Materials and Surface Engineering, Mechatronics, Signal Processing & Control, Structures and Solid Mechanics

The project offers a European Industrial Doctorate (EID) and is part of the project ‘SPARCARB - Lightning protection of wind turbine blades with carbon fibre composite materials’ funded under the EU the MARIE SKLODOWSKA-CURIE actions, Innovative Training Networks (ITN). The PhD project is one of four associated with the SPARCARB project, with the main partners being the company ‘Global Lightning Protection Services A/S’ (GLPS), Denmark, and the Faculties of Engineering and the Environment and  Physical Sciences and Engineering, University of Southampton (UoS), UK. The PhD student enrolment will be at the University of Southampton, and the project period will be split between UoS and GLPS, as well as shorter placements with other international partners.

The overall objective is to determine the non-linear temperature dependent thermal and electrical properties of carbon fibre reinforced composite materials (CFRPs). This includes investigation of the effect of mechanical stress on thermal and electrical conductivity, if the effect is temporary during mechanical loading, whether a threshold stress level exists giving irreversible changes of performance, and how the introduction of electrical interfaces affect the CFRP. In addition, the project will investigate the effect of multifactor ageing on thermal and electrical conductivity, and also aim to identify conditions that lead to enhanced thermal-chemical degradation. The end goal is a set of guidelines on how to optimize wind turbine blade design to hinder the CFRC performance degradation.

As a primary objective of the EID program is international mobility, transnational mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) is a requirement for the PhD researcher when taking up the appointment. Therefore in order to meet the funding requirements, at the time of recruitment by UoS, the candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to taking up the appointment.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Professor Ole Thybo Thomsen, Infrastructure research group, Email: o.thomsen<στο>soton.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 3200 or mobile +44 (0) 7770 34 7160.