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.
Qualifications available:
PhD or MPhil
Fees:
For detailed information on current fees visit
Fees and funding.
Entry requirements:
Minimum 2:1 (or equivalent)
Potential research projects
Project areas are available depending on funding, but we would expect to recruit in the following general areas:
- Creep of materials for future nuclear power plant
- Application of digital image correlation at high temperature
- High-temperature weld integrity assessment.
For specific details of likely projects, please contact us (details below).
Current/recent research projects
- Application of Digital Image Correlation to characterisation of weld mechanical properties
- Anelastic behaviour of Type 316H stainless steel
- Residual stress and creep performance of P91 pipe girth welds