Cranfield University
Academic Supervisors: Professor Phil Irving
Duration: Three years
Supported by Cranfield IVHM centre, a studentship up to £17,000 p.a. for 3 years plus fees* is available
Cranfield University’s Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) centre has an exciting research opportunity for a motivated graduate in structural health monitoring of aircraft.
The development of techniques to diagnose and give prognosis of the health and damage state of aircraft and other structures is the subject of intensive current research. Recent innovations in sensor and monitoring techniques have demonstrated many possible techniques for detection of growing faults and defects in structures. Little is known about the quantitative performance of many of them; hence they have not been matched to aircraft structural integrity requirements.
This research will establish capabilities of selected monitoring techniques for detecting and measuring faults of aircraft wings and relate the data to structural degradation processes such as fatigue by making quantitative predictions of future service life. An important aspect of the research is the development of generic models to extend application of the techniques across a wide range of geometries and structural scales. The research will involve significant collaboration with industry and the opportunity to conduct part of the research in Canada at the National Research Centre Laboratories Ottawa.
Cranfield University’s newly created Centre for Integrated Health Management was established in 2008 to provide a focus for European research in this important and challenging area of research. It seeks both to perform research and to develop routes to service implementation of systems to monitor and manage the health of safety critical structures and systems such as aircraft and high speed ground vehicle transport. The centre is an exciting, challenging, multidisciplinary place to work combining university research and industrial collaboration with 5 major industry partners currently involved.
Start Date: As soon as possible
Closing Date: 14th November 2009
Entry Requirements:
Applicants should have a first or upper second class UK honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as mechanical or aeronautical engineering.
Funding
*Supported by Cranfield’s IVHM centre this studentship will cover tuition fees at the UK/EU rate only. Non UK/EU students will have to pay the remainder of their tuition fees up front before commencing their studies. Applicants are also eligible for a bursary of up to £17,000p.a. for three years dependent upon qualifications and experience.
How to apply
Please submit a CV and complete the application form at: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/students/Applications/apply_pgresearch.pdf
Alternatively, for more information and an application form please contact:
School of Applied Sciences
T: 44 (0)1234 754086
