Additive manufacture of reactive structures for defence applications

This is an industrial collaboration project with DSTL to explore manufacturing processes and materials of the future.

Applications are invited from graduates with a first class, or upper second-class degree in an appropriate discipline such as, materials science and engineering, physics or mechanical engineering for a PhD project on the development of reactive structures using metal additive manufacturing, also known as metal 3D printing.

Selective laser melting, a metal 3D printing process, involves the use of a laser to melt 2D layers of a 3D shape to build a structure from the bottom-upwards in a layered fashion. It has ben previously used to manufacturing various structures that are used in the defence sector (e.g. aero-engines, missile structures, and armours). A programme of detailed research is required to understand the applicability of this technique to reactive materials (e.g. Ti, Zr, and their blended combinations) in order to enhance our understanding of the relationship between manufacturing processes and the static, dynamic and post-failure (including combustion) characteristics of reactive materials, in order to form one component of a predictive capability that describes physical outcomes in terms of various processes and parameters in the lifecycle of a reactive material component. The project will involve the use of advanced metallurgical characterisation techniques, including electron microscopy, X-ray microtomography, and mechanical testing.

This PhD project is sponsored by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) through an industrial case award provided by EPSRC.

The student will be based in the advanced materials and processing laboratory, University of Birmingham. http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/AMPLab

Informal enquires about the project can be directed to Prof. Moataz Attallah on [Email Address Removed] or phone 0121 414 7896.

How to apply:
• Apply directly via the University of Birmingham Postgraduate application system, the Postgraduate portal. (Apply button)
• Please detail the advertised supervisor and project title under the ’Research Information’ section of the application form.