EPSRC PhD Studentship: Electrophysical remanufacturing of aerospace gas turbine components for performance restoration and critical material safeguarding
University of Nottingham
United Kingdom
Published 2 weeks ago
Aerospace engineering
Permanent
Closing Date
Open Until Filled
Reference
ENG309
Electrophysical remanufacturing of aerospace gas turbine components for performance restoration and critical material safeguarding
This exciting opportunity is based within the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Group at Faculty of Engineering which conducts cutting edge research into sustainable high-value manufacturing processes.
Vision
We are looking for a PhD student who is motivated to develop the next generation of manufacturing processes alongside our partners in Rolls-Royce.
Aviation faces a dual challenge: decarbonisation and growing vulnerability in critical raw material supply chains. High-temperature aerospace components rely on exotic alloys and coatings with high embodied carbon and zero domestic supply, yet these components degrade in service.
This PhD project is driven by a vision of extending the life, performance, and value of existing aerospace assets, reducing reliance on virgin critical materials, and enabling more sustainable and circular manufacturing practices within the aerospace sector.
Motivation
For aerospace gas turbines, most emissions occur during operation, but the materials used to manufacture critical components also carry a significant environmental and strategic burden. During service, components such as blades, guide vanes, and compressors are damaged by calcia-magnesia-alumino-silicate (CMAS) ingress, which degrades thermal barrier coatings and limits component life.
Current recoating and preventative coating methods are effective at a bulk level but struggle to preserve or restore small-scale engineered features that are essential for thermal and aerodynamic performance. This creates a strong need for precision, adaptable, and scalable reconditioning approaches that go beyond conventional manufacturing routes.
Aim
The aim of this PhD is to develop and understand non-conventional electrophysical and laser-based manufacturing processes for the restoration and remanufacturing of aerospace gas turbine components.
The project will:
Who we are looking for
We are seeking a highly motivated and curious PhD candidate with a strong interest in advanced manufacturing, materials, and sustainability. You should have (or expect to obtain) a good first degree (1 st or a 2:1) in a relevant discipline, such as:
Please contact Alistair Speidel for further questions and to apply for this opportunity alistair.speidel@nottingham.ac.uk
Funding support
After a suitable candidate is found, funding is then sought from the University of Nottingham as part of a competitive process (this will cover home tuition fees and UKRI stipend)
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The Faculty of Engineering provides a thriving working environment for all PGRs creating a strong sense of community across research disciplines. Community and research culture is important to our PGRs and the FoE support this by working closely with our Postgraduate Research Society (PGES) and our PGR Research Group Reps to enhance the research environment for PGRs. PGRs benefit from training through the Researcher Academy's Training Programme, those based within the Faculty of Engineering have access to bespoke courses developed for Engineering PGRs. including sessions on paper writing, networking and career development after the PhD. The Faculty has outstanding facilities and works in partnership with leading industrial partners.
Open Until Filled
Reference
ENG309
Electrophysical remanufacturing of aerospace gas turbine components for performance restoration and critical material safeguarding
This exciting opportunity is based within the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Group at Faculty of Engineering which conducts cutting edge research into sustainable high-value manufacturing processes.
Vision
We are looking for a PhD student who is motivated to develop the next generation of manufacturing processes alongside our partners in Rolls-Royce.
Aviation faces a dual challenge: decarbonisation and growing vulnerability in critical raw material supply chains. High-temperature aerospace components rely on exotic alloys and coatings with high embodied carbon and zero domestic supply, yet these components degrade in service.
This PhD project is driven by a vision of extending the life, performance, and value of existing aerospace assets, reducing reliance on virgin critical materials, and enabling more sustainable and circular manufacturing practices within the aerospace sector.
Motivation
For aerospace gas turbines, most emissions occur during operation, but the materials used to manufacture critical components also carry a significant environmental and strategic burden. During service, components such as blades, guide vanes, and compressors are damaged by calcia-magnesia-alumino-silicate (CMAS) ingress, which degrades thermal barrier coatings and limits component life.
Current recoating and preventative coating methods are effective at a bulk level but struggle to preserve or restore small-scale engineered features that are essential for thermal and aerodynamic performance. This creates a strong need for precision, adaptable, and scalable reconditioning approaches that go beyond conventional manufacturing routes.
Aim
The aim of this PhD is to develop and understand non-conventional electrophysical and laser-based manufacturing processes for the restoration and remanufacturing of aerospace gas turbine components.
The project will:
- Investigate fundamental process-material interactions between coatings, substrates, and electrophysical/laser processes
- Explore process-specific phenomena (including plasma effects) to enable highly localised material removal and deposition
- Develop best-practice methodologies for restoring or enhancing small-scale functional features
- Translate findings towards scalable and deployable solutions, with miniaturised, on-wing demonstration
Who we are looking for
We are seeking a highly motivated and curious PhD candidate with a strong interest in advanced manufacturing, materials, and sustainability. You should have (or expect to obtain) a good first degree (1 st or a 2:1) in a relevant discipline, such as:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Materials Science/Metallurgy
- Enjoy hands-on research
- Be interested in non-conventional manufacturing processes (e.g. EDM, laser processing, coatings)
- Be motivated by industry-focused research with real-world impact
- Be comfortable working at the interface of academia and industry
Please contact Alistair Speidel for further questions and to apply for this opportunity alistair.speidel@nottingham.ac.uk
Funding support
After a suitable candidate is found, funding is then sought from the University of Nottingham as part of a competitive process (this will cover home tuition fees and UKRI stipend)
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The Faculty of Engineering provides a thriving working environment for all PGRs creating a strong sense of community across research disciplines. Community and research culture is important to our PGRs and the FoE support this by working closely with our Postgraduate Research Society (PGES) and our PGR Research Group Reps to enhance the research environment for PGRs. PGRs benefit from training through the Researcher Academy's Training Programme, those based within the Faculty of Engineering have access to bespoke courses developed for Engineering PGRs. including sessions on paper writing, networking and career development after the PhD. The Faculty has outstanding facilities and works in partnership with leading industrial partners.