Current PhD studentships

Supervisor: Professor Andrew Amis

Deadline for applying: 28 March 2025

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Female ACL injury in Elite Football leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the Football Association.

The project will be managed jointly by The Football Association (FA) and Imperial College (IC) with expert surgical input from Fortius Clinic, London. The work will partly be ‘in the field’ and with a base at the Biomechanics research group at IC’s South Kensington campus.

It is expected that the project will entail development and use of in-depth evaluation methods that can be used with identified players and the participating clubs to understand current training methods, development pathways and physical development programmes and their relation to ACL injury and injury prevention, to document histories of those who have been injured and to evaluate post-injury treatment/rehabilitation methods and the long-term outcomes in terms of return to play at elite level. This work will lead to evidence-based recommendations for injury prevention and return to sport for the women’s professional game in England. It is expected that this project will identify key modifiable risk factors, leading to improvements in training/rehabilitation methods which can be widely implemented to help improve outcomes for players throughout the women’s game.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree or similar qualification plus experience in Physiotherapy, Sports Science, Biomechanics, Medicine or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in sports medicine is essential.  Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Prof Andrew Amis: a.amis@imperial.ac.uk, 07722 225409.  Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae and statement of motivation to Prof Amis. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be confirmed by College Registry.

Closing date: 28^th March 2025

Supervisors: Paul Hooper, Catrin Davies

Deadline for applying: 31 January 2024

Applications are invited for research studentships in the field of additive manufacturing leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The posts are supported by bursary and fees (home fee status).

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have a promising list of potential benefits for low to medium volume manufacture. Understanding the structural integrity of AM components is key to their increased use in high performance and safety critical applications. This PhD project, sponsored by Renishaw plc, will focus on developing new in-situ process monitoring and control strategies to both monitor and improve build quality of metal components made via selective laser melting. The PhD is part of a wider project focusing on accelerating the quality assurance of additively manufactured parts using in-process monitoring data and machine learning. The research will be performed using Imperial’s new AM facility (that includes four laser powder bed fusion machines, 2 x Renishaw AM250, an Aconity Midi and a Concept MLab), world class materials characterisation and test facilities and high performance computing systems.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a first or upper second honours degree in engineering, physics, computing or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. Applicants should have an interests in one or more of additive manufacturing, image processing, sensing machine learning, real-time control systems, welding and metallic materials. A passion for engineering, demonstrated by extra-curricular activities or industrial experience is also desirable.  Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Paul Hooper (paul.hooper@imperial.ac.uk) or Dr Catrin Davies (catrin.davies@imperial.ac.uk). Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae and cover letter to Dr Hooper on the above e-mail address.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: 31^st Jan 2024

Supervisor: Dr Ludovic Renson

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in Nonlinear Structural Dynamics, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the EPSRC (in the form of a CASE conversion). Candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for this award and be considered ‘home students’.

The constant drive to improve aero-engine performance leads to lighter, more flexible structures where significant vibrations are increasingly present. Damping is essential to limit vibration amplitudes, but opportunities to introduce damping mechanisms in aero-engines are typically very limited due to their harsh operating conditions. Metal additive manufacturing offers opportunities for creating components with novel internal structures, including cavities filled with unsintered metal powder, to increase the damping ratio and mitigate vibrations significantly.

In this project, you will make constructive use of such powder cavities to mitigate vibrations in aero-engine components. You will develop numerical models that capture the behaviour of the powder and its effect on structural dynamic properties (natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes). Both low- and high-fidelity (particle) models will be developed and validated against experimental data. Ultimately, you will exploit the developed models combined with traditional topology optimisation to design components with optimal internal structures and powder cavity locations, sizes, and orientations.

You will work in the Nonlinear Dynamics and Control Research Group led by Dr Ludovic Renson and in collaboration with other departments at Imperial. You will be part of the Rolls-Royce Vibration University Technology Centre and have the opportunity to interact directly with engineers at Rolls-Royce plc. You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering or a related subject, an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, and a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. A general interest in dynamics is essential. Good teamwork, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details on the post contact Dr Ludovic Renson (l.renson@imperial.ac.uk). Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Renson. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London for their qualifications to be addressed by the College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Janet Wong

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Additives for EV lubrications leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by Shell UTC. To be eligible for support, applicants must be “UK Residents” as defined by EPSRC. 

This project is a part of a large effort for our zero transition initiatives. Our goal is to design the best coolant and lubricant for EV through a fundamental understanding on how we may control the behaviour of additives under the influence of an electric field. This has a direct impact on the performance and reliability of EV. Ultimately, we aim to revolutionise lubricant technology by creating smart, responsive lubricants that can lubricate on demand!

In this experimental project, the PhD researcher will examine how an application of an electric field affects the behaviour of various additives. This will involve both fundamental and applied studies. The researcher will design experimental setup that allows various additives properties to be measured in situ and in real time during rubbing. This will allow a direct correlation between additive behaviour and tribological performance of a lubricant. The project will also be supplemented using other techniques, include advanced laser spectroscopies, and various surface and chemical characterisation techniques.

This project will be based at Imperial College with regular interaction with our project partners. The PhD researcher will be a part of the Shell UTC and the Tribology Group. It offers a vibrant, multidisciplinary and multicultural working environment. Laboratories were recently refurbished and are well equipped with an extensive range of instrumentation and extensive computer facilities.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will hold, or be expected to achieve, a Master’s degree or a 4-year undergraduate degree at 2:1 level (or above) in a relevant subject, e.g. Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, Materials, Chemistry, Physics or a related field. You will have an enquiring, rigorous and hands-on approach to research, together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in experimental work and development is essential, as are good team-working, observational and communication skills.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Janet Wong (j.wong@imperial.ac.uk). Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Janet Wong

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Tribology and Lubrication, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate). The candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for a home student.

Lubricants are commonly used to ensure energy efficiency and durability of machines, including automotive transmission. Ideally a lubricant film is created between rubbing surfaces, leading to reduction in friction and wear. Since the operating conditions of EV transmission are different from those of internal combustion engine vehicles, lubricants tailored for EV are necessary. One strong contender is ester. Esters are bio-lubricants that can be produced from renewable sources and are environmental friendly. They also provide better energy efficiency due to their low viscosity and better cooling effect with their relatively high thermal conductivity. They are however susceptible to water contaminations and degradation. The impacts of harsh EV operating conditions and water contamination on rheology and lubricant film forming ability of esters are unclear. This experimental project aims to provide fundamental understanding on lubricant film formation mechanisms of esters in rubbing contacts. We will explore how ester molecular structures and water inclusion affect rheology and film formation of ester lubricants. Advanced laser diagnostic characterisation techniques will be used. This will enable design of high performance ester lubricants for EVs.

The project will be hosted by the Tribology Group at Imperial College London, a world renowned tribology group, with a multicultural and multidisciplinary teams of about 60 people. There will also be regular interactions with the industrial sponsor.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in chemistry, chemical and mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/ 

For information on how to apply, go to: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/ 

For further details of the post contact Dr Janet Wong j.wong@imperial.ac.uk. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Wong. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Ludovic Renson

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in Nonlinear Structural Dynamics, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the EPSRC (in the form of a CASE conversion). Candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for this award and be considered ‘home students’.

The constant drive to improve aero-engine performance leads to lighter, more flexible structures where significant vibrations are increasingly present. Friction between components is a vital source of damping to preserve aero-engine integrity. Therefore, accurately predicting the amount of frictional damping at interfaces between components is essential during design. However, this task is challenging considering the complex interface geometry, complex dynamics, and uncertainty due to manufacturing tolerances.

In this project, you will further develop FORSE, a frequency-domain solver for nonlinear vibration analysis developed at Imperial that Rolls-Royce plc currently uses to estimate interface friction damping. In particular, you will improve available contact laws, accelerate contact evaluation using (model-based and data-driven) model reduction and hardware acceleration (GPU offload) techniques, and develop approaches to deal with uncertainties associated with interface geometry. You will collaborate with experimentalists in the group to validate your model predictions against experimental results.

You will work in the Nonlinear Dynamics and Control Research Group led by Dr Ludovic Renson and in collaboration with other departments at Imperial. You will be part of the Rolls-Royce Vibration University Technology Centre and have the opportunity to interact directly with engineers at Rolls-Royce plc. You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering or a related subject, an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, and a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. A general interest in dynamics is essential. Good teamwork, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details on the post contact Dr Ludovic Renson (l.renson@imperial.ac.uk). Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Renson. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London for their qualifications to be addressed by the College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisors: Dr Yu Duan, Dr Michael Bluck (Mechanical Engineering)

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a PhD research studentship in the field of Critical Heat Flux Prediction with Adaptive, Data-driven Uncertainty Quantification.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK/EU student rate) provided by the UK EPSRC and Westinghouse (Sweden). Candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for the award.

Project Overview:
Are you ready to take on a groundbreaking challenge that could revolutionise nuclear reactor safety? This PhD project will push the boundaries of uncertainty quantification (UQ) by developing state-of-the-art methods for predicting critical heat flux (CHF), a critical factor in ensuring nuclear reactor safety. Traditional UQ approaches often rely on overly conservative global uncertainty values, but we’re changing that! By leveraging advanced machine learning (ML) and Bayesian inference, the project will introduce prediction-specific UQ adjustments that adapt based on data density, consistency, and model reliability. This innovative research will lead to more accurate, flexible safety margins in nuclear reactor design and operation, enhancing both efficiency and safety. It’s your opportunity to contribute to safer and more cost-effective nuclear energy for the future!

Key Research Questions:

1. What ML algorithms and models are best suited for quantifying uncertainties based on data availability and model accuracy in CHF predictions?
2. How can this adaptive UQ approach significantly enhance nuclear reactor operational flexibility while reducing unnecessary costs?
3. How can data and models be optimized to target critical operational limits, boosting safety exactly where it’s needed?
4. How can adaptive UQ methods be integrated effectively into licensing and regulatory frameworks to enhance reactor safety?

What You’ll Be Doing:
As a PhD student on this innovative project, you will be at the forefront of nuclear safety research. Your activities will include:

• Conducting a detailed literature review on UQ in nuclear thermal hydraulics and machine learning-based uncertainty quantification.
• Developing cutting-edge methods for estimating uncertainties in CHF predictions using ML, with direct applications in nuclear reactor safety.
• Applying your innovations to nuclear reactor thermal limit calculations, demonstrating the benefits of adaptive UQ for operational flexibility and safety margin optimization.
• Documenting your research and presenting findings at international conferences, as well as publishing in leading journals.

You will receive extensive training, including courses and workshops on machine learning, nuclear systems, and thermal hydraulics. You’ll also be collaborating with global experts in the field, enhancing your academic and professional network while making significant contributions to the nuclear energy sector.

Requirements:
You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment in a PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class or 2:1 honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related subject, with an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, a strong intellect, and disciplined work habits. An interest in fracture mechanics is essential. Good team-working, observational, and communication skills are also necessary.

The position is within the Nuclear Engineering Group of the Mechanical Engineering Department. This PhD is funded by the UKRI/EPSRC and Westinghouse (Sweden).

Find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area:

Department of Mechanical Engineering

More Information on How to Apply:
Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Michael Bluck m.bluck@imperial.ac.uk and  Dr Yu Duan, y.duan@imperial.ac.uk . Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be assessed by College Registry.

Closing Date: Until post filled

Supervisor: Christoph Schwingshackl

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of future aeroengine technology, leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the EPSRC, with a generous bursary top-up from industrial funds.  EPSRC candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for the award. 

The design of efficient and safe next generation gas turbines requires among other things a reliable control of rotor vibrations to prevent a rapid loss of structural integrity during operation. Future engine designs require novel vibration management concepts that can replace conventional rotor damping solutions, such as squeeze film dampers (SFDs). This PhD research aims to deliver such a novel vibration management mechanism that shall be scalable, weight efficient and capable of operating across a wide frequency and load ranges (from normal vibration to extreme fan-blade-off loads) in a safety critical aerospace environment. The aim thereby is to research different potential energy absorption approaches (eg. the use of structural non-linearity, smart materials, topology optimisation, …), evaluate their potential with respect to shaft damping in turbo machinery, provide the physical understanding and numerical tools to analyse, predict, select, optimise and design a novel shaft damping solution, and demonstrate the designs feasibility with a simple proof of concept setup on a laboratory rig. The student will be a member of a Vibration UTC, funded by Rolls-Royce 35 years ago with a long demonstrable history of delivering state of the art research and producing world-class specialists both for industry and academia. The candidate will have the opportunity to an internship at Rolls-Royce during their PhD.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in numerical and experimental dynamic techniques is essential.  Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about this PhD opportunity, go to:

https://youtu.be/KasvTVxkWPc

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

or https://www.imperial.ac.uk/dynamics/research/structural-dynamics/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Christoph Schwingshackl C.Schwinshackl@imperial.ac.uk.  Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Schwingshackl.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Prof Maria Charalambides

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Mechanics of Materials leading to the award of a PhD degree.

The aim of this research is to develop FEA simulations that can answer the question of how long a running shoe will last. The developed simulations will enable cost efficient virtual tests to be performed. The focus is on foam materials with varying relative densities. To develop design tools for longer lasting shoes with increased fatigue (product) life, you will be performing simulations at two length scales: a) Microscale: a micromechanical model of the foam architecture to obtain homogenised bulk properties, and b) Macroscale: a simulation of the shoe during running (one cycle and multi-cycles). The microscale model will be informed through imaging studies of the foams through x-ray micro tomography using computerised tomography (CT). The reconstructed 3D geometries will be meshed to perform finite element (FE) simulations to derive predictions of the mechanical properties of the foam. The simulations will be validated through macroscopic coupon test experiments. You will then perform virtual tests of the shoe at the macroscale. The boundary conditions in this case will need to be obtained from literature on the biomechanics of running. In both scale simulations, emphasis will be given on determining and calibrating the right constitutive models such that progressive damage of the material is enabled. Challenges will need to be met regarding alleviating mesh sensitivity of results inherent in damage models and simulating fatigue loading within reasonable computational running times.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st or 2:1 class honours degree in mechanical engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in Mechanics of Materials is essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

This post is supported by a bursary and fees at the UK student rate provided by the research collaborators, On. As a result of the industrial funding, this studentship will attract a higher bursary than the usual EPSRC student rate. Open literature publication is encouraged, and funding is included for attending international scientific conferences. The student will spend some time embedded at On in Zürich, Switzerland, gaining valuable experience of industrial research.  

For further details of the post contact Prof Maria Charalambides m.charalambides @imperial.ac.uk  +44 (0)20 75947246 or Dr Soraia Pimenta soraia.pimenta@imperial.ac.uk . Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Prof Charalambides.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Amir Kadiric

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the development of novel lubricating fluids for application in drivetrains of passenger electric vehicles (EVs), leading to the award of a PhD degree. This is a fully funded iCASE PhD studentship in collaboration with a major premium passenger vehicle manufacturer. The studentship covers a tax-free bursary of around £27,000 per annum, full tuition fees, and all project costs. The studentship is available to suitably qualified UK and overseas candidates.  

Effective lubrication of electric vehicle drive units presents unique challenges in terms of lubricant formulation. An EV drive unit lubricating fluid is required to provide adequate protection to gear and bearing surfaces under high torque – low speed operating conditions, while minimising churning losses at high speeds and low torques. The former requires a high viscosity fluid and the latter a low viscosity one. Furthermore, in most modern EVs the same fluid is used to lubricate the gearbox and to cool the e-motor, which imposes additional requirements on the EV fluid of having a high specific heat capacity and suitable copper compatibility. Although traditional hydro-carbon based oils may excel in some of these aspects, such as offering superior surface protection, they may no longer offer the optimum combination of properties to adequately satisfy this whole set of requirements.

This project aims to help develop new EV drivetrain fluids to address these competing requirements. In particular, we will explore how best to balance fluid’s cooling capability with its lubricating performance. To achieve this, the work will explore tribological performance of several unconventional lubricants, including for example, water-based ones. The key benefits of a water-based lubricant in EV drive train applications are its superior cooling performance, which can offer potential benefits in e-motor efficiency, and lower transmission losses at higher vehicle speeds. However, water-based fluids are generally poor lubricants compared to conventional oils; this is due to their inferior hydrodynamic film forming abilities, caused by low viscosity and low pressure-viscosity coefficient, as well as inferior tribofilm formation under low speeds. The project will explore the tribological behaviour of these and other candidate fluids, with the aim of producing practical guidance on potential fluid formulations for optimum efficiency and reliability of electric drive units in passenger EVs. 

The successful candidate will have regular opportunities to present their work at major international conferences in Europe, USA and Japan, and will be expected to publish the results of this research through a series of journal papers. They will also closely communicate with the industrial partners on this project, including visiting their research facilities.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a good degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics or a related subject, with at least a 2:1 equivalent degree classification. Your past studies and experiences will demonstrate a rigorous approach to research, disciplined work habits and an enquiring mind. Good written and oral communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr A Kadiric, a.kadiric@imperial.ac.uk or Dr J Shore, joseph.shore15@imperial.ac.uk as a first step. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form available on Imperial’s website in order for their qualifications to be assessed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Amir Kadiric

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the effects of hydrogen on the performance of machine elements, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The studentship is fully funded through a research agreement with our industrial partners, a large multinational company, and covers a tax-free bursary of around £27,000 per annum, full tuition fees, and all project costs. The studentship is available to suitably qualified UK and overseas candidates.  

Hydrogen is playing an important role in the global efforts for clean energy transition. Its most obvious uses are in fuel cells and hydrogen combustion engines, but hydrogen is also increasingly used in industry, for example, in green steel production. However, storage, transport and use of hydrogen present unique challenges in ensuring reliability of machine components which may be exposed to hydrogen at some point in their life cycle. One known issue is the phenomenon of hydrogen embrittlement of steels, where permeation of hydrogen into the steel matrix adversely affects steel mechanical properties and hence increases the risk of failure. Machine elements, such as bearings and gears, are important examples of engineering components that are believed to be susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. It has been postulated that hydrogen can diffuse into the rubbing steel surfaces of these components and consequently, accelerate the initiation and/or propagation of contact fatigue cracks. One example where this phenomenon has been suggested to be of significance are wind turbine drive trains, many of which experience mechanical failures much earlier than predicted by conventional theories. To help address some of the relevant questions, this project will make use of world-unique analytical and test equipment to systemically investigate the potential influence of hydrogen on damage and failure in lubricated rolling-sliding contacts of hard steels, representative of those found in machine elements such as bearings and gears. The results of this project are of practical significance in the design and operation of wind turbines, fuel cells, and many other mechanical systems across automotive, industrial and energy sectors.  

The project will utilise existing test equipment available in the Tribology Group at Imperial, including the triple-disc contact fatigue rig and ball-on-disc tribometers, to systematically evaluate the initiation and progression of surface damage in lubricated rolling-sliding contacts under conditions that may promote uptake of hydrogen by the rubbing steel surfaces. A selection of lubricants and steels will be included in the study. Crucially, the tested specimens will then be analysed using a world-unique analytical set-up, referred to as ‘cryo atom probe’, available at Imperial that is designed to detect and locate atomic hydrogen within the steel matrix. Historically, the primary issue with studying hydrogen embrittlement of steels has been the inability to observe mobile hydrogen atoms within the steel specimens. The standard techniques, such as TDA, that are commonly used to assess the amount of hydrogen in a test specimen, are only able to provide a measure of the total hydrogen content in the sample, but do not provide the key information on the location of the hydrogen atoms within the matrix and do not distinguish between the trapped, and hence largely inconsequential, hydrogen, and the potentially damaging mobile hydrogen. The cryo-atom probe overcomes this, and other, limitations by keeping the test sample under cryo conditions from the moment it is removed from the test chamber through every stage of analysis, including FIB, SEM, TEM and atom probe itself as needed. This facility has only recently become available through a multi-million-pound investment supported by public and industrial funding. This set of experiments will enable us to (i) conclusively confirm whether hydrogen permeates into the rubbing steel surfaces under any given contact conditions and lubricants, (ii) establish any preferred locations where the hydrogen migrates within the steel matrix, for example, the vicinity of a fatigue crack tip, and (iii) link these observations to the mechanisms of any surface damage observed in the initial tests. Given the unique set of cutting-edge testing and analytical equipment available to this project, it is hoped that this research will provide ground-breaking insights on the effects of hydrogen on the performance of tribological contacts with far reaching impact across multiple applications.   

The successful candidate will have regular opportunities to present their work at major international conferences in Europe, USA and Japan, and will be expected to publish the results of this research through a series of journal papers. They will also closely communicate with the industrial partners on this project, including visiting their research centre in Europe.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a good degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics or a related subject, with at least a 2:1 degree classification. Your past studies and experiences will demonstrate a rigorous approach to research, disciplined work habits and an enquiring mind. Good written and oral communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr A Kadiric, a.kadiric@imperial.ac.uk or Dr J Shore, joseph.shore15@imperial.ac.uk as a first step. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be assessed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Paul Hooper

Deadline for applying: 30 September 2021

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of fracture and high strain-rate materials characterisation, leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK/EU student rate) provided by AWE plc.

This PhD project aims to advance our understanding of the influence of strain rate and sample size on the fracture toughness of nuclear grade A508 forged steel and 3D printed Ti-6Al-4V manufactured through laser powder bed fusion. Strain rate is known to affect the mechanical properties of alloys, especially the yield strength and fracture toughness. Conventional fracture toughness methods used under quasi-static loading, such as pausing and unloading tests at predefined displacements do not work at high-speed. This leads to uncertainty in predicting the structural integrity of structures which may experience high speed loading scenarios in service. In this PhD you will develop innovative high-speed experimental methods to overcome the limitations of the established quasi-static approach. This will include the design and development of a method to load a compact tension (CT), or single edge notch bend (SENB) specimen, at high-speed (>10 m/s) to a fixed displacement to prevent the specimen fully fracturing into 2 pieces. You will learn to use high-speed photography and apply techniques to measure sample deformation. Alongside the experimental aspects of this project, you will also develop finite element models and analytical techniques to gain further insight into the results obtained. You will also have the opportunity to travel to and present your work at international conferences.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class or 2.1 honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. Practical engineering, problem-solving and computational abilities are key skills for this PhD project. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Paul Hooper paul.hooper@imperial.ac.uk or Dr Catrin Davies catrin.davies@imperial.ac.uk. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Paul Hooper.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: 30^th September 2021

Supervisor:  Dr Paul Hooper

Deadline for applying: 30 September 2021

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of high strain-rate materials characterisation, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK/EU student rate) provided by AWE plc.

This PhD project aims to develop innovative experimental methods to measure the stress-strain response of soft materials at high strain-rates.  Although the testing of metallic samples under these conditions is fairly mature, measuring the properties of softer materials (such as organic materials and polymer bonded explosives) is much more challenging. Dynamic loading of soft materials is challenging due mismatch in stiffness between the samples and loading fixture. Even holding the sample in place can be difficult due to their low stiffness and tendency to deform under their own weight. These difficulties can give rise to large uncertainties in measurements of mechanical properties in soft materials, especially in non-compressive loading. In this PhD you will advance the state-of-the-art to overcome these limitations through the development of novel dynamic testing equipment at strain-rates of 1,000/s (faster than a car crash) and above. The approach taken will be a miniaturised Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) design that will enable testing of soft materials that are difficult to prepare into test specimens and introducing a high level of automation into the test procedure to reduce or eliminate operator variability. You will learn to use high-speed photography (think The Slow Mo Guys) to measure sample deformation and investigate the effects connection arrangement between the loading bars and sample. You will also have the opportunity to develop finite element models to further our understanding of testing these materials at high-strain rates and to travel and present your work at international conferences.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class or 2.1 honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. Practical engineering and problem-solving abilities are key skills for this PhD project. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Paul Hooper paul.hooper@imperial.ac.uk. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Paul Hooper.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: 30^th September 2021

Supervisor: Dr Sina Stapelfeldt

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Turbomachinery Aeroelasticity, leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the EPSRC (IDLA Award).  Candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for the award. 

Safe and reliable aircraft engines must be designed to avoid the occurrence of aeroelastic phenomena which cause high amplitude vibrations that could lead to failure due to high cycle fatigue. This project investigates an aeroelastic instability known as buffeting, where unsteady aerodynamic forces excite vibration of an aircraft engine component. You will utilise in-house computational fluid dynamic (CFD) and aeroelastic software to understand the conditions under which buffeting occurs and ultimately use the findings to develop efficient models for its prediction.

You will be part of the Rolls-Royce Vibration University Technology Centre and have the opportunity to interact directly with engineers at Rolls-Royce plc.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering or a related subject, an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, and a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. A general interest in fluid dynamics is essential, and previous knowledge of computational fluid dynamics and aeroelasticity is desirable. Good teamwork, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Sina Stapelfeldt. s.stapelfeldt@imperial.ac.uk. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Sina Stapelfeldt. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisors: Iuliia Tirichenko, Fred Cegla

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of laser processing of materials (graphene-enabled laser joining and repairs) leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the PhD Scholarship of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

In the era of industrial sustainability, there's a growing emphasis on prioritizing material repair and reuse over incessant production. The principles of "repair, don't replace" and "First Time Right" are at the forefront, highlighting the need for enhanced quality control and sustainable fabrication methods. As the complexity and scale of the components we produce continue to expand, the demand for reliable methods to securely join dissimilar materials has surged. Laser processing, especially laser welding, emerges as a promising solution, particularly in industries like aerospace and transportation.

However, a significant challenge arises when it comes to materials that do not readily absorb laser light, rendering them unsuitable for laser processing. This is particularly relevant for refractory materials, which require exceptionally high temperatures for melting or sintering. The effective conversion of laser light into heat is crucial in these cases.

Our research project aims to address this challenge by exploring a universal enhancer – chemically modified graphene. Graphene possesses the unique ability to efficiently absorb laser light across a broad range of wavelengths and convert it into heat through the photothermal effect. When graphene is introduced to refractory compounds, it enhances their laser processability, making them suitable for laser melting and sintering manufacturing methods. Our research will involve the synthesis of various graphene variants, blending them with feedstock powders, and using them to create joints and repairs. Throughout the project, we will conduct continuous characterization to understand how the composition of the materials and the presence of graphene affect laser processability and the quality of the joints.

In addition to this, we will develop a novel in-situ non-destructive evaluation method as part of the project. This method will enable us to monitor the quality of joints by utilizing high-frequency modulations of the laser source, which emit ultrasonic waves that can be detected and used for inspection.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London, holding or expecting a First-Class or high 2:1 MSc degree in engineering, materials, chemistry, physics or related fields. Keen to investigate graphene's impact on laser processing, they'll work on experiments and tech development, which will require teamwork, observation, and communication skills. For eligibility, applicants must be "UK Residents" per EPSRC's definition (https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/developing-people-and-skills/esrc/funding-for-postgraduate-training-and-development/eligibility-for-studentship-funding/). The 3.5-year studentship, commencing in 2023, covers tuition fees and offers an annual tax-free stipend.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Iuliia Tirichenko (Elizarova) i.elizarova14@imperial.ac.uk, Dr. Frederic Cegla f.cegla@imperial.ac.uk +44 (0)20 75948096. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to the email addresses above.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Monica Marinescu

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Battery Electrochemistry, leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by industrial funding. 

This PhD project will focus on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, with the aim to gain fundamental understanding on how they degrade under both battery energy stationary storage (BESS) and Electric Vehicle (EV) use cases. The increase in use of LFP is due to their lower raw material cost vs Nickel Manganese Cobalt cathodes (NMC) lithium-ion batteries, as well as LFP’s improved aging and safety profile vs NMC. However, LFP does have lower energy density and brings a unique set of challenges vs NMC, specifically around state of health and charge determination, as well as degradation mechanisms. The research will develop physics-based and distributed models able to reproduce the limiting degradation mechanisms of LFP cells and will be supported by extensive tests that will be designed and conducted to target such mechanisms. The PhD candidate will work closely with our industrial partner and to the research group members to answer the research questions, which are centered around creating knowledge to determine the thermal management requirements for optimal performance and aging of LFP batteries.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in batteries and vehicle electrification is essential.  Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

Although this funding is for UK only, highly competitive out of UK candidates are encouraged to submit their application, with the aim to receive support for funding applications including scholarships.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Monica Marinescu m.marinescu@imperial.ac.uk.  Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to electrochem.sci.eng.group@imperial.ac.uk. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Janet Wong

Deadline for applying: until post filled

The useful life of liquid lubricants and greases is limited by the fact that they oxidise in air. This requires regular oil change and disposal, limits the temperatures at which lubricants can be used, and greatly constrains the application of environmentally-friendly vegetable oils. Prevention of lubricant oxidation would thus make a major contribution to sustainability and the environment. Our group is developing an exciting concept to prevent lubricant oxidation via “inerting” closed lubricated systems. This concept can potentially bring significant benefit to performance of transmissions of electric vehicle, wind-turbine, industrial gearboxes and hydraulics. For more details, please see the link below:

Zhang, J., Wong, J.S.S., and Spikes, H.A., 'Lubrication in an Inert Atmosphere - a New Era in Lubricant Technology', STLE Annual Meeting, Long Beach, May 24th 2023.

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of lubrication and tribochemistry, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by Shell. The studentship is for 3.5 years, starting as soon as possible and will provide full coverage of standard tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of approximately £20k. Home (based on UKRI criteria) and international candidates will be considered.

This experimental project will study performance of lubricants in inert conditions. Using advance tribological and analytical techniques, you will answer the following research questions: (i) Do lubricants designed to work in air function effectively in the absence of oxygen and if now, why not and how can they be changed? (ii) How, if at all. do lubricants degrade in the absence of oxygen? The answers to these will then be used to formulate and apply inerted lubricants in real applications.

The project will be hosted by The Tribology Group at Imperial College, which is a vibrant, world-leading research group with unparalleled experimental and modelling equipment facilities. You will be supervised by Dr Janet Wong and Professor Hugh Spikes. You will be expected to study at a Shell location for a minimum period of 3 months and be part of a larger community of Shell-funded researchers in the Group who are working on lubricant and electric vehicle-related projects.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree or a high 2:1 degree at Master level (or equivalent) in Chemical Engineering, Materials, Chemistry or a related science and branch of engineering. You have an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits.  Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Janet Wong j.wong@imperial.ac.uk. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Wong.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Janet Wong

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Tribology and Lubrication, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by EPSRC and Shell via a CASE studentship. The candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for a home student.

Lubricants are commonly used to ensure energy efficiency and durability of machines. They contain additives to improve various performance targets. Polymeric additives are most commonly used as viscosity modifiers. Viscosity modifiers allow the use of low viscosity base oils which improve machine efficiency by reducing the power needed to circulate and shear the lubricant. Interestingly, polymeric additives are multifunctional and can potentially be used as friction modifiers. This experimental project aims to provide fundamental understanding on working mechanisms of polymeric friction modifiers. We will explore how polymer friction modifiers interact with rubbing surfaces and their effects of rheology and flow of lubricants. Advanced laser diagnostic characterisation techniques will be used. This will enable design of high performance multifunctional polymeric additives.

The project will be hosted by the Tribology Group at Imperial College London, a world renowned tribology group, with a multicultural and multidisciplinary teams of about 60 people. There will also be regular interactions with the industrial sponsor.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in chemistry, chemical and mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/ 

For information on how to apply, go to: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/ 

For further details of the post contact Dr Janet Wong j.wong@imperial.ac.uk. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Wong. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Fred Cegla

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Improved spatial localisation of ultrasonic scan data on physical assets

The drive towards Industry4.0 and IoT enabled technology is leading to increased demand for digitalisation of NDE data and reporting. As operators become less involved in the process of data acquisition and on the spot analysis, the localisation and registration of measurement data is becoming increasingly important. In unstructured environments, standard robotic localisation techniques today have uncertainties in the order of 0.01m. This might be sufficient for single shot inspection assessments but is not good enough for trend estimation over time because subtraction of two spatially mismatched defects will result in large errors in the estimated change of defect size over time and hence trending errors.

This project aims to address this problem by researching different external and internal localisation referencing techniques to register data and efficient techniques to handle their temporal evolution. We will consider SLAM (simultaneous localisation and mapping) based on cameras for external features and inspection data (ultrasound will be used in the project) for the acquisition of internal data. The project will build on the results of the feasibility study on the “stitching  of ultrasonic phased array scan data” that was completed in 2021.

To be eligible for support, applicants must be “UK Residents” as defined by the EPSRC. Please check your suitability at the following here. The studentship is for 3.5 years starting in 2023 and will provide full coverage of standard tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend. Funding is through the Industrial Cooperative Award in Science & Technology (iCASE) scheme funded by the EPSRC and NDEvR Ltd (the legal entity representing the >10 industrial and ~8 university members of the UK Research Centre for NDE- RCNDE consortium). The students will be hosted at one of the industrial partner company locations for a minimum period of at least 3 months over 4 years and offered industrial mentorship during the project. The student will be part of a larger community of industry funded researchers in NDE at Imperial and the partner institutions.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a First-Class Honours or a high 2:1 degree at Master’s level (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, another branch of engineering, Materials, Physics, Chemistry or a related science. We expect you to have an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in developing experimental and/or modelling methods to investigate the effect of electric fields on engineering interfaces across the scales is essential. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

Non-Destructive Evaluation | Research groups | Imperial College London

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr. Frederic Cegla f.cegla@imperial.ac.uk  +44 (0)20 75948096.  Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr. Cegla.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Christoph Schwingshackl

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of clean, safe and competitive future aero engine development, leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the EPSRC, with a generous bursary top-up from industrial funds. EPSRC candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for the award. 

The research will be conducted within the Vibration University Technology Centre (VUTC), sponsored by Rolls-Royce Plc to facilitate vibration related research. It involves the development and validation of novel nonlinear structural dynamic approaches to predict damping of aero engines components. Non-linear dampers are essential for aero-engine component safety, reliability and performance. Improved, validated non-linear contact prediction will allow the design of more robust, lighter weight components, improving Specific Fuel Consumption, Time on Wing and operational safety. As step changes in technologies and engine usage are made to meet Net Zero targets, the improved non-linear dynamic prediction capability will greatly  enhance modelling techniques de-risking technology developments.

Recent research in the VUTC has shown that the performance of frictional damping, and particularly Under Platform damping in bladed discs in aeroengines, is highly sensitive to the initial loading conditions, potentially limiting, or even negating the advantages of optimised damper designs. This research work will focus on the development of efficient techniques to improve non-linear contact modelling, to include the uncertainties into Under Platform Damper predictions, use these techniques to propose an optimised, more robust damper designs, and validate the new modelling methodology with the help of an existing rotating test bed. The work will be both numerical and experimental, and hence we are looking for a candidate with interest in both areas. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with Rolls-Royce Plc. and offers the opportunity to spend some time in the company for knowledge transfer.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in numerical and experimental nonlinear dynamic techniques is essential.  Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about this research opportunity go to:

https://youtu.be/MzDXr-Q1VKw

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr C. Schwingshackl c.schwinshackl@imperial.ac.uk.  Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Schwingshackl.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Janet Wong

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Fuels and Lubricants, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK/EU student rate only) and sponsored by Shell. The studentship is for three and a half years from June 2020.

Lubricants are used in engines to reduce friction, to improve machine efficiency and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Fuel, however may mix with the lubricant during operation, affecting the effectiveness of the lubricant. The proposed research programme is a fundamental study of the influence of fuel on properties of lubricant, with in-situ measurements to be carried out in a modified engine, using various spectroscopic techniques. 

The project is sponsored by the Shell University Technology Centre (UTC) for Lubricants and Fuels based in the Mechanical Engineering Department, Imperial College London, and will take place in the Tribology Group and the Thermofluids Division in this Department.  Both the Tribology Group and the Thermofluids Division are world leaders in their respective fields of tribology, fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, and combustion. Together, they comprise of more than 90 PhD students as well as many post-doctoral researchers and academic staff. It offers a vibrant and multicultural working environment. Laboratories were recently refurbished and are well equipped with an extensive range of instrumentation and extensive computer facilities.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will be an experimentalist and will have a background in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics or a related field. You will have an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in engines and basic understanding of their operation with good practical skills is desirable. Training will be given in tribology, thermofluids and the relevant investigative techniques. You will become a skilled communicator, comfortable in an international situation. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.  The project will involve close collaboration with Shell and you will be expected to visit and communicate with various Shell centres around the world.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post please contact Dr Sarah Matthews (sarah.matthews@shell.com) or Dr Janet Wong (j.wong@imperial.ac.uk). Interested applicants should email an up-to-date curriculum vitae. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form available on the Imperial College London website in order for their qualifications to be assessed by the College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisors: Dr Min Yu

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of tribology, leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London. 

Interfaces between moving surface, covering a vast range of practical applications in industrial and biomedical sectors, are critical in determining efficiency and durability. The research involves design and validation of a novel smart interface. A magnetic field is actively controlled to actuate the rheological / tribological behaviour of magnetorheological fluid between a sliding contact, a non-destructive ultrasonic reflection technique is employed to probe the fluid film thickness, the variation of which is taken into the feedback of the overall closed control loop. This smart interface has a potential in reducing friction and thus energy usage in mechanical transmissions, or enabling intelligent mechatronic systems (e.g., soft robots), where controllable interface friction and fluid film thickness are desired. Also, structural health monitoring can be additional benefit. This project will be mainly experiment oriented, and numerical / analytical modelling will be also promoted.

The PhD will be based in the Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) Group and the Tribology Group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London.  Both are leading research groups in the world, with extensive experimental and numerical research facilities and an international reputation for research excellence. It will be performed in collaboration with other research groups at Imperial College London and other universities.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in mechanical engineering, tribology, control, sensing, and signal processing is essential. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential. The studentship will provide the opportunity to become a skilled communicator, comfortable in an international environment at a world-leading institution.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Min Yu m.yu14@imperial.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7594 3840.  Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Min Yu. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Janet Wong

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of solid-liquid interfaces leading to the award of a PhD degree.  To be eligible for support, applicants must be “UK Residents” as defined by the EPSRC.  The studentship is for 3.5 years starting as soon as possible and will provide full coverage of UK students standard tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of approximately £17,609. Please check your suitability at the following web site:

http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/Pages/eligibility.aspx

This project is part of a multidisciplinary project InFUSE whose goal is to study key material and fluid interfaces across a range of application areas with direct impact on the energy transition. Our aim is to create a step-change in the correlative characterisation of interfaces embedded in these systems under realistic environments.

Temperature (and the extraction of heat) plays a very important role in the performance of machines. For example, increased temperature may reduce the viscosity of lubricants, which impacts on friction or wear of machines. It may also lead to increased rate of undesirable reactions, such as corrosion and surface degradation. Overheating also reduces components lives. In the context of EV, increased temperature reduces battery efficiency and poses safety risk. All these applications point to the importance of characterising interfacial thermal conductance at a solid-liquid interface, which is extremely challenging.

In this experimental project, the PhD researcher will characterise the thermoconductance of solid-liquid interfaces in engineering fluids, including lubricants, coolants, and refrigerants. Specifically, the effects of additives, coatings and surface modifications will be investigated. To do so, the researcher will design a setup based on thermoreflectance measurements. Complementary techniques such as QCM, AFM, IR will also be employed. The potential of using thermoreflectance for acquiring film formation kinetics will also be explored.

This project will be based at Imperial College with significant interaction with the project partners, Thin Film Technology Laboratory, Diamond Light Source and Shell. The PhD researcher also will be a part of the Tribology Group. It offers a vibrant, multidisciplinary and multicultural working environment. Laboratories were recently refurbished and are well equipped with an extensive range of instrumentation and extensive computer facilities.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will hold, or be expected to achieve, a Master’s degree or a 4 year undergraduate degree at 2:1 level (or above) in a relevant subject, e.g. Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, Materials, Chemistry, Physics or a related field. You will have an enquiring, rigorous and hands-on approach to research, together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in experimental work and development is essential, as are good team-working, observational and communication skills.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Janet Wong (j.wong@imperial.ac.uk). Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Janet Wong

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Grease Lubricant, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the Jost Foundation. The candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for a home student.

Greases are lubricants commonly used in bearings and joints to ensure energy efficiency and durability of machines. Greases are semi-solid consisting of a fibre network (thickener) and a base fluid. The thickener network acts as a sponge holding the base fluid within. During rubbing, the network is perturbed and releases the fluid which can then offer lubrication. The most common grease network is lithium soap based. In light of environmental issues surrounding lithium and lithium mining, a substitute for lithium-based thickener is sorely needed. This experimental project aims to develop sustainable thickeners for grease applications. We will explore both novel materials and also recycled plastics. Advanced characterisation techniques will be used to obtain fundamental understanding on the working mechanisms of these thickeners. This will enable design of sustainable grease whose performance on par or suppress conventional Li-based grease.

The project will be hosted by the Tribology Group at Imperial College London, a world renowned tribology group, with a multicultural and multidisciplinary teams of about 60 people. It will be conducted in collaboration with industries and other universities.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in chemistry, chemical and mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/ 

For information on how to apply, go to: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/ 

For further details of the post contact Dr Janet Wong j.wong@imperial.ac.uk. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Wong. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Ludovic Renson

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in Machine Learning applied to Turbomachinery, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees provided by the EPSRC (in the form of an iCASE or IDLA). Candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for this award.

The dynamic behaviour of an aero engine is commonly monitored using one or more vibration sensors. The unambiguous interpretation of the measured data is currently limited to detecting disruptive events and faults (e.g. bearing damage). Extending this interpretation to a broader range of normal and abnormal engine behaviours is, in principle, possible. However, vibration data alone is insufficient to contextualise the dynamic response of an engine. Indeed, “seemingly” identical engine conditions can lead to very different vibration responses, which suggests that other factors, such as temperature, environmental conditions, and thermal history, also affect the response. As of now, every unexpected response detected currently results in delays and costly investigations to determine if the quality or even safety of the engine is compromised. The number of such unexpected, poorly understood behaviours will increase significantly with the introduction of numerous new technologies (hybrid electric, hydrogen, lean burn) to meet net-zero emissions goals.

In this project, you will first look at the development of physics-guided machine-learning models and techniques to monitor and forecast aero-engines dynamics. You will leverage machine learning to augment pre-existing mechanical models, studying their ability to preserve physical consistency and interpretability while improving the quality of model predictions and extrapolations. You will then explore methods to detect events and novelty in data and apply them to real engine data collected on a comprehensively instrumented engine available in the group’s laboratory.

You will work in the Nonlinear Dynamics and Control Research Group led by Dr Ludovic Renson and in collaboration with other departments at Imperial. You will be part of the Rolls-Royce Vibration University Technology Centre and have the opportunity to interact directly with engineers at Rolls-Royce plc. You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering or a related subject, an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, and a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. A general interest in dynamics is essential. Good teamwork, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details on the post contact Dr Ludovic Renson (l.renson@imperial.ac.uk). Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Renson. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London for their qualifications to be addressed by the College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisors:  Professor Pavlos Aleiferis

Deadline for applying: until post filled

High Efficiency Concepts for Zero-Carbon Hydrogen/Ammonia Engines 

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Thermofluids leading to the award of the PhD degree. The focus will be on developing and understanding new operation concepts for high-efficiency green engines running on zero-carbon fuels like hydrogen and ammonia, using advanced experimental techniques. The post is supported by full bursary and tuition fees at the UK research student rate for ‘Home or Ireland’ students:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/students/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/postgraduate-tuition-fees/2021-22/postgraduate-research-programmes/faculty-of-engineering/

Please do not make enquiries or apply formally unless you meet the tuition fees criteria.

Project Description
This project will investigate the fundamentals of fluid dynamics, mixture formation and ignition in internal combustion engines running on hydrogen and ammonia fuels using advanced optical diagnostic experimental techniques. Key areas of study will include direct fuel injection and air mixing in a fully optical engine with flexible valvetrain and boosting systems, to investigate advanced ignition and combustion modes aiming for a zero-carbon zero-emission engine. The research methods will give a full picture of in-cylinder effects related to various engine operating regimes.

The Thermofluids Division at Imperial has an internationally leading record in fundamental and applied research into multiphase and reacting flows, established over several decades. You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the Academic requirements for enrolment on the PhD degree at Imperial. You are expected to have a 1st or upper 2nd class honours degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. A keen interest in experimentation and future high-efficiency zero-carbon engine systems is important. Excellent observational, practical and communication skills are all essential for this post.

To find out more about the Mechanical Engineering Department at Imperial College London, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering

For further details of the post and informal enquiries you may contact Prof. Pavlos Aleiferis:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/p.aleiferis

Suitable candidates will be asked to complete an electronic PhD application form:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

The starting date will be fixed in discussion with the successful candidate, preferably by the first quarter of 2022.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Jun Jiang

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of advanced welding technologies, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The position is supported by various industry stakeholders, including Commonwealth Fusion Systems, UKAEA, Alfa Laval, SMT, and British Gear Associate, emphasising its significant industrial relevance and potential.

Dr. Jiang's group at Imperial College has pioneered a groundbreaking solid-welding technology that seamlessly integrates cold-welding with diffusion welding, all in open-air conditions. This innovative method has demonstrated exceptional results, such as maintaining base metal properties with minimal deformation. Its advantages encompass high joint strength, precision, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and much more, earning its 1st place in the Fusion Manufacturing Challenges 2023 at TechConnect, Washington.

The prime focus of this PhD will be to develop and optimise this revolutionary welding technique for manufacturing industry-representative nuclear fusion components (like tungsten-316L or vanadium) or creating bimetallic Al-Fe lightweight gears for transmission systems. With access to the state-of-the-art Gleeble 3800 testing facility, the candidate will delve deep into understanding the intricacies of welding mechanisms. This will encompass studies on oxide evolution, grain boundary migration, and voids closure. Using cutting-edge in-situ thermal micromechanical testing and characterisation units, the student will explore the microstructure evolution at the solid welding joints. Furthermore, the project will also encompass developing physically based constitutive equations to numerically portray these bonding mechanisms, facilitating the simulation and optimisation of the welding process.

Ideal candidates should be passionate, self-motivated, and meet the academic prerequisites for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. Possession of a 1st class honours degree in Mechanical/Material Engineering, or a related field is essential. The student should demonstrate robust project and communication skills and should possess a keen interest in advanced manufacturing, welding, and materials science.

To understand more about research at Imperial College London in this sphere, visit:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/ 

For application guidance, please refer to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/ 

For any further details about this position, please contact Dr. Jun Jiang at jun.jiang@imperial.ac.uk. Prospective applicants should forward an updated CV to Dr Jiang. Suitable candidates will need to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London, ensuring their credentials are assessed by the College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Daniele Dini

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of “Fundamental understanding of water-based lubricants for hydraulic and EV applications”, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The studentship will be based in the Shell-Imperial University Technology Centre (UTC) for Mobility and Lubricants, which is hosted by the Tribology Group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London. It will be supervised by members of academic staff in the Group including Prof. Daniele Dini, Dr Janet Wong and Prof. Hugh Spikes. The studentship is for 4 years starting in October 2024 and will provide full coverage of standard tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of approximately £24,000. This studentship is funded by an EPSRC Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science & Technology (CASE) and industrial partner Shell.  The student will be expected to study at a Shell location for a minimum period of at least 3 months during the studentship and will be offered industrial mentoring throughout the project. At Imperial, the student will be a member of a larger community of Shell-funded researchers in the Tribology Group who are working on lubricants and electric vehicle-related projects, which cover both experimental and modelling techniques across the scales. The Tribology Group at Imperial College is a vibrant, world-leading research group with unparalleled experimental and modelling equipment facilities.

The project is concerned with the development of novel water-based lubricants for EVs and environmentally-friendly hydraulics. The aim of this project is to improve our understanding of and ability to design aqueous lubricants based on polymer solutions in water. Although most liquid lubricants are based on organic hydrocarbons and esters, for many years a few have been based on water.  To date these have been used primarily as mining hydraulic fluids (because of their fire resistance) and in metal cutting (due to their superior cooling properties).  However, there is now growing interest in using water-based lubricants in a much wider range of applications, including electric vehicle (EV) transmissions, industrial oils and hydraulics. Their excellent cooling properties are important for EVs, but the main desirable features in other applications are their biodegradability and general green credentials.

The main objectives of this project are to study the fundamental aspects that govern the performance of water-based polymer solutions as lubricants. This will be pursued by looking at novel sustainable formulations of polymers to be used to form separating films with characteristics similar to those achieved with the best performing conventional lubricants.  We will be adopting our modern experimental techniques, which include very high shear rate viscometry, film thickness measurement rigs and conventional rolling-sliding tribometers as well as in-contact fluorescence to explore the in-contact composition of lubricant films and local viscosity and rheological description of the fluids under consideration.  This will be coupled with the use of in-house models that can be employed to explore and predict the behaviour of newly developed fluids in different components and applications of interest to Shell.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You should hold or expect to obtain a First-Class Honours or a high 2:1 degree at Master’s level (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, another branch of relevant engineering, Materials, Physics, Chemistry or a related science. We expect you to have an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in developing new experimental and/or modelling techniques for the discovery of new engineering solutions for the energy transition is essential, as are good team-working, observational and communication skills.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/tribology/

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/tribology/shell-utc/

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Prof. Daniele Dini, d.dini@imperial.ac.uk or Dr Janet Wong, j.wong@imperial.ac.uk.  Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to them.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Daniele Dini

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of “Next Generation Patterned Steel Floors for Best in Class Slip Resistance Performance”, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The studentship will be based in the Tribology and the Metal Forming and Materials Modelling groups in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London. It will be supervised by Prof. Daniele Dini and Professor Jianguo Lin as well as an industrial expert, Dr Bin Xiao from Tata Steel. The studentship is for 4 years starting in October 2024 and will provide full coverage of standard tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of approximately £24,000. This studentship is funded by an EPSRC Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science & Technology (CASE) and industrial partner Tata Steel UK.  The Tribology and the Metal Forming and Materials Modelling groups are vibrant, world-leading research groups with unparalleled experimental and modelling equipment facilities.

It is well known that slips and trips are the most common cause of injuries at work and therefore subject to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consideration. Tata Steel UK is a product leader in the UK market for patterned steel floor plates. The dense pattern of studs on as rolled steel floor plates can provide outstanding slip resistance in both dry and wet conditions at all angles and allows plates/thick strips to be used in any direction. They are typically used in stairways (good bendability), walkways, lifts, platforms and bridges, and offering superior slip resistance. However, the fundamental mechanisms and important factors (stud geometry, roughness, conformance to shoe sole standards,…etc.) determining slip resistance under different conditions are not well understood; lack of fundamental knowledge hinders the development of new disruptive solutions in this space.

The main objectives of this project are to determine and rank important parameters controlling slip resistance of floorplate, as well as generate novel pattern designs with enhanced slip resistance performance. This will be achieved by combining fundamental understanding of tribological interactions and innovative surfaces and materials design and processes. The main outcome of this research programme will be the development of tools and methods for the selection of new geometrical patterns that could be considered for the next generation of patterned steel floor plates. This technology will also be applied to other Tata Steel UK products that require enhance slip &/or wear resistance performance. We will target the development of new geometrical patterns for products for specific applications through the development of advanced physics- and data-driven models, as well as laboratory tests and current industrial standards for validation. This will lead to new design tools and standard of broad applicability.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You should hold or expect to obtain a First-Class Honours or a high 2:1 degree at Master’s level (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, another branch of relevant engineering, Materials, Physics, Chemistry or a related science. We expect you to have an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in developing modelling and simulation methods and the application of machine learning techniques for the discovery of new engineering solutions is essential, as are good team-working, observational and communication skills.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/tribology/

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/metal-forming/

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Prof. Daniele Dini, d.dini@imperial.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 75947242.  Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Prof. Dini.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Dr Jun Jiang

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of advanced manufacturing technologies, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The position is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by various industry stakeholders, including Commonwealth Fusion Systems, UKAEA, Alfa Laval, SMT, and British Gear Associate, emphasising its significant industrial relevance and potential.

Dr Jiang's group at Imperial College has invented a ground-breaking solid-bonding technology that seamlessly integrates cold bonding with diffusion bonding, all in open-air conditions. This innovative method has demonstrated exceptional results, such as maintaining base metal properties with minimal deformation. Its advantages encompass high joint strength, precision, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and much more, earning its 1st place in the Fusion Manufacturing Challenges 2023 at TechConnect, Washington.

The prime focus of this PhD will be to develop and optimise this revolutionary welding technique for manufacturing industry-representative nuclear fusion components (like tungsten-316L or vanadium) or creating bimetallic Al-Fe lightweight gears for transmission systems. With access to the state-ofthe-art Gleeble 3800 testing facility, the candidate will investigate deep into understanding the intricacies of bonding mechanisms. This will encompass studies on oxide evolution, grain boundary migration, and void closure. Using cutting-edge in-situ thermal micromechanical testing and characterisation units Tescan Clara+ Oxford Instrument EBSD Symmetry 2, EDX, the student will
explore the microstructure evolution at the solid bonding joints. Furthermore, the project will also encompass developing physically based constitutive equations to numerically portray these bonding mechanisms, facilitating the simulation and optimisation of the welding process.

Ideal candidates should be passionate and self-motivated and meet the academic prerequisites for enrolment in the PhD degree at Imperial College London. Possession of a first-class honours degree in Mechanical/Material Engineering or a related field is essential. The student should demonstrate robust project and communication skills and possess a keen interest in advanced manufacturing, welding, mechanics of materials, and materials science.

To understand more about research at Imperial College London in this sphere, visit: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For application guidance, please refer to: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For any further details about this position, please get in touch with Dr Jun Jiang at jun.jiang@imperial.ac.uk. Prospective applicants should forward an updated CV to Dr Jiang. Suitable candidates must complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London, ensuring their credentials are assessed by the College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

Supervisor: Aimee Morgans

Deadline for applying: until post filled

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of fluid dynamics, leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the EPSRC through an iCASE studentship with Siemens Energy. Candidates must demonstrate relevant connection with the UK, usually established by residence, as is standard for EPSRC funding. 

Thermoacoustic instability is caused by a two-way coupling between acoustics waves and unsteady combustion. It can occur in the combustors of gas turbines and leads to damaging high amplitude oscillations. The need to decarbonize energy generation is driving the transition to hydrogen as a fuel. However, hydrogen enrichment increases propensity to thermoacoustic instability. In order to design-out thermoacoustic instability, accurate and efficient methods for its computational prediction are needed. Multi-scale computations, which couple different treatments for the acoustic waves and the flame, are particularly efficient. The acoustic waves are captured using linear, wave-based models, while the flame unsteadiness is obtained using computational fluid dynamics in the form of large eddy simulations (LES). These coupled approaches have been applied with success to predict thermoacoustic instability in real combustors, but not as yet for hydrogen-rich combustors.

This PhD will work towards this in two key ways. Firstly, to deal with hydrogen’s vastly different properties – its fast flame speed, low density, high diffusivity etc - compared to traditional fuels, the best flame simulation tools for thermoacoustic predictions will be investigated. Secondly, for the largest, most efficient gas turbines, combustion occurs in separate but linked “cans”. New acoustic models will be developed for multiple cans interacting at their downstream end.

The project will combine mathematical modelling and flow simulations for hydrogen combustion, the latter using the OpenFOAM CFD package. Machine learning will be used to model the effect of hydrogen enrichment on the flame. The project will work towards fully computational prediction of thermoacoustic instability in an experimental hydrogen-rich lab combustor (at a collaborator’s lab) which can operate in single-can, two-can and three-can modes.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 1st class honours degree in mechanical engineering or related subject and demonstrate excellent project-work and communication skills. You will be interested in fluid dynamics, acoustics and computational fluid dynamics. You will join a supportive and inclusive research group and benefit from co-supervision with the Siemens Energy partner.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Prof Aimee Morgans, a.morgans@imperial.ac.uk. Interested and eligible applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Prof Morgans.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled

The following research groups have flexible funding, which may enable them to provide funding for outstanding PhD students at any time. Please visit the group websites for more information and to get in touch with a member of the group:

• Non-Destructive Evaluation Group
• Metal Forming and Materials Modelling Group

You may wish to explore the opportunities offered by the following Centres for Doctoral Training:

• CDT in Fluid Dynamics across Scales 
• CDT in Nuclear Energy 
• CDT in Theory and Simulation of Materials 
• CDT in Quantitative Non-destructive Evaluation

You may wish to explore the opportunities offered by the SKF University Technology Centre in Advanced Modelling and Measurements in Tribology