Start date: October 2015

A unique opportunity has arisen within the Mechanical Behaviour of Materials (MBM) group at the University of Portsmouth to study fatigue cracks using some of the latest technologies including Digital Volume/Image Correlation and advanced numerical modelling.

Damage tolerance approach is commonly used in key industries such as aerospace and offshore, where fatigue cracking may have catastrophic consequences. MBM group at Portsmouth (http://www.port.ac.uk/mechanical-behaviour-of-materials/) has an international reputation in fatigue and fracture research of aeroengine materials and structures in collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc and others for many years. Fatigue crack growth in metals has been conventionally correlated with an elastic parameter under small scale yielding conditions. This approach is a global approach, and it is based on the hypothesis that the elastic stress-strain field surrounding a crack tip controls fatigue crack growth in idealised conditions, hence the near-tip characteristics are not considered. Recent advances in digital data capture and processing have enabled, for the first time, a more realistic, local approach to crack problems, which offers an exciting opportunity to discover a physical crack driving force. The project will utilise fully some of the excellent facilities available in the group and X-ray synchrotron facilities elsewhere. The aim of the project is to study crack tip strain fields in engineering materials and welded metals so that a crack driving force may be identified. A combination of experimental, numerical and analytical approaches will be used. 

The studentship is for 3 years and is intended to start in October 2015. The studentship provides a tax-free stipend of £13,863 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. International (non-EU) students may apply but will need to find the difference in fees between those for a UK/EU and international student themselves.

We are looking for an excellent candidate who holds at least a 2:1 degree (UK; or equivalent elsewhere) in an engineering science discipline. A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: solid mechanics; experimental mechanics; image processing and finite element modelling.

For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Professor Jie Tong (jie.tong<στο>port.ac.uk), to whom a CV and the names of two referees should be sent.

Please email your CV and the names of two referees to Professor Jie Tong (jie.tong<στο>port.ac.uk). The post will stay open till filled.