Research Studentship in ‘Deformation and Fracture of TRISO Fuel Particles'

3.5-year DPhil studentship 

Supervisors: Prof Dong (Lilly) Liu and Prof Emilio Martinez-Paneda

The proposed PhD project will focus on an advanced nuclear fission particle fuel form called TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) fuel. This PhD project will be performed under the direct supervision of Prof. Dong (Lilly) Liu and Prof. Emilio Martinez-Paneda at the University of Oxford and co-supervised by experts at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.

In this project, you will have the opportunity to be trained and become a proficient user of a range of advanced experimental techniques. For instance, you will learn how to use synchrotron X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT), a non-destructive imaging technique, to perform crushing experiments of TRISO particles over a range of temperatures, thereby achieving a better understanding of the deformation behaviour of the particle fuel, crack initiation/propagation and failure mechanisms in relation to test temperature. Finite element (FE) modelling using FE tools such as Abaqus, (or) Ansys, (or) COMSOL is optional to validate the experimental findings. You will be trained on lab-based XCT to study the changes of porosity with neutron irradiation damage. It is also possible that you will be contributing to international round-robin/bench marking exercises that aim to standardise the sub-sized specimen testing program. In addition, you will have the opportunity to present your work at international conferences/workshops. During your project, you will have access to experimental and modelling resources in both Profs. Liu and Martinez-Paneda’s groups with about 30 researchers.

Finally, as a part of your graduate experience, you will have the opportunity to spend some time as a visiting or exchange researcher at the collaborating organisation Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) at Chalk River, Ontario, where you would get exposure to applied R&D environment related to advanced reactors and contribute to ongoing activities aligned with your research.

Eligibility

This studentship is open to Home students (full award – home fees plus UKRI standard stipend). 

Award Value

University course fees are covered at the level set for UK students (c. £10,070 p.a.). The stipend (tax-free maintenance grant) will at least c. £19,237 p.a. for the first year, and at least this amount for a further two and a half years. 

Candidate Requirements

 Prospective candidates will be judged according to how well they meet the following criteria:

• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent) in Engineering, Materials Science or Physics
• Excellent English written and spoken communication skills
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills
• Willingness to travel and conduct experiments at national/international facilities (expenses will be covered).

The following skills are also highly desirable:

• Strong laboratory-based skills
• Programming skills (Matlab, Python, or similar)

Application Procedure

Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be addressed to Dong.Liu@eng.ox.ac.uk 

Candidates must submit a graduate application form and are expected to meet the graduate admissions criteria. Details are available on the course page of the University website.

Please quote 25ENGMM_DL2 in all correspondence and in your graduate application.

Application deadline: noon on 03 December 2024

Start date: October 2025

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