Materials Engineering: Fully Funded SU/ Rolls-Royce PhD Studentship: Mechanism

MECHANISM will advance our fundamental knowledge of the in-service operation, processing characteristics and mechanical/physical behavioural response of advanced structural materials within extreme environments as well as continuing to develop step-change advances in viable alloy and composite compositions. The resulting techniques and understanding will enable the sustainable life-cycle of advanced materials, supporting design (digitally enabled), repair (aftermarket) and advanced manufacturing technologies, whilst supporting more efficient and environmentally friendly power systems into the future, reducing the impact of carbon technologies where possible. This fundamental life-cycle understanding is a key enabler to maintain competitiveness for UK power systems in the highly competitive international market, recognising the growing interest in new transportation technologies such as electrification, hybrid power systems, marine, and land-based freight. These goals will be delivered through a research-driven understanding of the fundamental mechanical properties of these advanced structural materials which will operate in highly demanding stress and environments throughout their life cycle. 

This research is driven by the necessity to understand the underlying scientific principles of advanced structural materials whilst creating a platform for knowledge exchange across the Rolls-Royce group (including civil aerospace, defence and submarines); a forum that is currently lacking. Such an initiative will enable solutions derived from one sector to be disseminated across the business to advance overall knowledge. 

Across this field, there are multiple fundamental, scientific challenges to overcome, including but not limited to: mechanical and physical behaviour of materials, effects of environment upon corrosive behaviour, wear and fatigue, plastic deformation, crack growth behaviour over a range of temperatures, fundamental understanding of metallurgical properties required to enable repair, characterisation of the anisotropic response of composite systems, and material processing (including novel additive manufacture). These challenges are highly complex, and the relative experience and track record of previous materials research is essential to underpin and deliver successful outcomes.  

MECHANISM comprises of four individual PhD projects, as follows: 

• Evaluation of the Effect on Microstructure and Material Performance of Nominal and Failed Process Conditions of the Binder Jet Process and Subsequent Heat Treatments – Rolls-Royce Submarines 
• Extreme testing methods for Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) material for aeroengines – Rolls-Royce Aerospace 
• Evaluation of the Effect of Significant Rate Improvement Methods on Process Defects, Microstructure and Material Performance for Laser Powder Bed Fusion 316LN Stainless Steel – Rolls-Royce Submarines 
• Investigate Liquation Mechanisms and Semi-Solid State Compression Behaviour of an Advanced Nickel Superalloy – Rolls-Royce Aerospace  

Funding Details

Funding Comment

The studentship covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with the current UKRI 24/25 rate - £19,237.

Funds for other expenses (e.g. conferences, fieldwork): £3,000 for the duration of the funded period.

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