Development of technologies for recovering fatigue damage
Reuse of metallic components at the end of their previous service is the most effective approach to increase resource efficiency and to mitigate environmental damage, and thus represents a preferred route to deliver full metal circulation. Reuse conserves all the embedded energy and other valuable resources used to manufacture components and keeps such energy and resources in the resource loop for much longer (slow down the loop). However, analogous to human beings, metallic components suffer from fatigue after prolonged service. It is estimated that more than 80% of metallic components at the end of their service have perfect physical dimensions but reduced mechanical performance due to the existence of flaws such as microcracks or corrosion-induced intergranular fissures, which all originate from fatigue. Such used components can be effectively reused if the incipient cracks and sub-critical defects can be healed and the internal stresses accumulated during the service can be released without affecting the overall microstructure of the component. This PhD project aims to develop practical techniques to recover fatigue damage.
The funding is £88,919 for a 4-year duration and is available to UK Home Students.
Eligibility
The successful candidate is required to have a first-class or upper second-class honour degree in metallurgy or materials science or related field of physical science and engineering discipline, etc. A Master’s level qualification is desirable but not essential.
How to apply
Please email (1) an up-to-date CV, (2) a single-page (A4), single-spaced personal statement setting out why you are interested in undertaking this project, (3) names and contact details of three referees, and (4) a copy of your highest degree certificate and transcript to shouxun.ji@brunel.ac.uk.
The deadline for this studentship is 31 March 2021.
Meet the Supervisor: Professor Shouxun Ji
Prof. Shouxun Ji is currently a Professor at Brunel University London. He has been focusing on the development of lightweight materials and structures for the automotive industry, aerospace, powered tools, and other sectors. The main activities include purpose-developed aluminium alloys and magnesium alloys with improved ductility, strength (at ambience and elevated temperatures), modulus and thermal conductivity, and the hybrid structures using different materials and different joining techniques. He is also working on new materials and structures for special applications, such as materials for explosive cords and high strength casting materials for aircraft. Recently, he worked with world leading company to develop magnesium alloys for engine application, which requires improved strength and thermal conductivity at room temperature and at elevated temperatures.
Prof. Ji have plenty experiences in high pressure die casting and other shaped-casting processes. He also has experience on semi-solid metal processing of rheo-die casting, rheo-extrusion, and rheo-twin roll casting. His previous works also included cast irons (spheroidal graphite cast iron and austempered ductile iron) and copper alloys.
Prof. Ji has published more than 130 papers in the peer-reviewed scientific Journals and more than 20 international patents. He is the member of three ISO technical committee and one BSI technical committee and the editorial member of three scientific journals. He received the innovation award from CMF UK in 2017.
Meet the Supervisor: Professor Zhongyun Fan
Fan, a Professor of Metallurgy, is the Founder and Director of BCAST at Brunel University. He is the Principal Investigator/Director of the new EPSRC Future LiME Hub, which continues on from his role as the Principal Investigator/Director of the EPSRC Centre – LiME (2010-2015). The Future LiME Hub is a national centre of excellence in liquid metal engineering. He obtained his first degree in Metallurgy from University of Science and Technology Beijing and his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from University of Surrey. He started his academic career in 1997 at Brunel University, and prior to this he was a research fellow at University of Oxford and University of Surrey.