Dr John Walker
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
Global vehicle usage is set to reach 30 billion vehicles by 2030. In order to maintain the sustainability of the sector, technologies such as light-weighting, cylinder deactivation, start-stop or hybrid operation have all been introduced to the engine powertrain in order to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. However, the synergy of these technologies operating in unison is less well understood, in particular the effect of transient sliding on the friction and wear behavior of light-weight aluminum engine blocks. Interfaces like the piston pack rely on the generation of a elasto-hydrodynamic fluid film to protect them from sliding asperity contacts and keep frictional energy dissipation and surface wear to a minimum. However, formation of an EHL fluid film requires relative movement between surfaces. Little work has been done to investigate the effect of repeated velocity interruption where boundary lubrication conditions prevail.
This PhD will investigate the fundamentals of lubricated start-stop sliding on the friction and wear behaviour of automotive cylinder liner materials using a number of laboratory based test equipment. A range of surface characterisation techniques such as non-contact optical profilometry, scanning electron microscopy and focused ion beam - secondary ion mass spectrometry will be used to determine surface damage evolution and the effectiveness of chemical additives under transient contact conditions. The work will feed into on-going automotive materials research activities being conducted at the University of Southampton. The position would suit a candidate with a good (2:1 or better) first degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering or a Physics based subject.
Applications for this PhD research project are accepted on a rolling basis and we therefore advise you to apply early if you are interested. To make your application please go to: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering/postgraduate/research_degrees/apply.page
If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr John Walker, Energy Technology Research Group, Email: [Email Address Removed], Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 4501.
Funding Notes
This project is being run in participation with the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (http://www.cdt-sis.soton.ac.uk/). For details of our 4 Year PhD programme and further projects, please see http://www.findaphd.com/search/PhdDetails.aspx?CAID=2477