Studentship Development of in-situ Loading Experiments During Proton Irradiation The University of Manchester - Schools of Chemistry and Materials
Start Date: September 2012
Closing Date: 31 May 2012
Supervisors: Dr. Enrique Jimenez-Melero (School of Materials & DCF), and co-supervised by Prof. Michael Preuss (School of Materials) and Prof. Simon M. Pimblott (School of Chemistry & DCF).
This three-year PhD project will develop novel loading experiments of materials under proton irradiation. Proton and ion irradiation are used increasingly to simulate radiation conditions in nuclear reactors. The project is part of a wider programme of research based within the Dalton Nuclear Institute of The University of Manchester focusing on nuclear materials and irradiation damage. The University of Manchester is currently commissioning a new state-of-the art facility to undertake such experiments - the Dalton Cumbrian Facility. The DCF is situated on the Westlakes Science & Technology Park near Whitehaven in West Cumbria and is a scientific research base that is unique in the UK and Europe.
http://www.dalton.manchester.ac.uk/facilities/dalton-cumbrian-facility/
http://www.dalton.manchester.ac.uk/
The PhD project aims to develop protocols for in-situ mechanical loading experiments while irradiating metallic materials. Irradiation damage in metallic materials leads to strength increase but cause flow localisation, which reduces the ductility of the material. Detailed studies in this area are aimed at elucidating the micromechanics during deformation of irradiated material. Such understanding is vital to predict the behaviour of reactor and fuel assembly components during service. The challenges associated with such experiments are to have (i) temperature control of the sample, which is heated by the ion beam and (ii) definition of the stress state during loading. The project will also apply novel non-contact 2D strain mapping techniques in order to capture strain inhomogeneity at the microstructural scale while deforming the material.
The PhD student will be based at the Dalton Cumbrian Facility, which will be opened officially in September 2012.
Qualifications: Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a first class or upper second class bachelors or a postgraduate masters level degree in materials science, physics, chemistry or engineering. Please contact us if you wish to discuss your suitability for the programme.
Funding: The three-year studentship includes tuition fees and a minimum stipend of £13,590 pa, supported through the Dalton Cumbrian Facility Project, a joint initiative of The University of Manchester and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
How to apply: Apply online at http://www.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/howtoapply/. Please state the Research Title as 'PhD - Development of in-situ loading experiments during proton irradiation''.
Enquiries: Please direct queries to Dr Enrique Jimenez-Melero: enrique.jimenez-melero@manchester.ac.uk or Professor Michael Preuss:michael.preuss@manchester.ac.uk or Professor Simon M. Pimblott: simon.pimblott@manchester.ac.uk.
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