PhD in Advanced Composites – Centre for Doctoral Training in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering

Project Title: 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.

How to apply

To apply please submit a personal statement, outlining your experience and why you are interested in the PhD 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.

Please select PhD in Advanced Composites and enter Professor Janice Barton the Director of the CDT as the 2^nd supervisor (janice.barton@bristol.ac.uk)

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.

Funding

An enhanced stipend of £25,789 for 2024/25, a fee waiver and generous research financial support for the successful candidates.

Contact: isce-cdt@bristol.ac.uk

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