The purpose of the scheme is to foster international collaboration by enabling PhD students to spend time at Surrey and Wollongong, with supervisors from both institutions.
There is a pressing global demand for lightweight materials to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions across diverse engineering sectors, such as aerospace and automotive, with an estimated market value exceeding USD 348.24 billion by 2030. To meet this demand, Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs) reinforced with Titanium Carbide (TiC) and Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) through ball mill combined with spark plasma sintering method present promising solutions, offering enhanced performance including strength, stiffness, as well as wear and fatigue resistance. However, the complex manufacturing process leads to significant residual stresses due to thermal coefficient mismatches between the matrix and the reinforcements, potentially compromising material strength. This project aims to investigate these residual stresses using advanced techniques, understanding their impact on mechanical and wear behaviours. The measured residual stress will contribute to optimising the manufacturing parameters through numerical modelling, providing valuable insight into producing the next-generation hybrid reinforced AMCs with enhanced performance.
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
Study area: Engineering
Student type: Domestic students, International students
Student status: Current student, Future Students
Scholarship amount
Candidates will receive a stipend scholarship and fee waiver.
The stipend scholarship will be no less than AUD $34,000, indexed annually for the term of the scholarship.
Duration
3.5 years
Application process
Applications should be submitted online, via the application form linked.
Required documents should include:
- Academic Transcripts
- A CV detailing educational background, professional experience, awards, prizes and any other achievements relevant to the field of study.
- Proof of English proficiency (for international students)
- Evidence of Achievements: Documentation of any prizes, awards, or significant research outputs that demonstrate the candidate’s excellence in their field.
- In place of a research proposal, please upload a document that includes the title of the project you are applying for, the name of the relevant supervisor, and a personal statement (maximum 500 words). This statement should make a compelling case for your consideration by addressing the five eligibility criteria outlined above. It should specifically detail how your previous experiences have prepared you for doctoral research and this particular project, and explain how this PhD will advance your career aspirations.
Eligibility requirements
Open to Australian and international candidates.
Candidates who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply as these criteria demonstrate their readiness and commitment to advancing knowledge within their chosen area of doctoral study.
- Academic Qualifications: Hold a 1st class Honours degree or its equivalent in a discipline relevant to the doctoral research area, or a Masters by Research degree demonstrating advanced knowledge and research capability.
- Preparedness for Doctoral Research: Provide a compelling case detailing how their academic and professional training has prepared them for the demands and challenges of doctoral research.
- Alignment with Career Aims: Articulate how the doctoral research will contribute to their long-term career aims and professional goals.
- Recognition and Achievements: Demonstrate a record of excellence, including multiple prizes, awards, or significant research outputs relevant to their academic field and indicative of their potential for significant contributions to their area of study.
- Professional Experience: Outline any professional experience and convincingly argue its relevance to their doctoral project.
Please note that international candidates must also fulfill English language requirements to be admitted to the PhD program. This generally involves achieving an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or its equivalent, with no less than 6.0 in each language domain. Refer to the Course Handbook for specific requirements pertinent to your discipline.
Application closing date
Wednesday 31 July 2024
Contact information
Graduate Research School