4 years, available from October 2015

Supervisor: Professor Harry Bhadeshia

Deadline for receipt of applications: 31 May 2015

Funding is available for students who meet the EPSRC residency criteria for a full or fees-only award.

Understanding a new nuclear pressure vessel steel There are demanding requirements on the next generation of nuclear reactors because the time period over which they must function without intervention is expected to be decades.  This has consequences on all aspects of reactor design, including the critical pressure vessel.  Such a vessel can weigh in excess of 300 tonnes and yet has to exhibit high levels of toughness through thick sections, whilst simultaneously meeting the requirements of strength and the ability to manufacture.

The material must also be tolerant to inevitable chemical segregation associated with large castings.  Pressure vessels of this kind have traditionally been made of a low-alloy steel that is given a sequence of heat treatments to result in a tempered, secondary hardened mixture of bainite and martensite.  There is about half a century of experience with this trusted alloy, developed using a vast number of experiments.

However, to meet modern requirements, a new nickel-rich steel is proposed, but the time period available for its assessment is years rather than decades.  Therefore, this project will use advanced characterization and modelling techniques in order to develop a deep understanding of the material, both from a microstructural point of view and mechanical properties.  The project has the potential for significant scientific and technological outcomes.  It will be carried out in close collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc who will fully fund the project. Sheffield Forgemasters will also be involved in helping fabricate the material. The stipend will be of the order of 18,500 GBP per annum for students who meet the residency criteria for a full EPSRC award.

The minimum academic requirement for admission is an upper second class UK honours degree at the level of MSci, MEng, MPhys, MChem etc, or a lower second with a good Master's, (or overseas equivalents) in a relevant subject.

Further information on the application process is available viahttp://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/gsprospectus/applying/ or from Dr Rosie Ward (remw2<στο>cam.ac.uk).

Enquiries about the scientific nature of the work should be addressed to Professor Harry Bhadeshia (hkdb<στο>cam.ac.uk).