Senior Element Scientists Share Industry Leading Composites Expertise at SAMPE Conference

Dr. Rod Martin, Division Director UK at Element, was invited by ASTM International, the respected body responsible for the development and delivery of international standards, to participate in an open panel event discussing how the composites industry might implement testing harmonization. The debate centered on the standardization of measurement units for composites and included contributions from OEMs, tier one suppliers and equipment manufacturers, including representatives from Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and Spirit AeroSystems.

Dr. Stefanos Giannis, Sector Manager, Aerospace & Energy at Element, presented a paper highlighting how the use of NDT data could deliver more targeted damage tolerance and fracture mechanic test programs. The paper, entitled ‘Maximizing the Benefit of Non-Destructive Inspection Data to Evaluate the Damage Tolerance Performance’, detailed how testing companies such as Element can acquire a more complete understanding of composite component behavior prior to laboratory testing through non-destructive data acquisition and numerical simulation.

Rick Sluiters, Element’s VP of Europe Operations, says: “The SAMPE conference is always a stand-out event in the calendar for those in the advanced materials industry, and Element is delighted to have been invited to contribute so significantly. Rod’s participation demonstrates the company’s commitment to remain a leader in shaping standards for the materials testing sector and Stefanos’ paper illustrates the leading edge at which our Engaged Experts operate.

“Each year, the conference also provides an excellent opportunity to assess how end users are portraying their materials challenges, development process and certification requirements, as part of our ongoing customer-led approach to client services,” he concludes.

Held across four days in the international aerospace hub of Wichita, KS, the SAMPE Tech conference drew nearly 1,400 attendees and its program included presentations and panel discussions from internationally-recognized leaders in advanced materials and processes.