About the Project
Eligibility: UK/EU/International
Duration: Full Time 3 years Fixed Term
Application deadline: This opportunity will only remain open until a suitable candidate is identified- early application is therefore advised. Standard University research application closing dates apply (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/making-an-application/).
Informal enquiries are essential before application; contact Professor Nigel Jennett to discuss this opportunity.
Congratulations on taking your first steps toward a Research Degree with Coventry’s Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing. As an ambitious and innovative University, we’re investing an initial £100m into our new research strategy, ‘Excellence with Impact’ (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/about-research-at-coventry/). 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 (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/research-studentships/research-studentships-the-benefits/) you are afforded every opportunity for academic success.
THE PROJECT
This project addresses the challenge of Energy storage and generation by developing a next generation 3D manufacturing process able to deposit nano-structured parts that integrate energy harvesting with structural strength and the necessary high efficiency heat management. The integrated, single piece design will enable maximum surface area utilisation without any joints – thereby improving leak-tightness and the reliability and safety of parts. Multiphase nano-structuring will avoid use of Beryllium yet provide stable strength up to high temperatures. This promises a step improvement in energy harvesting efficiency and safety over current retrofit solutions.
This project generates a paradigm shift in additive manufacturing. Current additive manufacture (AM) or 3D printing is not possible for the proposed parts – they would suffer from residual stress and need post-processing to remove the flaws and porosity that would cause early failure. The process envisaged is a low energy, parallel, additive (deposition) process making single-piece, fully-dense, nano-enabled, materials systems that are temperature stable. Removing material porosity and component joints will enable a step increase in reliability/safety. Process conditions can be varied during deposition, to tune local stress and mechanical properties, e.g. to increase resistance to fracture. Most importantly, the process is more energy efficient and much safer than conventional additive manufacturing, because the nano-structure is generated during the deposition process, bypassing the need for nano-particles and post-processing.
ABOUT THE CENTRE/DEPARTMENT
Our research in Manufacturing and Materials Engineering (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/areas-of-research/manufacturing-materials-engineering/) builds on our historic research strengths at Coventry, and adds new research teams through investment and growth. It integrates seamlessly with the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, our flagship collaboration with Unipart Manufacturing.
This area of research will take a holistic approach to fabrication and manufacturing, focusing on the three strands of Materials, Processes, and Products; and underpinned by our expertise in Metrology and Advanced Experimentation.
We aim to be the research partner of choice for manufacturing industry in adding value, effecting knowledge transfer, generating intellectual property, and raising new technologies from concept up through the Manufacturing Readiness Levels.
Our summary research themes:
- Process Control / Product Verification
- Advanced Metrology and Experimentation
- Supply Chain Management
- Materials for Advanced Technologies
- Integrated Product Enhancement
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS
Successful applicants will have:
- A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the Project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average, 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 merit level (60%). In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the Masters must also have been attained with a mark at merit level (60%).
- 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).
Additionally:
- An experimentalist, preferably with some experience of equipment or instrumentation development
- GCSE ‘A’ level equivalent understanding of physical chemistry and/or familiarity with thin film nucleation and growth processes
- Degree level understanding of materials science; especially the structure and strength of materials
- Basic computer coding and/or modelling/simulation skills
ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Application Procedure:
Application information can be found in our how to apply section (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/how-to-apply/). Before completing the application please contact Professor Nigel Jennett (cc’ing [Email Address Removed]) for an initial informal discussion about the opportunity.
Eligibility:
All UK/EU/International students are eligible to apply that meet the academic requirements, the eligibility criteria can be found here: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/research-entry-criteria/
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