High temperature testing

Qualifications Duration Start dates Application period
PhD
(MPhil also available)
Full time: 3–4 years
Part time: 6–8 years
February and October January to April
Qualifications
PhD (MPhil also available)
Duration
Full time: 3–4 years
Part time: 6–8 years
Start dates
February and October
Application period
January to April

The Materials Engineering Group has an international reputation for its research activity in the fields of residual stress measurement and analysis, high-temperature materials behaviour and materials characterisation. We have an excellent suite of testing facilities on campus, ranging from X-ray residual stress measurement to state-of-the-art electron microscopy. We have invested over £1.6 million in research equipment and infrastructure, and the group’s research is currently supported by around £2 million of external income. We work closely with a range of industrial partners.

High-temperature performance of materials is important to applications in aerospace and power generation. We have one of the largest UK university creep facilities for characterising high-temperature deformation of materials, and are developing novel non-contact strain measurement methods, such as high temperature digital image correlation (DIC) for characterisation of deformation in welded joints.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English

Potential research projects

Project areas are available depending on funding, but we would expect to recruit in the following general areas:

  • Multiscale characterisation of creep deformation of materials for fusion reactor
  • Creep of materials for power plants
  • Application of digital image correlation at high temperature
  • High-temperature weld integrity assessment

Current/recent research projects

  • Application of Digital Image Correlation to characterisation of weld mechanical properties
  • Testing techniques of miniature samples for determining residual creep life
  • Residual stress and creep performance of P91 pipe girth welds

Potential supervisors

Fees and funding

UK fee International fee
Full time: £4,712 per year Full time: £15,456 per year
Part time: £2,356 per year Part time: £7,584 per year

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

Links

Turbine fan blades
 

How to apply

Get in touch

If you have an enquiry specific to this research topic, please contact:

Salih Gungor, Senior Lecturer in Materials Engineering
Email: stem-ei-phd
Phone: +44 (0)1908 655799

Apply now

If you’re interested in applying for this research topic, please take a look at the application process.