Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship (3 years) to work within the Materials, Mechanics and Structures Research Division within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham.

Project Background

For homogeneous components containing cracks the stress state in the vicinity of the crack can be characterised by the stress conditions and the C* parameter for stationary state creep conditions. The C* parameter is conveniently obtained for a Norton creep material from the C*-contour-integral. Any contour can be chosen, to obtain the C*-contour-integral, because the numerical value of the contour integral is path independent.

The C* parameter can be obtained from the results of finite element analyses.

For heterogeneous components, such as welded pipes, which have several material zones, i.e. weld material (WM), parent material (PM) and heat-affected-zone (HAZ) material. C*-contour-integrals are found to be path dependent and depend on the crack location as well as crack orientation.

This aspect of the creep behaviour of a heterogeneous component makes the creep fracture mechanics (C*) method difficult to apply in practical situations.

The aim of this project is to review the assumptions made in the HRR (Hutchinson, Rice and Rosengren) mathematical solution for C* and to see whether there are situations in which the C* method can be expected to apply for heterogeneous components. It is also important to determine the conditions under which the C* method would not be expected to work.

The project is intended to be a mixture of analytical, computational and finite element methods but additional experimental information can be obtained as part of the project, if necessary.

Studentship Information

The studentship is expected to start on 1^st October 2015 and will cover PhD tuition fees (for UK students, EU students who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the preceding 3 years and exceptional EU students) and a tax free stipend for three years (£13,833 per annum). An additional £2000 a year may be awarded for students with a 1st class degree / MSc Distinction from a UK Russell Group University or equivalent.

Students must have a 1^st or 2:1 class academic qualification in an Engineering related subject. A Masters degree in a similar discipline and/or experience in high temperature materials will be an advantage.

To make an application, please send a covering letter stating clearly how you fulfil the requirements of the studentship, your research interests and include a CV, academic transcripts and the names and addresses of two academic referees, to Christopher.Hyde<στο>nottingham.ac.uk.

Please quote ref: ENG855

Closing date: 30 June 2015

Interviews are expected to take place in July 2015.