PhD Scholarship in Damage Tolerant Hybrid Composite Materials for Applications in Critical Aerospace Structures

This PhD scholarship focuses on developing novel damage tolerant multifunctional composite materials for safe, durable design of next generation, high performance aircraft and spacecraft structures. The primary objective is the development of computational methods and experimental techniques to investigate failure modes and quantify defects and damage in fibre reinforced hybrid composites used in the aerospace industry. The research aims to develop efficient and accurate computational and experimental methodologies for characterising hybrid, multifunctional braided and fibre metal laminate composites for aerospace components. This includes damage type, location, mechanisms under complex monotonic and fatigue (cyclic) loading and assessing their effects on the residual strength degradation and consequent fatigue life. The expected outcomes will be well-validated computational analysis methods to predict failure mode, and quantify defect and damage produced in fibre metal laminate composites. The models can be used to predict residual strength and estimate fatigue life of composite structures under monotonic and cyclic loading conditions. The project provides opportunities to collaborate with aircraft industries and research institutes in Europe and Australia.