Computational Modelling/Materials: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in more physically based modelling of single crystal materials operating under thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF)

Funding providers: EPSRC IDLA Award and Rolls Royce 

Subject areas: Computational Modelling / Materials 

Project start date: 1 October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September) 

Supervisors: Prof E de Souza Neto, Prof D Peric and Prof M Whittaker   

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Materials Engineering 

Mode of study: Full-time  

The student will undertake a placement within Rolls-Royce for a minimum period of 3 months. Students may be required to attend a professional course in Rolls-Royce as part of their study. 

Project description: 

With the need for enhanced cooling to improve the robustness of Gas Turbine hot components, the complexity of the components increases, resulting in higher stresses and corresponding increased risk of fatigue. Rolls-Royce believes that the proposed TMF modelling project offers an opportunity to mitigate this risk through higher fidelity behavioural models and better understanding of the limit of applicability of existing models. Any modelling will have direct applicability to all Rolls-Royce Turbomachinery products. 

Outline and Focus 

There is a need to improve fatigue modelling capability of single crystal materials to support the complex nature of future designs. To support this, we are already testing material at Swansea as part of the ATI funded ‘HOTLINE’ project. RR will be doing some analysis of the test data but this will be limited to an engineering level assessment. To better leverage the testing and to develop more physically based models (increased accuracy/understanding of the limit of applicability of the engineering models), there is a need to do more detailed modelling work. Swansea University already have a world-class testing and analysis facility, being the go-to for advanced high temperature testing. Swansea University also have a strong modelling community and this proposal allows a unique link to be developed between the testing, fractographic assessment and modelling communities at Swansea. 

Methodology 

An existing computational multiscale modelling framework developed at Swansea University, which incorporates state-of-the-art techniques especially devised to simulate various aspects of the behaviour of single crystals, will be the starting point for the development of this project. More specifically, physically-based crystal-scale models aimed at capturing TMF at crystal level will be developed and incorporated into the computational multiscale framework. Extensive numerical simulations within this framework, with benchmarking against experimental data, will then allow the assessment of existing engineering-scale models and the development of new models of TMF with enhanced accuracy and engineering applicability to be used by RR. 

Outputs 

– A physically based model to support thermo-mechanical fatigue behaviour of CMSX-4 

– 2 journal publications detailing the academic outputs and developments of the work. 

Eligibility

Scholarship open to UK and international fee eligible applicants.

Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline.

English Language

IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

ATAS

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website. 

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer. 

International students

EPSRC IDLA studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students, once the limit has been reached, we are unable to make offers to international students.    

We are still accepting applications from international applicants.    

International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.