PhD Studentship: Multifunctional coatings for rotor blade protection

A strong bonding strength between the substrate and the coating is the foundation to combat the erosive wear. Hard yet tough coatings are targeted for this role. The coating surface should not only resist high impact pressure, but also be able to dissipate/absorb the shock waves generated. Various approaches can be considered for the enhancement of the toughness while maintaining the high hardness, such as multilayer coating systems and functionally graded coating structure. nCATS has developed a number of such coating systems with partners, using a variety of deposition techniques, including state-of-the-art CVD (chemical vapour deposition) and PVD (physical vapour deposition) processes. Further and better optimised coating systems would be assessed by high velocity solid particle, cavitation erosion (as a screening tool) and liquid jet impact simulating rain erosion. A very innovative part of the project is to use ultra-high speed imaging (5 Mfps) to image the impact event between a particle or a water jet and the coated material. This experimental tool will provide detailed insight into the erosion mechanisms at the relevant scale (substrate, coating and impact medium). The sub-microsecond frame rate allows the transient strain waves to be imaged, and to study the interaction between these waves and the substrate/coating interface. It also allows the impact force to be measured through the measurement of the test specimen acceleration. This tool will provide unprecedented information to develop a rational route towards the development of the new erosion-resistant coatings.  

This project brings together two UoS world-leading groups in their field, the nCATS and the PhotoDyn research groups  

The national Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS) has many years of experience in the research of erosion.  

The ideal candidate for this project will have a bachelor degree in mechanical, materials or civil engineering . Due to funding restrictions candidates must be UK/EU nationals.  

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Prof Robert Wood, NCATS research group, Email: R.J.Wood@soton.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 4881