KTP Associate in Multi-scale Modelling of Composites

The role

Rolls-Royce PLC, in partnership with the University of Bristol, has an opportunity for a highly skilled & qualified graduate to lead and deliver a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project to develop a new process for assessing the fatigue and damage tolerance of composite carbon/titanium (CTi) fan blades for the civil aerospace sector, which will be embedded into Rolls-Royce’s manufacturing processes.

You will be based at Rolls-Royce in Derby, and work on the development and validation of numerical methods for predicting the structural integrity of composite components for aircraft engines in collaboration with academics from the Bristol Composites Institute and Rolls-Royce PLC. This will entail introducing and validating finite-element based multiscale and multi-physics modelling methodologies and conducting high-quality numerical work and high-fidelity simulations.

This 36-month KTP includes a £6,000 training budget with 10% of your time dedicated to your personal development. You will have access to a pension scheme with generous employer contributions. This unique funded opportunity from Innovate UK provides a blend of training and expert supervision, focusing on fast-track development of personal, organisational, leadership and analysis skills. The project will deliver new cutting-edge technology, provide excellent career development and hone your skills to become a future leader.  

What will you be doing?

• Implementation of physically based constitutive models for predicting the mechanical response of composites.
• Development of numerical techniques for multi-scale and multi-physics analysis.
• Simulation of laboratory tests for model validation.
• Virtual testing of representative sub-components.
• Reporting results to industrial partners and the wider scientific community.
• Writing papers in both high impact and specialized journals.
• Embedding processes and knowledge into Rolls-Royce’s R&D department so that the company has the capability to continue to develop new material products and applications post-KTP. 
• You will be the project lead, managing your own workload and ensuring outputs, including leading on meetings and workshops.
• Direct problem-solving activities and your own learning.
• You’ll have creative freedom to suggest changes and develop the project plan. 

You should apply if

• MSc or PhD in Materials Science, Engineering or equivalent field, with a strong academic foundation in solid mechanics.
• Experience in simulating progressive failure in fibre-reinforced composites.
• Expertise in developing user-defined sub routines for commercial Finite Element packages.
• Advanced programming skills in Python and Fortran.
• Strong background in numerical modelling (multi-scale modelling experience desirable).
• Deep knowledge and understanding of composites mechanics.
• Practical experience and coding capability relevant to the aerospace sector is highly desirable.
• Eligibility to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

Additional information

For informal queries please contact:

Prof. Stephen Hallett (Stephen.Hallett@bristol.ac.uk)

Dr Bassam Elsaied (Bassam.ElSaid@bristol.ac.uk)

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

Advert information