Programme

The philosophy of the CDT is captured in the pictogram depicting the four integrated and intertwined threads of our programme:

A doctoral research project that includes industrial and academic mentoring.
Personal development that includes peer-to-peer mentoring as well as team building and outreach, enabling students to build a portfolio of skills tailored to their needs.
A flexible programme of credit-bearing taught units in the first three years of study.
Innovation-driven cross-cohort professional development to enhance technical and entrepreneurial competencies and build cohort interaction.

You will study for either a PhD in Advanced Composites or an EngD in Composites Manufacture. The difference between the two programmes is the research element, with the PhD research conducted at either the University of Bristol or University of Nottingham. For the EngD you will spend approximately 75% of your time at your industrial sponsor.

The doctoral research will run concurrently with the taught component, so you are immersed in the research environment from the outset. The research will centre on the concept of the circular economy to reduce environmental impact, eliminate waste and keep products, materials, and services in use, therefore reducing the number of finite resources required as an input.

Pictographic representation of the four threads of the PhD and EngD programme.

The research projects are diverse, with aspects of:

Recyclability of current materials, as well as discovery of new formulations and adaptation of natural and bio-derived materials.
New simulation and design tools that allow accurate performance assessment of the as produced component/structure behaviour and through life durability, eliminating or reducing the need for physical testing.
Smart sensing and multi-functionality alongside integration into health monitoring and prognostics systems.
Digital twins to continuously monitor structural health and make prognostics with respect to repair, maintenance intervals, operational load levels and service life.
Sustainability of manufacturing including routes to extend life by means of disassembly, reassembly and self-healing.
Reducing waste in manufacture from the materials required, to the energy used by developing new manufacturing methods and processing solutions tailored to the specific characteristics of the materials used.

You will apply for a specific research project at the outset of your studies.

Both PhD and EngD students will follow the same credit bearing taught programme and professional development programme as shown below in the figure below. (See also the Table powerpoint (Office document, 950kB))

Table showing taught units and professional development by year.

‌The taught units contain state-of-the-art material to provide underpinning knowledge, core competencies, and applied skills. In line with authentic learning principles the units are organised with regular formative feedback, based on interactive discussion and presentations. All students will be based at University of Bristol in Year 1 to study the credit-bearing units and engage in the professional development activities in-person. At the end of year 1 the students that are not based at UoB will relocate to either UoN or their sponsoring companies. Hence, all subsequent credit-bearing material is delivered in a flexible, distance learning mode comprising weekly on-line live lectures and recorded material for students to review independently; in-person workshops delivered in blocks over several days will be incorporated to maintain cohort interaction. Students who are not carrying out their research at UoB, will develop interactions with their supervisory team (and industrial sponsor where appropriate) in Year 1, through short visits and through online meetings.