Welcome to the latest Frewer Engineering newsletter.

Frewer Engineering Placement Students

Our industrial placement students this year all join us from Imperial College London, where they have completed their third year of studying Aeronautical Engineering.

Suraj (left) has been involved in a wide range of projects, including the structural analysis of a wind turbine blade, the conceptual and preliminary design of a commercial aircraft, and the development of control laws for a 1-D drone. Most recently, he designed the first iteration of a Thermal Protection System for a re-entry spaceplane intended for a commercial space hotel. He will be a great addition to our ongoing analysis and design projects.

Sharwa (middle) has a strong interest in composites and propulsion, which she applied in designing a propulsion system for a super-efficient aircraft that achieved a 30% reduction in emissions. She has also conducted research on bio-inspired damage-tolerant composites, showcasing her commitment to innovative and sustainable aerospace solutions. Her skills will be a great asset to our team.

Etido (right) is passionate about Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Fluid-Structure Interaction. He has applied his skills to projects such as designing a business jet to specific criteria and developing a hydrogen-powered aircraft capable of solo circumnavigation. These experiences have deepened his understanding of aerodynamics and fluid dynamics, making him a valuable asset to our CFD projects.

Applications are now open for our 2025/2026 Industrial Placements 

Complex Mechanism Design

At Frewer Engineering we excel in the design of mechanical systems, particularly in projects with stringent space or weight limitations. Energy sources vary from pneumatic to combustive, explosive, electric, electromagnetic, or purely mechanical, spring-only, in the case of the system pictured.

Our agile design philosophy allows for rapid design iterations and quick adjustments to meet evolving project requirements. With a strong manufacturing mindset, we ensure that our designs are not only innovative but practical and efficient to produce. Utilising advanced CAD tools, our team can visualise, analyse, and optimise designs with precision, ensuring every component fits perfectly and the mechanism works smoothly.

Our commitment to excellence and ability to integrate design and manufacturing principles make us the ideal partner for sophisticated mechanical system projects.

High Strain-Rate Dynamic Simulation

Frewer Engineering makes use of LS-Dyna, Dytran and various custom codes to develop high strain-rate dynamic models, capable of simulating metallics, composites and a range of other novel and non-standard material models. Bespoke material models may include bricks, mortar, biological tissues including bone, pre-tensioned cables, and inflated membranes in tension.

Simulations can extend from automotive crash simulations (pictured above) to computational drop tests, bird-strike, blade-off and disc-burst containment checks for aerospace propulsion systems, as well as firing simulations for launch systems.

Frewer Engineering is proud to provide this service to our customers, helping simulate high strain rate events, such as impacts or explosions, in both metallics and composites, as it helps accurately predict material behaviour under extreme conditions, ensuring reliable performance assessments and cost effective design optimisations.

Hydrodynamic Optimisation of Floating Offshore Biological Structures

Earlier in the summer we were invited to take part in the Brockham Annual Duck Race, in aid of the local village nursery – a nearby childcare service, which many of the Company demographic have made use of as their children have grown up in the local village.

The duck was decorated by our year placement student, Macsen Iles, as his final act of service, before returning to the University of Surrey to complete his degree. This earned our racing duck the nickname Quacksen, who courageously set out on his brief voyage along a stretch of the tumultuous River Mole, at the Duck Race event.

While we didn’t win, this time, we have plans afoot for the 2025 Duck Race, in which we will fully utilise the extensive design and analysis capabilities available within Frewer Engineering, to streamline the hydrodynamic and, as it turns out, aerodynamic design that we believe will be required. We have high hopes for our entry to be the winning duck, surpassing some worthy competition, in our next attempt on the water.