PhD Studentship: Coupling Micromechanical and Molecular Models to Optimize Polymer Composites

To apply, please click the 'Apply' button, above.

The fully funded project covers home fees and a stipend set at the UKRI rate (£18,622 for 23/24).

A fully funded PhD position in multiscale modelling of polymer composites is available in the group of Professor Carbone at the University of Manchester from September 2023.

Accurate modelling of the mechanical behaviour of elastomeric materials including microscale filler particles represents a challenge in terms of the range of length scales involved. This difficulty arises because the macroscopic continuum-scale properties are strongly influenced by chemical and physical interactions at the atom-scale and mesoscale. Modelling of these materials is affected by the choice of filler particles, the particle size distribution, the percentage filler content in addition to manufacturing processes employed for the bulk material.

This PhD project will tackle example material systems using a combination of molecular dynamics computation and continuum modelling. The aim is to characterise the local mechanical properties that result from interaction between the microscale filler particle surfaces and the surrounding polymer. An example elastomer of interest is PDMS, whereas the filler particles may be glass, a thermoplastic, or an inorganic species. These properties will inform a description of the interface regions around filler particles, the properties of which vary according to distance from the filler surfaces and the nature of the surrounding polymer. The localised mechanical parameters and the nature of the interface region will then be used to develop constitutive relations within micro-mechanical models of the composite and homogenization from the mesoscale to the continuum scale, allowing the prediction of the linear elastic (low strain deformation) region of stress / strain curves. These models could potentially aid in the design and down-selection of new materials with optimised or novel properties

The project will involve the use of molecular dynamics, micromechanical models and machine learning methods and it is co-sponsored by Continental. The student will have the opportunity to work closely with the scientists in the mathematical department and AWE which is sponsoring the project.

Informal enquiries can be sent along with a CV to paola.carbone@manchester.ac.uk

Eligibility criteria: the fellowship is available for home students only, although international students with a strong CV in simulations are also welcome to send informal enquires.

To be considered home student you must meet one of these criteria:

• Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements)
• Have settled status
• Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements)
• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

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