Stress hot spots in Ti alloys - looking at how material alloying and varying the mechanical loading conditions alters the response

In Ti alloys oxygen content and Al alloying have profound effects on strength and alter slip planarity. This can alter the amount of plastic strain localised into a particular slip band and hence influence the magnitude of stress ‘hot spots’ that develop at grain boundaries. Similarly altering the mechanical loading conditions from quasi-static tension, to creep or cyclic ratcheting may also alter the resistance of grain boundaries to slip transfer. Over the last few years we have had good success using HR-EBSD to map local stress distributions at the head of slip bands intersecting with grain boundaries. The work has received considerable interest but was limited to low oxygen content pure Ti in quasi-static tension. This project will expand upon our initial measurements by looking at how material alloying and varying the mechanical loading conditions alters the response. This project will be carried out in close conjunction with Rolls Royce and other partner universities within the HexMat flagship EPSRC programme.

Candidates are considered in the January 2017 admissions cycle which has an application deadline of 20 January 2017.

Any questions concerning the project can be addressed to Professor Angus Wilkinson ([Email Address Removed]). General enquiries on how to apply can be made by e mail to [Email Address Removed]. You must complete the standard Oxford University Application for Graduate Studies. Further information and an electronic copy of the application form can be found at http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/index.html.