EPSRC funded PhD Studentship with The University of Sheffield and LB Foster Rail Technologies UK Ltd

The initial aim of the project is to provide an understanding of the mechanisms leading to adhesion loss in the wheel/rail contact due to the “wet-rail” phenomenon. This will involve field testing to understand the environmental conditions that lead to the problem occurring and to find out what is happening on the railhead when it occurs. Laboratory tests will then be developed using scaled down laboratory testing right up to tests with our full-scale wheel/rail rig to simulate these conditions and understand how they influence adhesion. Development of appropriate new laboratory testing methodologies will be critical.

Once the causes are understood, the focus of the work will switch to the evaluation of new novel materials and/or methods to provide predictable traction and braking over a range of operating and environmental conditions.

Ideally a student with a strong background in tribology, surface science, physics and / or chemistry is needed, but we can be flexible and training will be given in all areas needed as part of the Doctoral Development Programme run at The University of Sheffield.

The work will involve close collaboration with LB Foster’s Global Rail R&D group and may involve travel to the main centre of LB Foster wheel / rail friction control research activities in Vancouver, Canada.

Requirements

Applicants should have or be expected to get a MEng (or BEng/BSc with MSc) at 2.1 or 1st, or equivalent, in an appropriate discipline, such as: mechanical, physics or chemistry.

Applications

The deadline for applications is 31/05/2015.

Please contact Prof Roger Lewis for more details: roger.lewis<στο>sheffield.ac.uk;

0114 2227838

Eligibility

The studentship covers the cost of tuition fees and provides an annual tax-free stipend at the standard UK research rate (£13,863 in 2014/15) per annum.

Please note that funding can only be secured for home or EU students.