PhD Studentship: in High-Rate Manufacturing of Composite Wing Structures

The project:

Airbus has supported the Industrial Doctorate Centre (IDC) in Composites Manufacture since 2018. Our first Doctoral student worked on forming technology as part of novel wing architecture in the Wing of Tomorrow programme. Three subsequent Doctoral students have studied curing, process simulation, and in-process monitoring. We are now seeking another high calibre candidate to take up a new studentship. You will be based between the University of Bristol and the Airbus composites manufacturing sites, including the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol. The successful candidate will work on industrially focused research into novel wing manufacturing technologies, whilst following a taught programme at University of Bristol.   

We are seeking highly motivated and committed individuals with an eye on the future, who are interested in conducting stimulating and essential industrial research and have a passion for finding sustainable solutions.  

Carbon fibre composites are essential in the move to decarbonise air travel. Through lightweighting, composites can help to significantly reduce aviation emissions in the short term, and they will be the backbone of future zero emission aircraft. Forming these advanced materials into wings quickly, economically, and without defects, is difficult.  

We are offering an PhD project that focus on manufacturing at higher rates, which poses a greater likelihood of scrapping materials or structures that do not meet quality standards. A previous Airbus supported student scrutinized semi-cured interfaces and showed that key properties can be maintained through this method. This new project will explore the potential to form semi-cured charges into complex shapes needed to reduce defects and optimise composite products so they can deliver the most effective emissions reductions. The first year will involve hands-on manufacturing of flat semi-cured charges to various degrees of cure, followed by forming. Characterisation of the cure kinetics of the selected resin will be made to design the temperature cycle. Quality assessment will be performed using state of the art instrumentation, including Laser CMM, X-ray CT and optical microscopy. The work will develop in future years to explore forming strategies and material handling for industrial use.  

How to apply:

Please click 'Apply' above to complete and submit an online form and send your CV and transcript of results to caroline.perkins@bristol.ac.uk.   

Candidate requirements: Applicants must hold/achieve a minimum a 2:1 MEng or merit at Masters level or equivalent in engineering, physics or chemistry. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree and performance at interview.   

Funding: An enhanced stipend of £24,917 for 2024/25, a fee waiver and generous research financial support for the successful candidates. The funding for this studentship only covers UK fees. Only apply for this studentship if you are UK fees eligible or have sufficient funds to cover the difference between the UK and the overseas fees. If you require a student visa, you may also require ATAS clearance for the aerospace sector. 

Contacts: caroline.perkins@bristol.ac.uk

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