PhD Studentships in Novel Modelling Methodologies for Hybrid and Titanium Alloys Systems Subjected to Impact Loading

3.5-year D.Phil. studentship

Supervisor: Prof Nik Petrinic

We are seeking to recruit students for two doctoral projects arising as part of a long-term collaboration with Rolls-Royce. In particular, the projects will support future design of large gas turbine engines for civil aviation. The students will be members of the Impact Engineering Team, a large and vibrant team whose industrial sponsors are the largest global engineering organisations (see iel.eng.ox.ac.uk).

The projects will focus on developing novel modelling methodologies for (a) Titanium alloys and (b) Hybrid systems. In both cases, you will develop novel, experimentally validated modelling approaches for simulation of deformation and fracture of materials and systems subjected to highly dynamic loading events. You will play a central role in the development of numerical algorithms and software as a "plug-in" into a larger software suite, as well as related experimental methods for calibration and validation of the software developed. The research will focus on discretisation methodology and related kinematics over a range of length-scales, retaining the flexibility to accommodate different underlying constitutive models. The software will be validated against readily available experimental data generated in the Impact Engineering Laboratory (IEL), Oxford where the project is hosted. The IEL, itself a part of the wider Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering group, has world class facilities and expertise for both experimental and numerical investigation of the response of materials to high strain rate deformation.

Both studentships cover University and College fees at the level set for UK/EU students. The stipends (tax-free maintenance grant) are c. £14,553 p.a. for the first year, and at least this amount for a further three years.

The Titanium studentship is funded through the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Industrial Co-operative Awards in Science & Technology (CASE) Award Scheme and is open to both UK students (full award - fees plus stipend) and EU students (partial award - fees only). 

The Hybrid systems studentship is open to all students. UK/EU students are eligible for a full award (fees plus stipend). Overseas students are eligible for a stipend and fees at Home/EU level.

Candidate Requirements

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

• A first class honours degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Naval, Aerospace, Civil), Materials Science/Engineering, Physics or Applied Mathematics.
• Proven affinity to Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering.
• Excellent English written and spoken communication skills.

The following are desirable but not essential:

• MSc in Computational Mechanics (Finite Element Method, element free).
• Excellent computing skills and preferably some experience with computer aided design software and programming languages (C/C++, FORTRAN, Matlab).

Application Procedure

Informal enquiries are strongly encouraged and should be addressed to Dr Antonio Pellegrino (antonio.pellegrino at 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 18ENGIN_01NP in all correspondence and in your graduate application.

Application deadline: 25 May 2018

Start date: October 2018

http://www.eng.ox.ac.uk/study-here/postgraduate/studentships/research-st...