Activities

• IMechE:
  • Deputy President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers 2006
  • President Elect 2007
  • Member of the Trustee Board 2001-
  • Vice Chairman of the Trustee Board Awards Committee 2003-
  • Vice Chairman of the Council Awards Committee 2003-
  • Fellow of the IMechE 1987
• RAEng:
  • Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering 2001
  • Mentor for the RAEng Senior Research Fellowship 2004-
  • Member and Lead Assessor for Mechanical Engineering Research and Secondments Committee 2007
• RSA: Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
• IoM3:
  • Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Mining and Minerals 1993
  • Member of the Automotive Applications Division Board
• RSE:
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 2003
  • Member of the Fellowship Sectional Committee on Engineering 2003-
  • Former Member of the Awards and Grants Committee 2004-2007
• EPSRC: Member of Peer Review College, Structural Materials Panel since 2000
• DTI: Assessor for the Technology Programme 2001-2006
• CaSE: Executive Committee Member of the Campaign for Science and Engineering 2002-
• QinteiQ: External Adviser, Materials Programme 2002-2006
• EPC: Member of the Engineering Professors' Council Committee 1999- (and former Chairman & Vice-Chairman)
• CASM: Director of Centre for Advanced Structural Materials 1995-
• SPTN: Co-Director of Scottish Polymer Technology Network 1997-2006
• Faraday Plastics Partnership:
  • Director of Research and Training 2002-2006
  • Member of Sterling Group 2003-
  • There are many collaborative activities undertaken through the work with SPTN and CASM. This involves both SME activity and some of the larger players in the polymer field. In addition there are continuing links with QinetiQ and DSTL as well as the MoD.

• Chairman, Professional Engineering Publishing Ltd, IMechE 2004-2006
• Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Materials: Design and Application, Proceedings of the IMechE, Part L 2000-
• Editorial Board Member, Composite Structures 1985-

• 16th International Conference on Composite Materials, Kyoto, Japan, July 2007
• 9th International Conference on Material Forming, Glasgow, April 2006
• 3rd UNESCO International Centre for Engineering Education Global Congress, Glasgow July 2002
• Chairman, 17th International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM17 2009

Prizes and Awards

Fellow The Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Fellow The Royal Academy of Engineers
Fellow The Royal Society of Edinburgh
Fellow The Institution of Materials, Minerals and Mining
Fellow The Royal Society of Arts