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

The project:

Exploiting the outstanding potential for sheet moulding compound made of repurposed discontinuous thin-ply composites

Supervisor: Professor Michael Wisnom

Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC) offers low manufacturing costs, excellent formability and can be made from repurposed prepreg off-cuts. The random nature of SMC generally leads to low strength and large variability. This limits their application in load-bearing components. SMC made of ultra-thin prepreg tapes (UT-SMC) can overcome such limitations. There are some reports that more than doubled strength can be achieved compared with conventional SMCs, but little research has been done on using repurposed ultra-thin prepreg based materials. The PhD project will:

• Develop reliable manufacturing, testing and modelling methods for assessing performance of repurposed UT-SMC materials and structures, targeting automotive and aerospace components 
• Devise a means of repurposing out-of-shelf-life ultra-thin plies and ultra-thin prepreg off cuts from production
• Create new simulation and design tools that allow accurate performance assessment of the as-produced component/structure and through life durability, eliminating or reducing the need for physical testing 
• Excite your interest in creating repurposed materials that can be utilised in high value and high performance composite assets.

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 Advance 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 (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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