EngD in Composites Manufacture - Centre for Doctoral Training in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering

Funding for: Home/permanent UK residents subject to security clearance

Duration 4 years

Start date September 2025

The project:

Materials and design of wind turbines for preserving total product value through life sponsored by National Composites Centre (NCC)(Supervisor: Dr Dmitry Ivanov)

Wind energy is a key enabler to a post-fossil fuel energy mix, however wind turbine blades themselves are large constructions of many materials, including glass fibre and carbon fibre composites, all requiring significant sums of energy and capital to produce. Generally, they are designed for lifespan is 25 years, but extending the lifespan is an attractive means to reducing through-life cost and preserving the product value and in the context of sustainability is particularly important because wind turbine blades are presently difficult to re-use or recycle. Hence this EngD project will:

• Investigate designs and materials that facilitate disassembly, and support recyclability, reuse and repair
• Examine the introduction of recyclable resins in key locations in the blade architecture
• Employ smart digital technologies to introduce sensing to monitor degradation
• Enthuse your interest in creating clean energy and derisking the enabling technologies for a sustainable future by determining new avenues for wind blade life extension
• Be part of a large cohort of EngD CDT students that conduct their research at NCC and offer benefit from conducting research in an organisation that supports the entire UK composites sector.

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 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 EngD in Composites Manufacture 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 (based on UKRI 2024/25 rate), a fee waiver and generous research financial support for the successful candidates.

Contact: isce-cdt@bristol.ac.uk

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