Sloshing-induced permeation of hydrogen in composite LH2 storage tanks under aircraft manoeuvring loads - PhD

About the Project

Are you fascinated in shaping the future of zero-emission aviation? This PhD investigates how liquid hydrogen (LH₂) moves inside lightweight composite tanks during aircraft manoeuvres and whether this can cause hydrogen to leak. You will combine hands-on experiments with numerical modelling to understand sloshing effects on tank performance and safety. The project offers the opportunity to collaborate closely with TWI Ltd on the permeation analysis of the composites tank walls. It will also provide opportunities to work closely with aircraft manufacturers, fuel tank designers, and regulators, ensuring your research has real-world impact. By generating key cryogenic hydrogen data and sharing findings, your work will help enable safe, certifiable hydrogen-powered aircraft and contribute directly to the UK’s net-zero aviation goals.

This project aims to investigate manoeuvre-induced LH₂ sloshing and hydrogen permeation in composite cryogenic tanks. It combines scaled experiments and computational modelling (CFD, FEA, FSI) to predict permeation, validate multi-physics simulations, and develop design insights for safe, lightweight hydrogen storage in aircraft under realistic flight conditions.

Cranfield’s Centre for Aeronautics, Propulsion and Power is a leading postgraduate hub for aerospace education and research, offering PhD and MSc programmes in aircraft design, propulsion, simulation, and sustainable flight. The centre offers hands-on experience with flight simulators, labs, and industry collaborations addressing real aerospace challenges. The Hydrogen Integration Research Centre (HIRC), part of the Cranfield Hydrogen Integration Incubator (CH2i), provides cutting-edge facilities for hydrogen production, storage, and materials testing, enabling interdisciplinary research on safe, efficient hydrogen systems for aviation. Together, these centres offer unique opportunities to the researchers to develop specialist expertise and contribute to net-zero aviation technologies.

TWI Ltd, a global leader in materials joining and engineering solutions, is advancing technologies for safe, efficient hydrogen storage and use. Through TWI’s long standing National Structural Integrity Research Centre, TWI will host the research student for a significant period at their world leading facilities to gain hands-on experience with advanced testing and analysis techniques for composite materials

You will have the following opportunities,

• Specialised interdisciplinary training on aircraft loading actions and cryogenics.
• On board flight training from Cranfield’s National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) to understand the aircraft motions and to collect and process the real time flight data.
• Complementary skills in risk assessment (HAZOP), aviation safety regulations, and responsible research practices.
• Engagement with industrial partners and workshops to understand practical challenges in hydrogen certification and sustainable aviation.
• Support may be available for national or international conference and workshop travel, providing opportunities to present research findings and engage with leading experts in the field.
• Access to Cranfield’s development workshops such as Doctoral Researchers Core Development Programme

Supervisor

1st Supervisor: Dr Ammasai Sengodan Ganapathi

2nd Supervisor: Prof Martin Skote

Industry Supervisor: Alex Skordos (TWI Ltd)

Entry requirements

Applicant should possess a first-class or upper second-class UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Aerospace/Mechanical or related engineering field.

Experience in coding, numerical analysis (CFD/FEA/FSI) and background in composite structures is advantageous.

A strong passion for designing and conducting high-quality laboratory-scale experiments is highly desirable.