Prof Dirk Engelberg, Dr J Fonseca, Prof X Zhou
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
This PhD is part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Materials for Demanding Environments [M4DE CDT]; it is sponsored by BIAM, and will commence September 2018.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Nickel‐based superalloys, produced by Powder Metallurgy (PM) routes are used as turbine--‐discs in the current generation of aero-engines. The overall lifetime and mechanical behaviour of these aero-engine alloys have a close relationship to their inherent microstructure and micro-defects. The microstructure of PM superalloy is theoretically isotropic and homogeneous, but micro‐defects, in the form of voids, cracks, and inclusions are present. It is therefore important to understand the damage evolution process from these micro-defects during service exposure.
For example, an aspect that is not well understood at the moment is the effect of mechanical loading on the 3D morphology of inherent micro-defects, and how changes in morphology then may lead to crack initiation and propagation. This knowledge would also advance our understanding of failure mechanisms, in order to develop a failure model for predicting life-time of PM aero-engine components.
This exciting PhD/CDT project aims to characterise, in‐situ, themorphology evolution of micro-defects in a PM aero‐engine alloy during external loading by using a 3D/4D Correlative X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) approach. The objective is to observe changes in defect morphology, followed by crack nucleation and propagation as a function of load history and PM microstructure. Fatigue testing of pre‐characterised defects will be performed ex- and in-situ, with the aim to develop a meso-scale, microstructure‐based failure model. High-resolution image and volume correlation will be explored for refining the mechanical input parameter of the failure model.
PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- Microstructure/metallurgical characterisation of intrinsic defect characteristics in Ni-based PM superalloy; application of advanced electron microscopy, metallography, and high resolution XCT / correlation techniques;
- Development of a fatigue test methodology to simulate the damage evolution process induced by voids/defects in Ni‐based PM superalloy under external loading;
- Simulate the micro‐mechanism for fracture behaviour via fatigue crack initiation and propagation;
- Develop a microstructure failure model by considering the effect of defect characteristics on crack nucleation and subsequent propagation.
ABOUT BIAM
Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials (BIAM) is an internationally recognised research institute engaged in the development and manufacturing of advanced aeronautical materials
Funding Notes
Funding covers tuition fees and annual maintenance payments of £17,000 tax free.
Students with a first class/2.1 degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Materials Science, Metallurgy, Physics, Chemistry or another aligned science or engineering subject are encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed as they are received until a candidate is selected; therefore candidates are encouraged to apply early.
Funding is only available for UK / EU candidates.
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