Embedding structural health monitoring (SHM) capabilities into additive manufactured (AM) metallic parts for military applications.

PhD studentship Sponsored by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
Based at the Centre for Additive Manufacturing (CfAM)

This 3 year PhD studentship, is part of the Enabling Next Generation Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) project in the University of Nottingham. Initially focussing on novel electronic and pharmaceutical/healthcare applications, the research team aims to move beyond single material AM by exploiting the potential to deposit multiple materials contemporaneously for the delivery of spatially resolved function and structure in three dimensions (3D). For further information, please visit https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/cfam/ .

As AM components increase in complexity, ensuring their through-life performance through external inspection using traditional non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques will become increasingly difficult. However, AM affords the opportunity to integrate advanced damage/degradation detection technologies directly into structures as they are being manufactured; enabling intelligent self-monitoring structures to be developed.

This project will initially review and identify promising structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies that could be embedded into metallic AM parts for damage/degradation detection, prior to designing and developing a suitable SHM system for an AM part, initially of simple geometry. SHM embedded AM metallic parts will be manufactured and the capability to detect, locate and quantify damage/degradation assessed. It is also expected that the project will identify and understand the impact that the embedded SHM system has on the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of the AM part, in addition to assessing the relationship between damage detected and the reduction in mechanical properties / performance.

It is likely that this work will contribute to an International Collaboration involving the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada; this will be through Dstl as the sponsoring organisation.

The successful candidate will:
• Receive the training needed for a professional career in Additive Manufacturing and 3D printing
• Receive full Dstl studentship (fees and stipend) for 3 years
• Work directly with leading academics and industrialists
• Receive Travel and consumable allowance