Optimisation for novel material for additive manufacturing

This PhD project will develop a numerical method for tailoring material properties. The material properties may be metamaterial (i.e. material that does not exist in nature such as cloaking material or negative stiffness material) or smart material (i.e. morphs or changes shapes as a result of external stimulus). They can be achieved by optimizing the shape of a periodic material structure and making the material using additive manufacturing techniques. The project is primarily numerical and computational in nature with an interest in finite element and/or PDE systems and a keen enthusiasm to learn engineering optimization based on multivariable calculus. The primary tasks will be conducted by programming in C/C++. The PhD is placed is an active research group located both at Cardiff and UC San Diego and will require traveling between the two institutions although the degree awarding institution and primary base will be Cardiff. Working collaboratively and cooperating with the research group and external collaborators will be essential to the success of the project.

Candidates should hold or expect to gain a first class or a good 2.1 MEng degree and/or an appropriate Master’s level qualification (or their equivalent) in a relevant subject area (engineering, physics, applied mathematics).