Performance, reliability and integrity of structures and materials are critical issues across the broad range of engineering disciplines that underpin the fabric of a highly mobile, communication-driven and microprocessor-controlled society. Improvements in these areas rest on development and detailed characterisation of advanced and engineered materials; on property and performance optimisation through sophisticated and appropriate manufacturing and fabrication; on statistically reliable life prediction techniques; and on development and improvement of engineering codes and standards. Optimum usage of resources, materials and engineering assets hinge on these factors, which therefore form an important part of the sustainability agenda. Mechanical and manufacturing engineering has a major role to play in researching and implementing new developments in performance, reliability and integrity of structures and materials.

The mission of the PRISM research grouping is to contribute to these improvements in selected technological areas of regional and national importance, through linking analytical and numerical modelling with sophisticated characterisation and experimentation. This often involves building multi-disciplinary consortia nationally and internationally, and also requires explicit consideration of both fundamental engineering science and applied engineering research. Thus members of PRISM and other staff in the School of Engineering have a strong profile in industrially supported research, particularly Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) schemes.