Materials Engineering: Fully Funded Swansea University and Rolls Royce PHD Scholarship: Investigation of Ceramic Matrix Composite and Metallic Interactions
Funding providers: Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering and Rolls Royce plc.
Subject areas: Aerospace, Materials
Project start date:
- 1 October 2022 (Enrolment open from mid-September)
Supervisors:
- Dr Spencer Jeffs & Dr Alex Shaw (Swansea University)
- Stephen Pattison (Rolls-Royce plc.)
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Materials Engineering
Mode of study: Full-time
Project description:
SiCf/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) have long been considered for use in high temperature applications within the gas turbine engine. Their specific strength and ability to operate at high temperatures provides the potential to increase gas turbine engine operation temperatures which results in improved fuel efficiencies and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. A further benefit is that in comparison to the current nickel-based superalloys which are typically employed in high temperature applications within the gas turbine engine, the need for complex cooling regimes is not required. Nonetheless, for CMCs to fulfil their potential a holistic understanding is required not just of the CMC material itself but also their interactions with existing gas turbine components. This project will focus on understanding these CMC-metallic interactions and their influence on structure and mechanical integrity. Interactions are to be investigated across a range of thermal, mechanical, and chemical environments.