The University of Bristol is offering four projects for doctoral studies with a focus on the creation of sustainable and efficient solutions for the design of composite structures. The projects will be part of the new CDT launched in 2024 following on from five previous successful centres in Bristol Composites Institute (BCI) https://www.bristol.ac.uk/composites/cdtsustainablecompeng/.
The purpose of the CDT is to train future leaders to doctoral level with the skills and expertise to address the design, manufacture and assurance of composite products. Alongside conducting your research project you will follow a taught programme that provides an in-depth knowledge of composite materials and their use with a focus on sustainability and the circular economy. You will follow a structured professional development programme, alongside the research, to prepare you for a future career in industry or academia.
We are seeking highly motivated and committed individuals with an eye on the future, who are interested in conducting stimulating and essential industrially relevant research and have a passion for finding sustainable solutions. There are many challenges in understanding the behaviour of composite materials and structures, so the projects seek to develop new manufacturing routes, design concepts, analysis procedures and development of new solutions.
Type of award: Engineering Doctorate/Doctor of Philosophy
Research focus areas: Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Design Engineering, Research group Bristol Composites Institute
Scholarship Details An enhanced stipend of £25,789 for 2024/25, a fee waiver and generous research financial support for the successful candidates.
Duration 4 years
Eligibility Home/International
Start Date January 2025
Project 1: Improved design and damage tolerance of lightweight composite sandwich structures – Supervised by Professor Ole Thomsen
The key design drivers for the adoption of sandwich structures include high specific stiffness and strength, damping, thermal insulation and excellent fatigue properties by adopting particular constituents and tailored geometric layouts. The PhD project will:
- Devise a multi-scale modelling framework for the prediction of the load response and progressive damage and failure behaviour of CFRP sandwich structures.
- Provide a high-fidelity experimental methodology combining imaging approaches applied to data-rich analysis of the load response and progressive damage and failure behaviour of CFRP sandwich structures.
- Enable novel design concepts for damage tolerant CFRP sandwich structures.
- Stimulate your interest in composites and mechanical design to unlock doors for the next-generation of analysis/design procedures and efficient lightweight engineering structures to facilitate Net-Zero sustainability goals.
Project 2: Novel flexible photonic based sensors for health monitoring of composite structures Supervised by Professor Janice Barton
A radical redesign of optical fibre architecture has enabled a new in-situ measurement paradigm that elicits quantitative assessment of through-thickness strains in laminated composite structures during manufacture and service. The novel sensor technology will inform composite design and manufacturing strategies to facilitate Net-Zero sustainability goals by reducing scrappage and extending operational lifetime. You will work closely with industry to:
- Design procedures that enable the flexible photonic sensor to make multiple measurements quickly with real time reporting on the health of the structure.
- Develop the new sensors for both manufacturing control and service life predictions of a composite structure.
- Stimulate your interest in new, developmental sensing methods used as the basis for the creation of future sustainable composite products.
Project 3: Repeated impacts on composite aero-structures (sponsored by Rolls-Royce) Supervisor Professor Stephen Hallett
Aerospace composite components are subject to a multitude of seemingly minor impact threats, for example due to ice shedding or hailstones. Over a part’s lifetime, this can result in millions of such impacts. Whilst no single impact at this energy is sufficient to cause degradation, it is known that repeated loading can lead to fatigue of the material and ultimately failure. There is very limited research into repeated impacts, especially those occurring below the damage initiation threshold, hence you will address an unexplored gap in understanding. Working closely with project sponsor Rolls-Royce within our Composites University Technology Centre you will take a combined experimental and numerical approach to:
- Investigate repeated loading under low velocity to establish the material’s damage threshold and establish the threshold of initiation and evolution of damage.
- Provide numerical damage models based on the Bristol Composites Institute’s comprehensive experience to predict the onset and progression of damage, as well as to understand the mechanisms and drives for damage development.
- Undertake higher strain rate testing, via the use of a drop weight impactor and gas gun to provide understanding of potential rate effects, ensuring the research is relevant for real-world impact loading scenarios.
- Establish impact fatigue allowables for composite component design, to unlock more sustainable and efficient aircraft designs with reduced engine power requirements.
Project 4:
Application of Artificial Intelligence in Life Cycle Assessment of Composites Manufacturing (sponsored by the National Composites Centre) Supervisor Dr Iryna Tretiak
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology increasingly used in industry for assessing the environmental impact associated with all life cycle stages of a product, process or service. Gathering comprehensive, accurate data for every stage of product life cycle can be challenging, meaning data can be incomplete thus impacting the reliability of LCA results. Moreover, identifying the best impact assessment is subjective and can affect the final result. For composite structures, these effects are further compounded by decisions made early in the design process such as: fibre and matrix selection, geometry and manufacturing processes. Artificial intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) could potentially overcome these challenges, enhancing the precision, efficiency, and depth of environmental impact assessments.
You will join a large cohort of CDT students sponsored by the National Composites Centre, which has been supporting Engineering Doctorate students for more than 10 years. Supported by this wealth of experience, you will develop AI tools capable of estimating the LCA impact of design decisions early on in the design process. The research will comprise:
- Surveying existing LCA capabilities for composites to identify gaps in current tools and data.
- Collect and homogenize primary data for composite manufacture from literature and in collaboration with OEMs. Design and implement a Universal Database Structure for LCA on composite materials.
- Build an AI framework for design decisions support. Through the use of deep learning technologies, you will make system capable of automatic parametrization of structural geometries and materials, by making use of the widest range of primary LCA data.
- Design, build and evaluate LCA-AI framework for a demonstrator structure.
Candidate Requirements
Applicants must hold/achieve a minimum a 2:1 MEng or merit at Masters level or equivalent in engineering, physics or chemistry. Applicants without a master’s qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree and performance at interview.
To apply please submit a personal statement, outlining your experience and why you are interested in PhD/EngD project, your CV and transcript of results to https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/. Please do not submit a project description; this is unnecessary as the project is already defined. Clearly state the project (s) you are interested in order of preference. For projects 1 to 3 select PhD in Advanced Composites and for Project 4 select EngD in Composites Manufacture. In all cases please enter Professor Janice Barton the Director of the CDT as the 2nd supervisor (janice.barton@bristol.ac.uk)
Closing date: 27th October 2024.