Current project opportunities

The University of Bristol is offering a further 6 projects for doctoral studies starting in September 2025 with a focus on the creation of sustainable and efficient solutions for the design of composite structures. The projects will be part of the new CDT launched in 2024 following on from five previous successful centres in Bristol Composites Institute (BCI). The purpose of the CDT is to train future leaders to doctoral level with the skills and expertise to address the design, manufacture and assurance of composite products. Alongside conducting your research project you will follow a taught programme that provides an in depth knowledge of composite materials and their use, with a focus on sustainability and the circular economy. You will also follow a structured professional development programme, alongside the research and taught programme, to prepare you for a future career in industry or academia.

We are seeking highly motivated and committed individuals with an eye on the future, who are interested in conducting stimulating and essential, industrially relevant, research and have a passion for finding sustainable solutions. There are many challenges in understanding the behaviour of composite materials and structures, so the projects seek to develop new manufacturing routes, design concepts, analysis procedures and development of new solutions.

To support applications and raise awareness of the activities of the CDT we are hosting an open day at University of Bristol on 29th April 2025. You will have an opportunity to meet current students, discuss projects with the Director and supervisors, as well as an opportunity to see the facilities in Bristol Composites Institute. If you wish to attend our open day please complete this expression of interest form.

Type of award: Engineering Doctorate/Doctor of Philosophy

Research focus areas: Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Design Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Research group Bristol Composites Institute

Scholarship Details: A tax-free enhanced stipend of £24,917 (based on 2024/25 UKRI rates. The UKRI rate will increase each year), a fee waiver and generous financial support for research and training for the successful candidates.

Duration: 4 years

Eligibility: Dependent on project

Start Date: September 2025

Candidate Requirements: Applicants must hold/achieve a minimum a 2:1 MEng or merit at Masters level or equivalent in engineering, physics or chemistry, depending on the project. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree and performance at interview.

Closing Date: 16th May 2025

We are offering 3 EngD studentship projects where students spend 75% of their studies located in industry:

Project 1: De-fossilisation of Carbon Fibre sponsored by National Composites Centre (NCC) (Supervisor: Professor Steve Eichhorn)

Project 2: Composite forming simulation sponsored by Airbus (Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Belnoue)

Project 3: Thermally induced damage in fibre-reinforced polymer composites and its effect on hydrogen permeation sponsored by National Physical Laboratory and Element (Supervisor Professor Ole Thomsen)

We are offering 3 PhD projects some with significant industrial sponsorship as follows:

Project 4: Mathematical modelling as an enabler for multi-criteria material selection in automotive design sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover (Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Belnoue)

Project 5: Multi-scale modelling, experimental characterisation and improvement of 3D-woven textile composites sponsored by Rolls-Royce (supervisor Professor Stephen Hallett)

Project 6: Assessing the impact of environmental conditions on the ageing of wind turbine blades – Time-Temperature-Water Fatigue Crack Propagation of FRP Laminates sponsored by EDF Renewables (supervisor Dr Gabriele Albertini)

Project 1 Description: De-fossilisation of Carbon Fibre sponsored by National Composites Centre (NCC)

Carbon fibres enable strategic advantages for multiple UK manufacturing sectors. For instance, increased blade length for wind turbines and high-pressure hydrogen storage systems both being enablers of a green, clean and secure future energy mix. Furthermore, they offer modular build opportunities with lower costs and reduced social burdens, while providing highly durable, high-performance, and environmentally resistant systems. However, recent innovation in the carbon fibre production process has been limited, with most using technology from the 1970s. The NCC is investing in research capability, skills to create sovereign IP that underpins UK carbon fibre production to enable innovation towards net zero, defossilised fibre. The EngD project will:

Utilise a new carbon fibre pilot production line to be installed in January 2026
Focus on the precursor/doping materials to produce alternative carbon fibres
Create benchmarking procedures to demonstrate mechanical performance
Stimulate your interest in producing new sustainable alternatives to current carbon fibre materials by developing energy efficient production processes
Work in close collaboration with the Centre for Process Innovation
Be part of a large cohort of EngD CDT students that conduct their research at NCC and offer benefit from conducting research in an organisation that supports the entire UK composites sector.

Eligibility: Home/permanent UK residents subject to security clearance

To apply please submit a personal statement, outlining your experience, which project you are applying for and why you are interested in the EngD project, your CV and transcript of results to https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/. Please do not submit a project description; this is unnecessary as the project is already defined and select EngD in Composites Manufacture. Please enter Professor Janice Barton the Director of the CDT as the 2^nd supervisor (janice.barton@bristol.ac.uk) and indicate that the funding is provided by the CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering.

Project 2 Description: Composite forming simulation sponsored by Airbus

As the aviation industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact, the development of lightweight, high performance composite materials offer a promising pathway to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emission. Simulations of the forming processes will enable the identification of potential manufacturing issues early in the product development stage.
Designs and production processes of composite parts can therefore be optimised leading to reduced re-work, material waste and energy consumption. The creation of simulation tools will allow for a deeper understanding of the complex behaviour of composite materials during the forming process, enabling engineers to predict how these materials will perform in industrial conditions.
This foresight can lead to innovations in manufacturing techniques, ensuring that components are not only produced more efficiently and sustainably, but also meet the stringent safety and performance standards required in aviation. The main EngD project will:

Develop industrially applicable forming simulation methods for composite materials
Extend current forming simulation methodologies for composite non crimp fabric material to prepreg material
Take into account viscoelastic shear, ply by ply contact behaviour, ply shapes and component geometrical changes
Characterise new materials, conduct experimental validations of the simulations and devise new testing protocols, e.g. for mode II tack
Create a post processing tool to ensure correct interpretation of results
Ensure scalability of the forming simulation to industrial realistic full stack laminates and large scale structural components
Excite your interests in multiscale modelling of complex components to ensure sustainable manufacturing procedures.

Eligibility: Home/permanent UK residents subject to security clearance

Project 3 Description: Thermally induced damage in fibre-reinforced polymer composites and its effect on hydrogen permeation sponsored by National Physical Laboratory and Element

In the pursuit of Net Zero by 2050, interest in hydrogen as an alternative low carbon energy source is growing. A key element in an end-to-end hydrogen supply chain is storage that can be either as a compressed gas or as a cryogenic liquid. The pressure of compressed gaseous hydrogen needs to increase by two orders of magnitude to achieve the same energy density as liquid hydrogen at moderately low pressures. Thus, cryogenic storage of liquid hydrogen offers the possibility of reducing storage tank mass (lower pressure of liquid operation) and volume (higher hydrogen density) compared to high-pressure gas storage. A liquid hydrogen system tank is usually a thin-walled pressure vessel surrounded by a thick layer of insulation. The tank materials must be resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, impermeable to hydrogen and capable of structurally withstanding the effects of the low temperatures associated with liquid hydrogen. Also, because of the great change in temperature when the tank is filled, emptied or inspected, thermal expansion and contraction is a major concern. The EngD project aims to increase confidence in the use of FRP composites for liquid hydrogen applications by:

Developing experimental approaches to replicate thermally induced cracking/damage in FRP composites over typical temperature ranges experienced in operation of liquid hydrogen storage tanks (-260°C to +40°C)
Characterisation of the lab-based thermally induced damage states, via destructive and non-destructive techniques, and hydrogen permeability of composites containing damage
Development of techniques for predicting permeation through damaged composites and devising strategies for reducing and mitigating thermally induced cracking
Excite your interest in unlocking the potential of composites to achieve environmental neutrality through the use of hydrogen as a green energy source.

Eligibility: Home/permanent UK residents subject to security clearance

Project 4 Description: Mathematical modelling as an enabler for multi-criteria material selection in automotive design sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover

A method of indexing materials for their sustainability and engineering potential based on readily-available data, is urgently required in many sectors. Creation of such a multi-criteria selection will enable quantitative assessment of the combined performance trade-off between sustainability / lightweighting / mechanical / cost by way of complex mathematical/scientific ranking. Automotive component design is driven by multiple requirements, with final material selection being challenged by commercial and legal consideration. The creation of a robust data driven weighted index will limit the subjective element of the selection process. The PhD project will:

Examine the appropriate engineering properties (e.g. stiffness, strength, density etc), and commercial/legal constraints (e.g. affordability, minimum environmental impact, ability to meet volume etc) and develop a method of weighting these requirements to generate an objective metric capable of informing material comparisons.
Incorporate sustainability considerations into the tool to support understanding of the impact of engineering decisions, addressing the unquantifiable nature of many sustainability credentials such as end-of-life potential, recyclability, reusability, material provenance.
Create a predictive model to generate material indicators through a comprehensive review of existing cross-industry literature/approaches, additional testing, benchmarking including translation of customer insight and experience
Demonstrate the tool via user trials and create a dynamic user interface
Excite your interest in sustainability and life cycle assessment and incorporating engineering science into an accessible data base to support materials selection.

Eligibility: Home/international students subject to security clearance

To apply please submit a personal statement, outlining your experience, which project you are applying for and why you are interested in the PhD project, your CV and transcript of results to https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/. Please do not submit a project description; this is unnecessary as the project is already defined and select PhD in Advanced Composites. Please enter Professor Janice Barton the Director of the CDT as the 2^nd supervisor (janice.barton@bristol.ac.uk) and indicate that the funding is provided by the CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering.

Project 5 Description: Multi-scale modelling, experimental characterisation and improvement of 3D-woven textile composites sponsored by Rolls Royce

Net Zero Transport initiatives place a critical focus on developing lightweight materials and technologies to reduce carbon emissions. 3D-woven textile composites are a key technology for delivering lightweight structures with complex geometry as they offer many benefits over traditional 2D laminated composites: such as improved capacity to absorb impact energy, a higher resistance to delamination and manufacturing improvements and reduced waste through the use of near net-shape preforms. However, despite their potential and increasing use, there is a need for fundamental research to investigate, characterise and develop models for the behaviour of these complex materials under mechanical loading – to understand in detail the damage mechanisms, what characteristics of the constituent materials and fibre architecture are most important in determining the resulting composite properties, and what is needed to optimise their mechanical performance. This is particularly relevant as 3D-woven composites are deployed into higher temperature applications using new resin systems. The PhD project will:

Use a combination of experimental characterisation and micro- and meso-scale modelling to carry out a detailed study into the development of damage in 3D-woven textile composites
Investigate the damage mechanisms and identify the key material and weave properties affecting the composite performance, e.g. the influence of weave architecture, resin pockets, resin material properties such as strain to failure, strength and fracture toughness, fibre-matrix interface properties, thermal and cure residual stresses etc.
Use the parameters to make improvements to the materials with a target to optimise mechanical performance.
Excite your interest in modelling by building upon an existing meso-scale modelling capability developed within Bristol Composites Institute to provide a multi-scale modelling capability for 3D-woven textile composites.
Liaise with industrial partner to set the baseline and understand the problem.

Eligibility: Home/international students subject to security clearance

To apply please submit a personal statement, outlining your experience, which project you are applying for and why you are interested in the EngD project, your CV and transcript of results to https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/. Please do not submit a project description; this is unnecessary as the project is already defined and select PhD in Advanced Composites. Please enter Professor Janice Barton the Director of the CDT as the 2^nd supervisor (janice.barton@bristol.ac.uk) and indicate that the funding is provided by the CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering.

Project 6 Description: Assessing the impact of environmental conditions on the ageing of wind turbine blades – Time-Temperature-Water Fatigue Crack Propagation of FRP Laminates sponsored by EDF Renewables

Wind farms are designed to operate for over 20 years, sometimes in harsh weather conditions. However, prolonged exposure to UV, rain, humidity etc. can have an impact on the blade’s resistance to fatigue and therefore its lifetime.

This project will focus the effect of time, temperature, and water on the fatigue crack propagation in fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) with the aim of developing an accelerated fatigue testing methodology leveraging on recent development on theoretical mechanics and polymer science. The test results will provide the basis for a modelling framework to better understand the progression of fatigue crack in ageing FRP materials. The PhD will:

Understand how the environmental conditions in which the blades are operating is impacting the structural integrity and their lifetimes.
Design and implement a controlled experimental setup for fatigue testing under varying environmental conditions.
Implement image-based methods to monitor crack propagation in-situ in multidirectional representative laminates with high precision
Provide insight into fatigue behaviour under different temperature, strain rates, and water absorption levels using the crack accumulation information to predict long-term fatigue behaviour as function of environmental conditions.
Excite your interest in improving the durability predictions of composite structures, benefiting industries such as renewable energy, aerospace, and civil engineering.

Eligibility: Home/permanent UK residents subject to security clearance

To apply please submit an expression of interest to lee.harper@nottingham.ac.uk outlining your reasoning for choosing the specific project. This should be accompanied by your academic transcripts and a narrative CV outlining your experience and suitability for this role. Please refer to the project title in your application. Acceptance will depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree and performance at interview.