Nowadays, composites materials are commonly used for designing aerospace structures where many challenges have been resolved but others are still open. For example, the fatigue behaviour under vibration is still a challenging area of research. A new PhD position is offered in the area of damage assessment and monitoring of composites structures. Current research in composites HCF resulted in a methodology for identification of first delamination onset from fatigue conditions. However the dynamics behaviour post first delamination is not known or validated yet. Exploring this behaviour is essential for: (i) understanding key dynamics factors and their propagation mechanisms, (ii) understanding key sensitivity parameters to help with development of cost-effective and accurate models, (ii) generation of know how needed for transition from no-growth to safe life strategy.
The research topic is focused on developing a complete test approach for exploration and characterisation of behaviour changes in composites. The primary focus of the proposed work will be to track delamination growth, and, to map out propagation mechanism for each failure mode to full failure. The research will identify a set of sensitive parameters with which state of a given component can be located along a spectrum ranging from pristine to full failure.
The selected candidate will be part of a team focussed on composites fatigue characterization of aero-engine components. The team is well integrated with a technical customer and exposure to real life engineering problems is assured. The research will be broadly experimental with also activities on FE modelling. The candidate will acquire along the PhD pathway an appropriate balance between test and analysis skill sets.
How to apply:Â Please make an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply. Please select Mechanical Engineering (PhD) on the Programme Choice page and enter details of the studentship when prompted in the Funding and Research Details sections of the form
Candidate requirements: Candidates are required to have a background in experimental dynamics and/or composites structures Finite Element modelling. Suitable for a graduate in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, Material Science, Physics, Mathematics or related subjects.
Contact for informal enquiries:Â Dr Dario Di Maio (Dario.DiMaio@bristol.ac.uk)
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