The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath is inviting applications for this funded PhD project expected to start in March 2025.

An enhanced stipend of £21,010 per year is available to candidates who qualify for Home fee status and, thanks to the University of Bath’s Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarships initiative, a stipend of £13,890 can be offered to International students meeting the criteria for this scholarship . Please see the Funding Eligibility section below for more information.

Project description

Hydrogen energy is a pivotal solution to the pressing climate crisis. Carbon fibre composites, known for their potential durability and efficiency, are central to manufacture of storage tanks for hydrogen, either in liquid state or under high pressure. However, the behaviour and internal microstructural complexities of these materials under extreme conditions remain subjects of investigation. This project aims to fill fundamental knowledge gaps in this aspect by leveraging cutting-edge numerical techniques actively being developed at the University of Bath.

Joining a vibrant and dynamic composite research group, you will create a state-of-the-art numerical approach to predict the performance of carbon fibre composites for hydrogen storage. You will be actively interacting with other PhD and Postdoctoral researchers in the group, as well as industrial partners.

The focus of this PhD will be on micro-mechanics models, considering the effects of cryogenic temperatures, hydrogen permeation, and micro-cracks. The developed models will be informed by and validated against in-situ and ex-situ full-field experiments with advanced imaging techniques, such as X-ray computed tomography. The study will provide a mechanistic understanding of the material behaviour in response to the multi-physics environment, guiding the development of innovative material systems. To achieve this goal, you will engage with high-performance computing to conduct high-fidelity and high-resolution simulations, use variational phase-field theory to propose thermodynamically consistent multi-physics damage models, and potentially apply machine learning to create data-driven surrogate models and identify important missing material parameters.

The closing date for applications is 03 January 2025

EPSRC Prosperity Partnership ZENITH (Zero emission: the next generation of integrated technologies for hydrogen)

This PhD is one of seven projects funded through an exciting new collaboration between the University of Bath and GKN. The other PhD projects are advertised separately.

View more information on the partnership, its aims, and technical objectives.

Candidate requirements

Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a first-class undergraduate Masters degree or an MSc degree with distinction (or non-UK equivalents) in a relevant subject area within Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, Statistics or Mathematics.

International candidates must meet the English language entry requirements to be considered for funding.

Enquiries and applications

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Yang Chen ( [email protected] )

Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.

On your application form, in the 'Funding your studies' section, you must select 'Other' from the dropdown menu and specify 'ZENITH studentship' in the free-text box. You must also provide the supervisor's name and project title in the 'Your PhD project' section. Failure to complete these steps will result in a delay to the processing of your application and may cause you to miss the deadline.

More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website .

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups.

If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.

Funding eligibility

Candidates eligible for the Home tuition fee rate will be considered for a maintenance stipend of £21,010 per year.

Candidates eligible for the Overseas tuition fee rate, who meet the criteria for the Vice-Chancellor International Scholarship , will be considered for a maintenance stipend of £13,890 per year . You may require additional personal funds to support you while living in Bath - a sample postgraduate budget is found here .

Successful candidates will have their tuition fees covered, and have access to a research and training budget.

To check your tuition fee status, see our website or the UKCISA guidance .

Keywords

Composites, Hydrogen, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Structures, Materials, Sustainable, Decarbonisation, Cryogenics