Four Fully Funded 3-year PhD Studentships

Cranfield University has secured a funded part in a multinational research programme into the design and operation of testbeds towards next generation airliners.  

This includes four fully funded 3-year PhD studentships at Cranfield University.

• Certification and legal basis for next generation airliner testbeds, Subsonic testbed requirements and design for Blended Wing Body airliner scale testbeds.
• Blended Wing Body Testbed aerodynamic analysis and relationship to future airliners.
• Subsonic testbed requirements and design for Blended Wing Body airliner scale testbeds.
• Propulsion technologies for next generation airliner testbeds.

The project aims to design a blended wing body aircraft subscale demonstrator aircraft with particular focus on the low-speed aerodynamics. The work will include vehicle conceptual design, preliminary design of the systems and structure, and how these aircraft will be operated and certified. The scale of the vehicle will be determined early in the project and be minimised to reduce costs while being sufficiency large to enable the validity of the experiments in informing a full-scale vehicle.

Research activities include:

• Close cooperation with project partners.
• Aircraft conceptual design and systems preliminary design, including propulsion specification and integration.
• Teamworking with other aircraft designers by providing aircraft design data and/or aerodynamic analysis.
• Conduct multi-disciplinary design optimisation by developing and deploying Cranfield University’s software tools and CAD.

These PhD projects will contribute to an international project which aims to develop capabilities in flying demonstrators. Aircraft designs will be for flying demonstrators, to progress the development of future environmentally friendly airliners. The output of the project will include preliminary design of high aspect ratio wing and blended wing body aircraft, and the Cranfield University team is focused on the latter, within a larger international team.

These PhD projects will help develop preliminary aircraft designs, with the aim of those being taken forward to a sub-scale demonstrator detailed design for low-speed aerodynamics analysis in future flight trials. The aims are: -

• Aerodynamic studies to establish a suitable sub-scale to investigate through flight test beyond state-of-the-art, the low-speed aerodynamics, stability and control of a 400-passenger blended wing body aircraft. To conduct aerodynamic, stability and control analysis of the designed sub-scale aircraft. 
• To develop a sub-scale blended wing body vehicle through aircraft conceptual and preliminary design of systems including propulsion system integration and novel cycle design. 
• To develop best practices in how these testbeds can be legally built, tested, and where appropriate – certified.

Entry requirements

Candidates should have a 2:1 or better honours degree in a relevant subject such as aerospace engineering, propulsion engineering, aerospace systems engineering, or mechanical engineering with aeronautics. They should ideally have a demonstrated history of interest in aircraft design or operations. Postgraduate masters degree, or equivalent industry experience in a relevant subject would be highly favoured. The normal place of work and study will be the Cranfield campus in Bedfordshire.

Funding

Sponsored by the project funder, this studentship will provide a bursary for living expenses of £21,000pa (tax free) in addition to a bursary to cover tuition fees for three years and project related expenses, including attending at least one relevant conference where the student will present their work.

Cranfield Doctoral Network

Research students at Cranfield benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the Cranfield Doctoral Network. This network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas and collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge. A tailored programme of seminars and events, alongside our Doctoral Researchers Core Development programme (transferable skills training), provide those studying a research degree with a wealth of social and networking opportunities.

Want to find out more? https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/research/phd/the-development-of-testbeds-for-next-generation-airliners?utm_campaign=016_2425__FEAS_PhD&utm_source=warwickuniversity&utm_medium=listing

How to apply

If you are eligible and would like to apply for one of the research opportunities, please complete the online application form.

Ref: SATM526

PhD title: Next generation aircraft certification and testbed legal basis

Supervisor: Dr Guy Gratton

Email: guy.gratton@cranfield.ac.uk

Application form link: https://eve.cranfield.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app&code1=DPAROFRCD&code2=2302

Ref: SATM527

PhD title: Subsonic testbed requirements and design for Blended Wing Body airliner scale testbeds

Supervisor: Dr Craig Lawson

Email: c.p.lawson@cranfield.ac.uk

Application form link: https://eve.cranfield.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app&code1=DPAROFRCD&code2=2303

Ref: SATM528

PhD title: Propulsion technologies for next generation airliner testbeds

Supervisor: Dr Neys Schreiner

Email: b.deneys.j.schreiner@cranfield.ac.uk

Application form link: https://eve.cranfield.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app&code1=DPAROFRCD&code2=2305

Ref: SATM529

PhD title: BWB Testbed aerodynamic analysis and relationship to future airliners

Supervisor: Professor Simon Prince

Email: simon.prince@cranfield.ac.uk

Application form link: https://eve.cranfield.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app&code1=DPAROFRCD&code2=2304

For further information please contact the supervisor team or the Admissions team.

Closes: 11^th December 2024

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