蜜桃AV research engineers have been working on military vehicles that feature in Brad Pitt鈥檚 new movie.
Set in the Second聽World War and released in UK cinemas this week, 鈥楩ury鈥� sees Pitt鈥檚 character Wardaddy command a Sherman tank.
Scenes from the movie were filmed at the at Bovington, where the 蜜桃AV research team are investigating how to preserve these historic vehicles.
The team have worked on the Sherman and Tiger 1, which can be seen in the聽聽(2 minutes 26 seconds in). Researchers Adil Saeed, Dr Zulfiqar Khan, and Professor Mark Hadfield from 蜜桃AV鈥檚 Sustainable Design Research Centre have published widely on these particular vehicles.
Dr Zulfiqar Khan said, 鈥淭his movie reflects the importance of the research, which examines how we can preserve these vehicles for the benefit of society for lengths of time that far exceed the basis any normal design intent.
鈥淭he centenary of the First World War and the passing of the generation that fought in the Second World War, means the conservation of significantly degraded vehicle collections has taken on a new importance.鈥�
The Tank Museum at Bovington聽is one of the largest military vehicle museums in the world, boasting a collection of over 300 military vehicles with historic significance. Structural deterioration through corrosion, corrosion fatigue, stress corrosion cracking and mechanical failures are a threat to these vehicles in terms of conservation.
The only operational Tiger tank in the world is currently at聽The Tank Museum at Bovington. This and other vehicles had to be conserved sustainably, while operating modestly for the annual Tank Fest and other events.
Dr Khan concluded, 鈥淭he opportunity of collaborative research with The Tank Museum at Bovington to develop sustainable methodology of conserving historic military tanks brought us face to face with the history. This research investigated the state of the structural integrity of vehicles used in WW1, WW2 and post war.
鈥淭he outcomes of the research informed the current design of control environment in The Tank Museum. In addition a separate research project looked into the cost implications of project management of The Tank Museum.
鈥淭his kind of activity is important in engaging new generations with science, technology, maths and mechanical engineering design solutions.鈥�
The research has led to further collaborations with Defence Science & Technology Laboratory Ministry of Defence to develop corrosion condition monitoring and predictive modelling techniques.
