The vision of this project is to revolutionise the non-destructive inspection of fibre reinforced polymer composite wind turbine blades using piezoelectric sensors permanently installed for online structural health monitoring during in-service operations.
Department/School
School of Mechanical Engineering Sciences
Project Description
The decline with age of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite wind turbine blades has gradually become a timelier problem, since a growing number have exceeded their nominal design service life and are continuing their operation with periodic inspections and maintenance. Maintenance alone is a significant burden for the wind power industry since it accounts for around 25% of the total Levelized Cost of Energy. The vision of this project is to revolutionise the non-destructive inspection of FRP wind turbine blades using piezoelectric sensors permanently installed for online structural health monitoring during in-service operations. These sensors will provide a radically new efficient, reliable, and economically viable process of monitoring material degradation and damage initiation in FRP composites caused by ageing effects. This innovative and multi-disciplinary project will encompass integrated sensing devices and artificial intelligence data-driven approaches to enable ultrasonic damage assessment of aged FRP materials and foster new predictive maintenance and remaining useful lifetime (RUL) prognosis. The experimental work in the project combines composites manufacturing, material characterisation, mechanical testing, and the development of ultrasonic algorithms in combination with state-of-the-art theoretical models based on composite stiffness degradation. In the long term, this project has the potential to open new horizons in ultrasound technology not limited to improve safety, sustainability, and availability of wind turbines, but also to impact other fields, such as aerospace and civil infrastructures, thus producing a transformative effect to the UK economy and the society.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted via the Engineering Materials PhD programme page, but please note the closing date for this studentship is Friday 6th January 2023. In place of a research proposal you should upload a document stating the title of the projects (up to 2) that you wish to apply for and the name(s) of the relevant supervisor. You must upload your full CV and any transcripts of previous academic qualifications. You should enter ’Faculty Funded Competition’ under funding type.
Funding
The studentship will provide a stipend at UKRI rates (currently £17,668 for 2022/23) and tuition fees for 3.5 years. An additional bursary of £1700 per annum for the duration of the studentship will be offered to exceptional candidates.
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