Computational Modelling / Materials: Fully Funded PHd Studentship in More physically based modelling of single crystal materials operating under thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) (RS800)

Funding providers: EPSRC IDLA Award and Rolls Royce 

Subject areas: Computational Modelling / Materials 

Project start date: 1 October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September) 

Supervisors: Prof E de Souza Neto, Prof D Peric and Prof M Whittaker   

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Materials Engineering 

Mode of study: Full-time  

The student will undertake a placement within Rolls-Royce for a minimum period of 3 months. Students may be required to attend a professional course in Rolls-Royce as part of their study. 

Project description: 
With the need for enhanced cooling to improve the robustness of Gas Turbine hot components the complexity of the components increases resulting in higher stresses and corresponding increased risk of fatigue. Rolls-Royce believes that the proposed TMF modelling project offers an opportunity to mitigate this risk through higher fidelity behavioural models and better understanding of the limit of applicability of existing models. Any modelling will have direct applicability to all Rolls-Royce Turbomachinery products. 

Outline and Focus 
There is a need to improve fatigue modelling capability of single crystal materials to support the complex nature of future designs. To support this, we are already testing material at Swansea as part of the ATI funded ‘HOTLINE’ project. RR will be doing some analysis of the test data but this will be limited to an engineering level assessment. To better leverage the testing and to develop more physically based models (increased accuracy / understanding of the limit of applicability of the engineering models) there is a need to do more detailed modelling work. Swansea University already have a world class testing and analysis facility, being the go-to for advanced high temperature testing. Swansea University also have a strong modelling community and this proposal allows a unique link to be developed between the testing, fractographic assessment and modelling communities at Swansea. 

Methodology 
An existing computational multiscale modelling framework developed at Swansea University, which incorporates state-of-the-art techniques especially devised to simulate various aspects of the behaviour of single crystals, will be the starting point for the development of this project. More specifically, physically-based crystal-scale models aimed at capturing TMF at crystal level will be developed and incorporated into the computational multiscale framework. Extensive numerical simulations within this framework, with benchmarking against experimental data, will then allow the assessment of existing engineering-scale models and the development of new of models of TMF with enhanced accuracy and engineering applicability to be used by RR. 

Outputs 
- A physically based model to support thermo-mechanical fatigue behaviour of CMSX-4 
- 2 journal publications detailing the academic outputs and developments of the work. 

Scholarship open to UK and international fee eligible applicants

Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. See - Country-specific Information for EU and International Candidates.

English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.

ATAS
Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website. 

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer. 

International students
EPSRC IDLA studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students, once the limit has been reached, we are unable to make offers to international students.    

We are still accepting applications from international applicants.    

International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26).

Additional research expenses of up to £2,000 per year will also be available.

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information

1. Course choice:

(Full Time) Materials Engineering / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / October

In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this case, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

     2. Start year – please select 2025

     3. Funding (page 8 on the application process) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS800 - IDLA Rolls Royce'

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.  

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project
• One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable)
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Prof Eduardo de Souza Neto e.desouzaneto@swansea.ac.uk 

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.