Extending useful metallic product lifetime through manufacturing
The project will be aligned with the newly established Circular Metals Hub hosted by Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST) at Brunel University London. You will be interacting daily with researchers and academics in BCAST, Brunel University London and in partner academic and industrials organisations. In this close collaboration lies the foundation for your promising career path. Metals are vital to human society and have widespread uses across a broad spectrum of industries including but not limited to packaging, transport and construction applications. They are mainly used in load-bearing structural components. Such metallic components have limited useful lifetime due to dynamic environmental and mechanical stimuli, leading to the generation of defects, damages and eventual degradation of the mechanical properties and the failure of component. End-of-life components are then treated as waste which can either be disposed to landfill sites, incinerated or recycled. Waste from end-of-life components undermines the available material resources and poses threats to our environment with dire global warming consequence. Hence there is an urgent need to maintain and extend the useful lifetime of components, thereby increasing material usage efficiency, reducing waste and minimising environmental damage.
This project aims to apply manufacturing process to maintain and extend the useful lifetime of metallic components by stablishing a system for regular service of metallic components. This involves the fundamental study of the effects of heat treatment processes and conditions on the level of defects and damages in metallic components. This information will be correlated to the mechanical properties and performance of the metallic components in order to assess the degree of useful lifetime.
Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend of £19668 including outer London allowance plus payment of their full-time tuition fees for a period of 48 months (4 years).
How to apply
Eligibility
For non-UK nationals a proof of English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 and more) or the eligible proof of undergraduate education received in English is required.
You should have or expect to receive by the beginning of this PhD study a first degree (BSc) at 2:1 or above in a suitable engineering and science discipline, e.g., materials science, mechanical engineering, physics or applied mathematics. A MSc level qualification is desirable.
A strong background in materials science and applied mathematics is desirable as the project includes mathematical modelling and optimisation.
Enquiries should be directed to Professor Isaac Chang at Isaac.chang@brunel.ac.uk
Dr. Ebad Bagherpour at ebad.bagherpour@brunel.ac.uk
Professor Zhongyun Fan at zhongyun.fan@brunel.ac.uk
How to Apply
Email the documents below as a single PDF file to cedps-studentships@brunel.ac.uk
by 16:00 on Tuesday 30 January 2023.
Please state the name of the project supervisor in your email and use project title in the email subject.
- Your up-to-date CV;
- Your 300-word personal statement setting out why you are suitable for this position;
- Your Undergraduate/Postgraduate Masters degree certificate(s) and transcript(s);
- Your English Language qualification of IELTS 6.5 overall or equivalent, if applicable;
- Two references, one of which can be provided by a member of Brunel University academic staff.