Materials Engineering: Fully Funded EPSRC and Rolls Royce PhD Scholarship: Repair of Next Generation Blisk Alloys

Funding providers: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Rolls Royce

Subject areas: Materials Science & Engineering; Additive Manufacturing

Project start date: 

• 1 October 2023 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Project supervisors: 

• Professor Robert Lancaster (Swansea University)
• Martyn Jones (Rolls-Royce)

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Materials Engineering

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description: 

With the relentless drive for efficiency, design of future Ultra Fan family of aero engines not only include increasing stages of blisks (bladed discs), but there is also a desire for them to be made from more advanced alloys when compared with current Trent generation aero engines. Key to this strategy is their repairability, without which this new family of engines will not be sustainable regarding through life cycle cost. Although these new blisk alloys enable enhanced engine performance they are also likely to be less repairable than their predecessors and therefore assessment and understanding of achievable mechanical properties for repair of these alloys is essential.

Material Addition (MA) Laser Blown Powder - Directed Energy Deposition is employed by Rolls-Royce to repair blisks, and this process allows the microstructure and mechanical properties to be tightly controlled.

The student will use standard and novel testing techniques to understand the microstructure - mechanical property relationships for repairs of these next generation alloys. Properties of interest are likely to include fatigue performance, crack initiation and growth, tensile and creep at a range of temperatures, in combination with an understanding of the influence of the MA microstructure in order to build up a mechanistic understanding of the MA repairs and the achievable mechanical properties.

Eligibility

Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. 

English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 5.5 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent.

Due to the nature of research with the industry collaborator, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations.