Autonomous technologies in structural health monitoring for sustainable lightweight structures

About the Project

Join our diverse and inclusive team to transform the future of aviation as part of the UK’s EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Net Zero Aviation.

This fully funded (including fees and a tax-free bursary of £25,183) PhD, working with the Airbus company Testia will focus on the scientific investigation and technological implementation of autonomous monitoring for lightweight composite structures, developing real-time acousto-ultrasonic monitoring (akin to ‘listening for damage’) to detect changes in structural responses and identify damage in operational structures. This will be achieved through a multi-faceted approach, comprising:

• Physics-Driven Modelling: The development of an underlying model or digital twin that accurately reflects the behaviour of structural ultrasonic waveguides under varying operational and ambient conditions.
• Machine Learning Integration: The extraction, synchronisation, and utilisation of structural acoustic fingerprints from damage events (e.g., tool drops, delamination, cracks), captured by an onboard sensory network. These data will be used to train and optimise machine learning algorithms, enhancing the classification and predictive capabilities for damage events.
• Real-Time Damage Identification Toolbox: The creation of an advanced toolbox for real-time damage detection that identifies the location, type, and severity of damage. This system will combine data-driven insights from in-situ sensor data with model-informed, physics-based understandings of structural waveguides, providing quantified metrics of emerging damage alongside confidence estimates. The data will be collected with experiments involving ultrasonic sensors on the test structures.

This PhD project integrates physics-based characterisation of structural acoustic phenomena with hybrid passive-active acousto-ultrasonic monitoring data. Leveraging autonomous technologies and machine learning, the goal is to establish an IoT-enabled autonomous monitoring system for in-service structures, improving structural resilience, optimising maintenance strategies, significantly extending the service life of critical aviation infrastructure. and supporting the transformation of assets to net zero by enabling more efficient maintenance and reduced material waste. Collaborating with industrial partner Testia, an Airbus company, you will explore practical applications in the aviation sector.

Research Environment

Based in the School of Engineering at Cardiff University, following an initial nine months of cohort based training at Cranfield University you will join Cardiff’s Computational Mechanics and Engineering AI research group, a group at the forefront of physics-informed digital twins – integrating advanced computational mechanics with artificial intelligence and machine learning to revolutionize the way we understand and maintain structural infrastructure. We are dedicated to developing physics-informed digital twins that provide real-time insights into the performance and health of critical structures, ensuring safety and efficiency in civil engineering and aerospace applications.

You will benefit from access to excellent facilities including the Cardiff University Structural Performance (CUSP) laboratories where you will be able to fabricate composite panels, undertake vibration, modal analysis and acousto-ultrasonic experiments as well as high performance computing facilities.

The studentship is in collaboration with Testia – an Airbus company who will be closely involved in your supervision and host a three month secondment as part of your training.

Learning and Development Opportunities

While working on this exciting research project, you will be provided with:

• A fully funded 4 year full-time PhD - £25,183 tax-free stipend per year
• Cohort and individual modular training covering technical, research, professional and personal development.
• Minimum of 3 months fully funded industrial placement at Testia. The expectation is that students will have regular access and contact with the Testia team at Bremen throughout the duration of the project to support their work, in addition to the industrial placement.
• Industrial supervision/mentorship scheme.
• Access to approximately 40 industrial, government & research partners from the wider aviation sector as part of the Net Zero CDT programme.
• Access to world class research and education facilities at Cardiff University and partner organisations.

Graduates of the CDT in Net Zero Aviation will emerge with a unique interdisciplinary combination of technical and professional skills, a deep understanding of the broader aviation ecosystem, and a sustainability-driven mindset. This comprehensive experience ensures graduates are prepared to lead and accelerate the decarbonisation of aviation from diverse roles across industry, academia, government, and policy.

Academic Criteria

Candidates should hold or expect to gain a first or upper second-class honours (or their equivalent) in Civil/Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering or Computer Science/Physics/Mathematics or a related subject, or a masters degree. Optional - Previous laboratory or field experience would be advantageous

Applications are invited from highly motivated individuals with a strong background and

• A passion for research and a desire to tackle complex problems in structures.
• Proficiency in programming and computational tools relevant to mechanics and/or AI.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to apply for competitive graduate funding for PhD studies

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent)

Contact for further information

• Dr Abhishek Kundu kundua2@cardiff.ac.uk
• Prof Carol Featherston featherstonca@cardiff.ac.uk

How to apply

Applicants should submit an application for postgraduate study via the Cardiff University webpages including;

• an upload of your CV
• a personal statement/covering letter
• two references (applicants are recommended to have a third academic referee, if the two academic referees are within the same department/school)
• Current academic transcripts

Applicants should select Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering), with a start date October 2026.

In the research proposal section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project and copy the project description in the text box provided. In the funding section, please select "I will be applying for a scholarship / grant" and specify that you are applying for advertised funding, reference AK CDT 26

Deadline for applications

19th June 2026. We may however close this opportunity earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.

Funding Notes

Amount of Funding

A fully funded 4 year full-time PhD - £25,183 tax-free stipend per year

Eligibility

Full funding is currently available to Home and International applicants on a full time basis. There are a limited number of International spaces available due to the UKRI 30% cap.