Distinguishing and characterising the unwanted effects of galling when forming ultra high strength metal sheet

Congratulations on taking your first steps toward a Research Degree with Coventry University. As an ambitious and innovative University, we’re investing an initial £100m into our new research strategy, ‘Excellence with Impact’. Through original approaches from world-leading experts, we’re aiming for our research to make a tangible difference to the way we live. As a research student you are an integral part of Coventry’s lively and diverse research community and contribute to our reputation for excellence. With our exceptional facilities and superb support mechanisms you are afforded every opportunity for academic success.

Due to worldwide CO2 levels reaching unprecedented levels there is a huge drive for light weight structures that require less energy for propulsion, particularly for electric vehicles. This has led to the cold stamping of advanced and ultra high strength steels, and the hot stamping of quench hardened steels for body-in-white structures. Both the higher strength steels and hot forming of sheet steels cause a large amount of wear on the tooling. This has led to an increase in quality issues, primarily driven by galling transferred material adhered on the tooling to the formed part.

The car and aerospace sectors are therefore always looking to reduce costs and time during the production cycle. By answering these research questions now will mean a continued effort to provide adaptable systems to eradicate such identified and unwanted problems, especially as this is becoming increasingly significant. Dr Griffin and Dr Pereira have been investigating the fundamentals of galling and wear for the past decade. With the current advancements in sensor technologies there is now the capability present to carry out more detailed tests, with a view to determine a solution.

Such questions address press down times for essential maintenance and manufactured parts conforming to quality levels. Detection and understanding the phenomena though sensitive sensor applications will assist in control through prototype and patentable systems. This work also contributes to the further understanding of cutting, ploughing and rubbing experienced during grinding which is required when considering the increasingly difficult to cut materials of today.

About the host Centre/Department:

The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) is a collaboration between Coventry University and Unipart Manufacturing Group. The centre concentrates on Research and development of innovative technology for the benefit of Unipart which extends to automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, power generation and rail sectors. Prof Carl Perrin (Co-PI), the director of the AME now wishes to push wear research as another major focus within the centre.

Also part of the supervisory team are Drs Griffin and Pereira who have both studied and developed models for wear for classical grinding and sheet metal stamping respectively.

Candidate specification:

Successful applicants will have:
• A minimum of a 2:1 first degree (second class honours upper division) in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 70% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 70% overall module average, and/or
• A Masters Degree in a relevant subject area will be considered as an equivalent. The Masters must have been attained with overall marks at 70%. In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the Masters must also have been attained with a mark at 70%.
• The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a prescribed period of study
• Language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).

Additional items for candidate specification:

We are looking for a candidate with good background in mechanics of materials, finite element/numerical modelling, mechanical design and testing, sensor development, instrumentation and data processing.

How to apply:

Application Procedure: https://pgrplus.coventry.ac.uk/studentships/eec-distinguishing-and-characterising-the-unwanted-effects-of-galling-when-forming-ultra-high-strength-metal-sheet

Duration of study:

Full- Time- three and a half years fixed term

Entry point is May 2018