Production Processes Group

- research into manufacturing technology

Claire Barlow - Current Research

Research Activities

I have worked on a wide spectrum of materials and processes, developing an interest in structure-property relationships rather than focusing too narrowly on a specific material or process. A strong thread running through much of my research has been the application of microscopy, particularly electron microscopy, to solving engineering problems concerning materials characterisation, usage and processing.

Research Areas

Phase transformations

• Barlow, C.Y., Ralph, B., Silverman, B. and Jones, A.R. Grain to grain variations in niobium carbide size distribution in an austenitic stainless steel. Journal of Materials Science, 14, (1979), 423-430.
• Barlow, C.Y. and Ralph, B. Observations of cellular transformation products in nickel-base superalloys. Journal of Materials Science, 14, (1979), 2500-2508.
• Barlow, C.Y. and Ralph, B. Cold deformation of a nickel-base superalloy. Materials Science and Engineering, 59, (1983), 115-126

Polymer composites

• Barlow, C.Y. and Windle, A.H. Razor blade test for composite toughness. Journal of Materials Science Letters, 4, (1985), 233-234.
• Barlow, C.Y. and Windle, A.H. The measurement of fracture energy in aligned composites. Composites Science and Technology, 33, (1988), 135-150.
• Barlow, C.Y. and Windle, A.H. In situ testing of composites in the scanning electron microscope. Journal of Materials Science letters, 8, (1989), 1334 ñ1335.
• Barlow, C.Y., Peacock, J.A. and Windle, A.H. Relationships between microstructure and fracture energies in carbon fibre-PEEK composites. Composites, 21 no. 5, (1990), 383-388.

Aluminium Alloys

• Microstructure-mechanical property relationships in aluminium-based metal matrix composites and aluminium alloys. Transmission electron microscopy of the development of deformation structures, and the influence of phase morphology and distribution on these structures. Physical modelling to investigate constitutive relationships for the different strengthening mechanisms operating in the systems. The work has involved collaboration with researchers at a lab in Denmark, and my ideas have been widely used in the group. (with Riso National Laboratory, Denmark; EU project 1993-6 and collaboration with industrial partners including Fiat; Alcan)
  
  
  • Barlow, C.Y. and Hansen, N. Deformation structures in aluminium containing small particles. Acta Metall., 37 no.5, (1989), 1313-1320.
  • Liu, Y.L., Hansen, N., Lilholt, H. and Barlow, C.Y. Microstructure and strength of powder-blended Al-SiC composites. Institute of Metals conference, Metal Matrix Composites, London, November 1989. 23.1-23.3.
  • Barlow, C.Y., Hansen, N. Deformation structures and flow stress in aluminium containing short whiskers. Acta Metall. Mater., 39, (1991), 1971-1979.
  • Barlow, C.Y., Liu, Y.L., Hansen, N. The influence of whisker coating on the mechanical properties of an aluminium-based metal matrix composite. Conference: Interfacial Phenomena in Composite Materials 1991, Leuven, Edited I. Verpoest and F. Jones, Published Butterworth Heinemann. 171-174.
  • Barlow, C.Y. Microstructural evolution during straining of discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composites. Invited review, 12th Int. Riso Symposium, Denmark: Metal Matrix Composites. Eds: N. Hansen, D. Juul Jensen, T. Leffers, H. Lilholt, T. Lorentzen, A.S. Pedersen. (1991). 1-15.
  • Barlow, C.Y., Hansen, N., Liu, Y.L. A microstructural study of deformation in fine SiC particulate- and whisker-reinforced aluminium-matrix composites. Journal of Microscopy 169 pt 2 (1993) 225-232
  • Barlow, C.Y., Hansen, N. Microstructural evolution in whisker and particle containing materials. Chapter in Metal matrix composites Edited by A. Mortensen, A. Needleman and S. Suresh. Pub. Ruttle, Shaw & Weatherill, Washington (1993) 109-118
  • Barlow C Y, Hansen N. Dislocation configurations in metal matrix composites correlated with numerical predictions. Acta Metall. Mater. Vol 43 no 10 (1995) 3633-3648.
  • Liu Y L, Barlow C Y. Microstructure, local orientation and recrystallisation of metal metrix composites. Invited review, 16th Riso International Symposium, Denmark: Microstructural and Crystallographic aspects of recrystallisation. Eds. N Hansen, D Juul Jensen, Y L Liu, B Ralph. (1995) 151-167.
  • Barlow C Y. Dislocations and local strain fields in metal matrix composites.6th International Symposium: Plasticity 97, Plasticity and its current applications. Ed. A S Khan. Publ. Neat Press, Fulton, Maryland, USA. (1997) 227-228
  • Barlow C Y, Shu J Y. Local strain fields in metal matrix composites. 19th Int. Riso Symposium, Denmark: Modelling of Structure and Mechanics of Materials. Eds: J V Carstensen, T. Leffers, T. Lorentzen, O B Pedersen, B F Sorensen, G Winther. (1998). 207-212.
  • Barlow C Y, Liu Y L. Microstructure, strain fields and flow stress in deformed metal matrix composites. Acta Mater. Vol 46 no 16 (1998) 5807-5817.
  • Barlow C Y, Liu Y L. High-strain deformation of aluminium containing small alumina particles. 20th Riso Int. Symposium, Denmark: Deformation-induced microstructures. Eds. J B Bilde-S¯rensen, J V Carstensen, N Hansen, D Juul Jensen, T Leffers, W Pantleon, O B Pedersen, G Winther (1999). 261-267.
  • Shu J Y, Barlow C Y. Strain gradient effects on microscopic strain fields in a metal matrix composite. Int. J. Plasticity 16 (2000) 563-591.
  • Barlow C Y, Hansen N. Recovery and recrystallisation of dispersion strengthened aluminium. 21st Riso Int. Symposium, Riso, Roskilde, Denmark: ëRecrystallisationí. Eds N. Hansen, X. Huang, D. Juul Jensen, E.M. Lauridsen, T. Leffers, W. Pantleon, T.J. Sabin, J.A. Wert. (2000) 235-241.
  • Barlow C. Y., Hansen, N., Liu, Y.L. Fine scale structures from deformation of aluminium containing small alumina particles. Acta Materialia. Vol 50 (2002) 171-182

  Studies of materials in violins.

  The largest element of this wide-ranging project has involved forensic investigation of the wood and surface finishes of both old and contemporary instruments. The investigations have shed some light on techniques used by the Cremonese school, and have provided an impetus for contemporary luthiers to revert to appropriate traditional methods. Such issues are very relevant to the contemporary violin-making industry.
  
  The work attracts considerable public interest. I have given many lectures and seminars to scientific and academic audiences. I also lecture on aspects of this research to violin-makers and restorers, and have given radio and television interviews.
  
  

  • Barlow, C.Y., Edwards, P.P., Millward, G.R., Raphael, R.A. and Rubio, D.J. Wood treatment used in Cremonese instruments. Nature, 332, (1988), 313.
  • Barlow, C.Y. and Woodhouse, J. Microscopy of wood finishes. Journal of the Catgut Acoustical Society, 1 no. 1 (series II), (1988), 9-15.
  • Barlow, C.Y. and Woodhouse, J. Firm ground? A detailed analysis of ground layers under the microscope. The Strad, (1989) 100 no. 1187, 195-197, and 100 no.1188, 275-278.
  • Barlow, C.Y. and Woodhouse, J. Of old wood and varnish: peering into the can of worms. Journal of the Catgut Acoustical Society, 1 no. 4 (series II), (1989), 2-9.
  • Barlow, C.Y. and Woodhouse, J. The influence of varnish on the properties of spruce plates. Proceedings of Institute of Acoustics, 12 part 1, (1990), 765-770.
  • Barlow, C.Y., Woodhouse J. Bordered pits in spruce from old Italian violins. Journal of Microscopy, 160, (1990), 203-211.
  • Barlow, C. Y., Woodhouse J. Was Italian Spruce soaked? The Strad, Orpheus Publications, 102, (1991), 234-239.
  • Barlow, C.Y., Woodhouse, J. Micromechanics of permanent deformation in softwood. 13th Int. Riso Symposium, Denmark: Modelling of plastic deformation. Eds: S I Andersen, J B Bilde-S¯rensen, N Hansen, D Juul Jensen, T Leffers, H Lilholt, T Lorentzen, O B Pedersen, B Ralph (1992) 213-219
  • Barlow, C.Y., Woodhouse, J. Microstructures in bent spruce Invited paper, Sixth Tiverton Violin Conference (June 1992)
  • Barlow, C.Y., Woodhouse J. Microstructures and properties of bent spruce. Music acoustic series, Proceedings Royal Swedish Academy of Music. (1994) 346-350
  • Barlow C Y. Materials selection for musical instruments. Proceedings Institute of Acoustics 19 pt 5 (1997) 69-78

  Structure and mechanical properties of wood and wood-based composites

  • Pritchard J, Ansell M P, Bonfield P W, Barlow C Y, Bucur V. Understanding the fatigue and creep properties of MDF, OSB and chipboard using environmental scanning electron microscopy and X-ray densitometry. Proceedings IUFRO S 5.02 Timber Engineering, Copenhagen, Denmark, 18-20 June 1997.
  • Pritchard, J., Ansell, M.P., Bonfield, P.W., Barlow, C.Y. and Bucur, V., Creep and fatigue of MDF, OSB and chipboard, Proceedings of the First European Panel Products Symposium, pp. 85-99, Llandudno, Wales, 1997.
  • Bucur V, Ansell MP, Barlow CY, Pritchard J, Garros S, Deglise X. Physical methods for characterising wood composite panel products. Holzforschung, 52 no 5 (1998) 553-561
  • Bucur V, Garros S, Barlow CY. The effect of hydrostatic pressure on physical properties and microstructure of spruce and cherry. Holzforschung vol 54 (2000) 83-92

  Development of composites based on cork dust

  • Barlow, C.Y. and Ashby, M.F. Cork dust composites. Proceedings 10th Riso Int. Symp. Denmark: Materials Architecture. Eds J B Bilde-S¯rensen et al. (1989) 275-281
  • Flores, M., Rosa, M.E., Barlow, C.Y., Fortes, M.A., Ashby, M.F. The properties and uses of consolidated cork dust. Journal of Materials Science 27 (1992) 5629-5634

  Production of Caribbean Steel Pans

  • Barlow, C.Y., Scott J.F.M. and Woodhouse, J. The musical saw. Proceeding of the Institute of Acoustics, 10 pt 2, (1988), 187-192
  • Barlow, C.Y., Richardson B.E., Woodhouse, J. and Zarek, J. The Caribbean steel drum. Ibid. 193-198.

  Materials issues in fine arts.

  Problems concerning cracking and other damage in canvas paintings, panel paintings and plaster ceilings. This has involved a steady stream of collaborative student projects with the Tate Gallery, National Gallery, Hamilton Kerr Institute, Fitzwilliam Museum and Courtauld Institute (Scientific Advisor to Masterís student from Courtauld Institute 1996-8).

  Industrial sustainability

  Environmentally conscious aspects of manufacturing, materials and processes; impacts on manufacturing industry. We aim for a cross-disciplinary approach, and have established a research centre to co-ordinate sustainability work which is already taking place in different research groups in the Institute for Manufacturing.

  PhD Student:
  Marcus Wong; thesis title is 'Industrial sustainability and Product Service Systems'
  
  

  • Jansson, P.M., Phaal, R., Gregory, M.J., Barlow, C.Y., Farrukh CJ. Industrial sustainability: a review of UK and international research and capabilities. Confidential report, EPSRC contract P009229.

  Welding and Joining

  PhD student:
  Jose Greses-juan; thesis title is 'Improvements to high-power Nd:YAG laser welding'

  2000-2003: Co-investigator on EU research - project Joining of dissimilar materials and composites by friction stir welding. Partners include DaimlerChrysler, Fiat.
  
  

  • Greses, J., Hilton, P.A., Barlow C.Y., Steen W.M. Spectroscopic studies of plume/plasma in different gas environments. ICALEO 2001 (International laser conference, USA)
  • Greses, J., Hilton, P.A., Barlow, C.Y., Steen, W.M. Plume attenuation under high power Nd:YAG laser welding. LAMP 2002 (International laser conference, Osaka, Japan)

  Other research activities

  2000-2002: Co-investigator on EPSRC industrial research project 'Optimisation of cold-rolled steel sheet and sections'. Investigator: T J Lu. Industrial partners: Banro Steels; Lafarge Plasterboard Ltd.