Thermo mechanical effects on Ti deformation mechanisms in cold dwell

yclic loading is characteristic of components in an aero-engines, where they are exposed to both low frequency (e.g. take off and landing), and high frequency (e.g vibration) loading. Therefore it is very important to understand what gives Ti alloys their fatigue strength, and in particular how it is affected by the load frequency and by other environmental parameters like temperature.

Through extensive testing, engineers have developed sound empirical relationships between fatigue strength and the microstructure of different Ti alloys. However, the actual physical mechanisms controlling this behaviour are not fully understood. This gap in our knowledge makes it difficult to account for material and/or operating conditions outside previous experience. It also makes it difficult to understand how the alloy could be improved, so that less of it can be used, which would help build lighter, more efficient aero-engines.

The aim of this project is to improve our understanding of how these important alloys deform at the micro-structural scale during low frequency cyclic loading, and at different temperatures. Working in collaboration with Rolls-Royce, you will use new experimental techniques developed at the University of Manchester to measure the deformation of these alloys with sub-micron spatial resolution, helping to unravel the physical process that lead to fatigue failure and damage and understand how they can be avoided. This work will make use of unique state-of-the-art facilities available at the Royce Institute at Manchester (www.royce.ac.uk), including high-resolution electron microscopes with in-situ testing capability, machines for 3-dimensional crystal orientation mapping, and high resolution transmission electron microscopes.

The successful candidate will join a large team of researchers (10+) working on titanium alloys at Manchester, and collaborate with scientists and engineers at Rolls-Royce and other UK and international universities. The project provides access and training on some of the most advanced characterisations methods currently available and sound training in advanced data analysis using open source packages. There will also be opportunities to visit Rolls-Royce and other partner organisations.