Improved structural integrity assessments for wrinkling defects in composite turbines

Description

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Maritime Energy solutions (N0MES) has a 4-year funded PhD place available for an exceptional researcher. With the support of the University of Liverpool (UoL), Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and 33 maritime energy sector partners, N0MES PGRs will pursue new, engineering-centred, interdisciplinary research to address four vital net zero challenges currently facing the North West, the UK and beyond:

a) Energy generation using maritime-based renewable energy (e.g. offshore wind, tidal, wave, floating solar, hydrogen, CCS);

b) Distributing energy from offshore to onshore, including port- and hinterland-side impacts and opportunities;

c) Addressing the short- and long-term environmental impacts of offshore and maritime

environment renewable energy generation, distribution and storage; and

d) Decommissioning and lifetime extension of existing energy and facilities.

This fully funded project will see you working to improve the structural integrity of composite turbine blades for clean energy generation. By helping to improve the integrity of these blades you will be contributing to the UK’s drive to achieve net-zero by 2050. The project will develop your experimental skills as you research how defects in glass-fibre composites can be found and how predictions of residual life can be made. These skills are useful for the clean energy industry as well as a wide range of other industries.

Wind and tidal generation are highly dependent on large scale utilisation of glass-fibre reinforced composite materials for turbine blades. However, glass fibre composites are sensitive to fibre misalignment, such as fibre wrinkling, that can drastically reduce the structural integrity of the blade. These defects can have severe effects on the profitability of turbine manufacturers. For example, a European wind turbine manufacturer recently reported additional costs of €1 billion due to a number of manufacturing issues, with wrinkling being cited as one of the key causes. During research in the aerospace sector my team have developed methods of recreating complex fibre misalignment defects in the laboratory and techniques for characterizing these defects. In this project you will translate these findings into the clean energy sector with the aim of developing techniques that enable turbine manufacturers to make lifespan predictions directly from defect assessment data.

During your studies you will be part of a diverse research group containing PhD students working on projects in the nuclear, aerospace and bioengineering sectors. You will also make use of a well-equipped laboratory in the School of Engineering which contains all the equipment that you will need for the project.

This research has the capability to reduce the amount of wastage of expensive composite turbine blades by improving our understanding of a common manufacturing defect. Ultimately your work could help to reduce the cost of offshore generation and thus increase its share of global energy supply.

We want all of our staff and Students to feel that Liverpool is an inclusive and welcoming environment that actively celebrates and encourages diversity. We are committed to working with students to make all reasonable project adaptations including supporting those with caring responsibilities, disabilities or other personal circumstances. For example, If you have a disability you may be entitled to a Disabled Students Allowance on top of your studentship to help cover the costs of any additional support that a person studying for a doctorate might need as a result.

We believe everyone deserves an excellent education and encourage students from all backgrounds and personal circumstances to apply.

Applicant Eligibility

Candidates will have, or be due to obtain, a Master’s Degree or equivalent from a reputable University in an appropriate field of Engineering. Exceptional candidates with a First Class Bachelor’s Degree in an appropriate field will also be considered.

Application Process

Candidates wishing to apply should complete the University of Liverpool application form [How to apply for a PhD - University of Liverpool] applying for a PhD in MECHANCIAL Engineering and uploading: Degree Certificates & Transcripts, an up-to-date CV, two academic references and a supporting statement [maximum 300 words] detailing; what inspires you within this project, how your skill set matches the project, up to 3 examples showing your commitment so science, piece of science that excites you & anything else to support your application.

Candidates wishing to discuss the research project should contact the primary supervisor W.J.R.Christian@liverpool.ac.uk, those wishing to discuss the application process should discuss this with the CDT Manager Matt Fulton [n0mescdt@liverpool.ac.uk].