Engineering a difference since 1920
From the development of the Finite Element Method at Swansea in the 1960s to our present day research turning buildings into power stations, we strive for our research to have a real impact.
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), 2021 our research facilities and environment have enabled colleagues to engage internationally, elevating 100% of the department’s publications to world leading and internationally excellent.
With our world-class research centres and a sustained investment programme to provide outstanding resources and facilities, Engineering provides a superb environment in which to conduct research.
Our Research Themes
Our cross-cutting research themes bring together multidisciplinary teams, integrating a wide spectrum of engineering disciplines which help us to address global challenges.
Digital and Computational
Over the last 30 years Swansea University has been at the forefront of international research in the area of computational engineering.
We have pioneered the development of numerical techniques, such as the finite element method and associated computational procedures that have enabled the solution of many complex engineering problems.
We have been one of the leading players in revolutionising the industrial engineering analysis practice, from slow and expensive experimental testing to efficient and cheap computational modelling.
Computational Facilities
Our facilities for digital and computational engineering now include:
Net-zero and Sustainability
The focus of research in this theme is to engineer viable and sustainable solutions in the fields of water treatment and supply, costal erosion, pluvial flooding, CO2 capture, non-conventional energy production and storage.
Our research covers both fresh and salt water; is aimed at improving scientific understanding and developing effective engineering solutions to real-world problems. We work with industry and academic funders on a wide range of topics that includes: water treatment; water supply; catchment management; pluvial and coastal flooding; coastal erosion and marine renewable energy sources.
We use computational modelling, have state-of-the-art laboratories, (CWATER and Coastal Laboratories), and have an extensive range of measurement equipment for coastal and marine field campaigns.
Net-zero and Sustainability
Our facilities for research within water and energy now include:
- 30m Wave Flume
- Atomic Force Microscope
- Micromanipulator and Colloid Probe
Next Generation Materials and Manufacturing
Swansea is one of the UK’s leading centres for materials teaching and research.The internationally leading materials research conducted at Swansea is funded by prestigious organisations such as Rolls Royce, Airbus, The European Space Agency, and Tata Steel.
The main goal of the research within this theme is to create sustainable integrated solutions for industrial needs through next generation materials and processes for the manufacturing industry and to enable smart manufacturing to deliver industry 4.0 requirements.
Key research areas include design against failure by creep, fatigue and environmental damage, structural metals and ceramics for gas turbine applications, grain boundary engineering, recycling of polymers and composites, corrosion mechanisms in new generation magnesium alloys, development of novel strip steel grades (IF, HSLA, Dual Phase, TRIP) and functional coatings for energy generation, storage and release.
Next Generation Materials and Manufacturing Facilities
Our facilities for materials and manufacturing include:
Healthcare for the Future
Within the Faculty of Science and Engineering world-leading research is conducted in a number of areas, including diagnostic sensors, computational modelling of physiological systems, exercise physiology, children’s physical activity, and anti-doping and sports ethics. Our work relates to a wide range of contexts from elite and professional sports, to clinical, home, and educational environments.
The vision of the research within this theme is to apply the engineering approach for supporting innovation in healthcare as well as developing solutions for biological, medical and sport applications.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Our research contributes to the success of these specific UNSDG goals.
