The CERTEST team attended the 24th International Conference on Composite Materials (ICCM24), Baltimore, 5-8 August 2025. They organised and delivered a very well attended workshop on ‘Integrated testing and modelling of composite structures – towards virtual testing and certification by analysis’ (or simply ‘Certification by Analysis’). The CERTEST team, represented by Richard Butler, Andrew Rhead, Janice Barton and Ole Thomsen, presented the vision and key outcomes of the project, which finished at the end of August 2025. The CbA workshop was the final dissemination event of the CERTEST project.
The workshop featured excellent and specially prepared presentations that represented aerospace and wind industry views, in addition to those of the aviation safety regulator, FAA, and the UK High Value Manufacturing Catapult. The presentations were given by Carl Rousseau (Lockheed Martin), Adam Sawicki (Boeing), Cindy Ashforth (FAA), Kyle Wetzel (Wetzel Wind) and Mike Hinton (HVMC), which provided deep insights on current practices and outlooks on composite regulations and the perspectives of CbA.
An interesting and well attended panel session, chaired by Sayata Ghose (Boeing) and Isabelle Paris (Bombardier), followed with many questions and ideas being discussed.
Please follow the links in the programme below to view the presentations:
Welcome Remarks and Introductions: Prof Ole Thomsen – University of Bristol
Integration of Multi-Scale Modelling, High-fidelity Experimentation and Bayesian Learning – Towards Certification by Analysis: Prof Richard Butler & Dr Andrew Rhead – University of Bath
Imaging Based Sub-Structure Testing and Data Fusion Methodologies for Integration of Virtual and Physical Data: Prof Janice Barton & Prof Ole Thomsen – University of Bristol
Aero Industry Building Block Certification Logic: Dr Carl Rousseau – Lockheed Martin Co
Smarter Testing Application to Composite Structures: Mr Adam Sawicki – The Boeing Co
The Role of Analysis and Testing in the Engineering of Wind Turbine Rotor Blades: Mr Kyle Wetzel – Wetzel Wind
Composite Structural Testing and Analysis, an FAA Perspective: Ms Cindy Ashforth – FAA
Towards Certification by Analysis – Some Pragmatic Considerations: Mr Mike Hinton – High Value Manufacturing Catapult