Investigating White-Etching Layers in High-Performance Aerospace Steels

About the Project

High-performance steel components for aerospace applications require precision machining to achieve their final geometries. If machining conditions are not kept within specification, then damage to the material can occur, which can be detrimental to fatigue life and other properties. On a microscopic scale, damage from improper machining often manifests itself as white etching layers (WELs), which are observed as thin layers on the machined surfaces of components. These WELs are regions of nano-grained material that are believed to form from severe plastic deformation at the surface during the machining process. Similar white-etching features are also observed in other demanding conditions, such as during the wear of rail steels or fatigue of bearing steels.

There remain some important knowledge and capability gaps that remain unfulfilled regarding the WELs formed during the machining of aerospace steels. These include: (i) an understanding of the methods that can be used to reliably and repeatedly identify and characterise WELs when they form; (ii) the precise nature of WELs in machined aerospace steels (e.g., their mechanical properties) and how they differ from white-etching material found in other applications; (iii) the effect that post-machining processing (e.g., heat treatments) can have on their structure and properties, and (iv) how WELs differ in different aerospace steel grades. This PhD project will seek to address these gaps.

The project will be based at the University of Manchester, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc. It will utilise the world-leading electron microscope facilities hosted by Manchester’s Electron Microscopy Centre and the Henry Royce Institute, and benefit from the vibrant and friendly Metallurgy & Corrosion research community at Manchester. Besides subject-specific training, there will be many opportunities for continuous development through training courses offered by the University (e.g., coding skills, writing skills, etc), conference attendance and meetings with the industrial partner.

This project will be supervised by Dr Ed Pickering and Prof Tim Burnett. Please contact ed.pickering@manchester.ac.uk if you have any queries. If you’re interested, please apply through the University of Manchester’s application portal.

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Funding

This 3.5-year PhD studentship is open to Home (UK) applicants. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27; subject to annual uplift), and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. EU students with settled or pre-settled status and international student can apply but their application eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The start date is October 2026.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

How to apply

Apply online through our website: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, if you already having funding or if you wish to be considered for available funding through the university, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After you have applied you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress
• CV
• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it).
• Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
• English Language certificate (if applicable)

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.