Digital Twinning for Smart Resin Infusion and Curing in Wind Turbine Blades via Embedded Fibre Optic Sensors and Physics-Informed Machine Learning - PhD Scholarship

This PhD scholarship is offered by the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience, a partnership between the Universities of Durham, Hull, Loughborough and Sheffield. The project focuses on developing a digital twin of the resin infusion and curing process in wind turbine blade manufacturing. The research will combine Physics Informed Neural Networks with real-time imaging and monitoring to predict manufacturing defects and enable real-time process control to maximize productivity and product quality. The successful applicant will undertake a six-month training programme with the CDT cohort at the University of Hull before continuing their PhD research with co-supervision from the University of Sheffield. The scholarship covers fees plus a stipend currently set at £20,780 per annum at 2025/26 rates, increasing in line with EPSRC guidelines for subsequent years. The programme includes both an intensive taught component and project-specific training in numerical modelling tools, machine learning techniques, and continuing professional development throughout the 4-year research scholarship.