A fundamental study into the effect of metal processing defects on mechanical performance in extreme high temperature environments

About the Project

Please note - this project is sponsored by Rolls Royce Aerospace division - hence provides a fantastic oppotuity to benefit from their supervision and facilities.

Fusion devices will require a large number of critical components processed at large scale from a range of high temperature metallic materials. In such processing, defects can be introduced, and it is crucial to understand how these can be mitigated and their impact on confidence in the engineering properties.

The project will investigate the effect of a range of melt defects (within a vacuum vessel) and non-melt anomalies and tramp impurities on the mechanical performance of conventional low-entropy alloys (LEAs) and transition metals.  The effect of liquid and solid-state processing (including vacuum melting, spark plasma sintering to machining - and possibly welding) on thermo-fatigue and impact toughness properties will be investigated.  Particular attention will be dedicated to the creation of distinctly different hard and soft phases in metal alloys, the diffusion bond between dissimilar phases and the effect of extreme environments on service life and degradation.

This project will be highly experimental, utilising the world leading and unique combination of advanced metals processing facilities at the Royce Institute at the University of Sheffield.  The candidate will work with the STAR group and Rolls Royce technical staff to gain invaluable experience in metal alloy melting, solid-state processing, machining and associated mechanical testing and non-destructive evaluation techniques - the full processing route which is rare in many PhD programmes.  In addition, the candidate will also gain experience in a range of characterisation and multi-physics modelling capabilities.

In carrying out the work, you will also be part of the UKAEA Fusion Engineering CDT, and, along with your cohort of other doctoral students from universities across the UK, will receive training on cutting edge topics in fusion energy from academic and industry experts in fusion energy.  The 3-month CDT fusion engineering training programme is delievered at 4 leading Russell Group research universities - the University of Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Birmingham, and hence you will be funded to travel to these univiersities to recieve training across the fusion energy topic. The CDT trainnig programme is detailed at the CDT website https://www.fusion-engineering-cdt.ac.uk/training-fusioneers/programme/

The project is sponsored by Rolls-Royce, and you will also have the opportunity to spend time at their facilities where this is beneficial for the project.  The successful postgraduate will develop a high level of competency in metals processing - from processing through to properties - making them highly employable in a range of engineering sectors.

Apply for this project at The University of Sheffield here. Select the option for 'UKAEA EngD in Fusion Engineering 2026/27'.

For further information about the project please contact the supervisor at martin.jackson@sheffield.ac.uk.

Funding Notes

Students will receive a 4-year studentship including home tuition fees, UKRI stipend (indicated as £21,805 in 26-27) and a £25k RTSG budget for the project. All costs associated with attending CDT training will be met by the RTSG budget.

Please note that this advert will be withdrawn when a suitable candidate is identified, we recommend that you apply early.