Advanced Technology Concepts for Hydrogen Fuelled Environmental Friendly Aircraft with GKN - PhD

Funding for: UK Students

Funding amount: Sponsored by Cranfield University, this studentship will provide a bursary of up to £17,668 (tax free) plus fees per annum for four years.

Supervisors: Professor Panos Laskaridis & Dr Drew Sanders

A fully funded PhD studentship with GKN and great opportunity to work closely with a leading aerospace organisation at the forefront of Sustainable Aviation to research and develop novel technologies for hydrogen and zero emission aircraft. We are looking for enthusiastic, inquisitive and motivated researchers with a strong interest in aerodynamics and systems design to join a diverse and inclusive research group focusing on technologies for the decarbonisation of aviation and the exploration of advanced aerodynamic and energy-based analysis methods.

This is an GKN-EPSRC CASE Award that focuses on the development of new technologies for the development of a hydrogen fuelled aircraft. The successful candidate will join a diverse, world class research group and will work closely with the industrial sponsor and other international researchers. The researcher will also have the opportunity to have an industrial placement.

The research will focus on aerodynamics and innovative aircraft concepts that will contribute to the development of sustainable and green aerodynamic solutions for aviation. It will combine elements of whole aircraft aerodynamic analysis, heat transfer and aircraft performance.

The researcher will develop and apply energy based aerodynamic analysis methods to research and analyse the effect of using the heat generated by novel power and propulsion systems on the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft.

The researcher will join a diverse and inclusive team at Cranfield University that focuses on the development, integration and evaluation of novel aircraft, propulsion and aerodynamic technologies. The team has developed novel, world class energy and exergy based aerodynamic methods and the researcher will have the opportunity to further develop and apply them.

Findings and outcomes will be used to evaluate and influence the feasibility of future, energy efficient and aerodynamically improved aircraft concepts and will contribute to the development of innovative solutions and methods that have the potential to revolutionise aviation leading to the design of the next generation of sustainable and environmentally friendly aircraft. It will also inform research strategies and technology roadmaps including the development of future test campaigns and flying demonstrators.

Furthermore, it will further develop novel energy and exergy based aerodynamics methods developed at Cranfield University. The researcher will work closely with GKN’s specialists and technology managers. You will have the opportunity to have industrial placements as well as attend national and international events and conferences and interact with international and European experts working on similar topics.

The research and supervisory team at Cranfield have developed world class research capabilities related to the topic along with strong international links that will offer the opportunity to the researcher to interact with leading international experts in the topic.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a good first degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering or computing, maths or physics or any other relevant topic. An MSc or relevant work experience will be beneficial. Knowledge of aerodynamics and CFD will be highly beneficial.

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