Design of lightweight composite stiffened shell structures using topology optimisation

About the Project

These projects are open to students worldwide, but have no funding attached. Therefore, the successful applicant will be expected to fund tuition fees at the relevant level (home or international) and any applicable additional research costs. Please consider this before applying.

The aim of this project is to create new optimisation methods for the design of composite lightweight stiffened shell structures.

Stiffened shell structures are used in many industries to provide lightweight solutions in mass critical designs, such as aircraft wings and fuselage, wind turbines, bridge decks and ship hulls. However, they are complex to design, as their structural performance is dependent on many interconnected variables, such as stiffener layout, number, thickness, and type. Further complexity is introduced when using composite materials, like carbon fibre reinforced polymer.

Topology optimisation is a powerful design approach where the size, shape and layout of a structure are optimised simultaneously, leading to highly efficient novel designs. This approach has been applied to optimise stiffened shell structures before. However, existing methods are often limited by their design freedom and do not fully exploit the potential of topology optimisation (e.g. by fixing stiffener shape and position, fixing shell thickness, or using isotropic materials). Other methods rely on complex heuristic procedures that limit their use beyond simple design criteria and linear modelling. Thus, this project will aim to develop methods that can overcome the limitations of existing techniques and improve the design of composite stiffened shell structures.

Decisions will be based on academic merit. The successful applicant should have, or expect to obtain, a UK Honours Degree at 2.1 (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering (or similar).

Knowledge of structural mechanics, finite element analysis, and computer programming is essential.

Knowledge of optimisation methods and composite materials is desirable.

Application Procedure:

Formal applications can be completed online: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgap/login.php.

You should apply for PhD in Engineering to ensure your application is passed to the correct team for processing.

Please clearly note the name of the lead supervisor and project titleon the application form. If you do not include these details, it may not be considered for the studentship.

Your application must include: A personal statement, an up-to-date copy of your academic CV, and clear copies of your educational certificates and transcripts.

Please note: you do not need to provide a research proposal with this application.

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting Dr P Dunning at peter.dunning@abdn.ac.uk. If you require any additional assistance in submitting your application or have any queries about the application process, please don't hesitate to contact us at researchadmissions@abdn.ac.uk

Funding Notes

This is a self-funding project open to students worldwide. Our typical start dates for this programme are February or October.

Fees for this programme can be found here Finance and Funding | Study Here | The University of Aberdeen