Modelling of microstructure evolution during production of high strength 6xxx aluminium alloys

EPSRC Industrial CASE PhD Studentship 2023

Applications are invited for one full-time EPSRC Industrial CASE (ICASE) PhD studentship for the project “Modelling of microstructure evolution during production of high strength 6xxx aluminium alloys”, at Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST), Brunel University London, starting from 1^st October 2023. BCAST is a speciality research centre in metallurgy with a focus on processing of metallic materials for lightweighting applications. See www.brunel.ac.uk/bcast for more information. The project is sponsored by Constellium, a global leading manufacturer of high-quality technically advanced aluminium products and systems. Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of £20,662 plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees for a period of 48 months (4 years).

This research project will be in the area of production and manufacturing engineering, with a focus on the study of thermomechanical processing of aluminium. The aim is to predict and control engineering properties of the products by establishing correlations between microstructure and processing conditions, using a combination of physics-based models and numerical methods, to explore the interplay between the processing conditions and the evolution of microstructure during manufacturing. The project will be part of the activities of the Constellium University Technology Centre (UTC) at Brunel and will be conducted in close collaboration with the Materials Made Smarter Research Centre (MMSRC), which delivers multidisciplinary research in the area of Digital Manufacturing. You will have the opportunity to interact with and receive advice from Constellium’s industrial research engineers in addition to the MMSRC’s leading researchers in physics-based and data-driven modelling.

Please contact Prof. Hamid Assadi (Hamid.Assadi@brunel.ac.uk) for an informal discussion about the project.

Eligibility

Applicants will have or be expected to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a similar discipline. A postgraduate master’s degree is not required but may be an advantage.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate their abilities in numerical modelling or in the application of simulation software to scientific / engineering problems. In addition, applicants should be highly motivated, able to work independently as well as in a team, collaborate with others and have effective communication skills.

How to apply

Please submit your application documents (see list below) in one PDF file by noon on 8 June 2023

to cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk Interviews will take place in June 2023.

Your up-to-date CV;
Your personal statement (300 to 500 words) summarising your background, skills and experience;
Your Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree certificate(s) and transcript(s);
Evidence of your English language skills to IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent, 6.0 in all sections), if appropriate;
Contact details for two referees, one of which can be an academic member of staff in the College.

Remember to state the title of the project at the top of your personal statement.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Hamid Assadi - Prof Hamid Assadi is the Head of Virtual Engineering Centre and Professor of Solidification at Brunel University London. He studied Materials Engineering at Shiraz University, and received his PhD in Materials Science and Metallurgy from University of Cambridge in 1996. His work experience includes a professorship at Tarbiat Modares University, as well as several visiting appointments at Helmut Schmidt University, Max Planck Institute for Iron Research, and German Aerospace Centre (DLR).