Mechanical Engineering

Location:  Highfield Campus
Closing Date:  Thursday 31 March 2022
Reference:  1640521DA

Supervisory Team:    P.A.S. Reed and J.A. Wharton

Project description

Buried cast iron pipes have a higher frequency of failures in the form of leaks or sudden bursts compared to other common ferrous pipes.  In ageing water distribution systems it appears that external corrosion is the leading cause for such failures in buried cast iron pipes driven by corrosive soil conditions. The notch-like effect of any corrosion pits that form are likely to be most severe for external pit formation and may lead to a more significant effect from repeated traffic loadings.  You will study the detailed evolution of pits in these pipeline materials under service conditions in conjunction with the likely loading scenarios. 

Your PhD will develop benchmarking tests in soil environments, evaluating  pit morphology and evolution in cast iron pipe-line materials via state of the art X-ray CT techniques in the UoS m-VIS facility.  The effect of such pits on service related failure behaviour can then be systematically evaluated using the advanced mechanical testing facilities available in our testing structures research facility (TSRL), part of our new National Infrastructure Laboratory (NIL) up at the Boldrewood campus. You will also set up a representative pipe-line set-up (with typical defects) in a laboratory environment to calibrate the acoustic signature approach outlined for a companion PhD in ISVR.  The industry sponsors for this programme are UK Water Industry Research, a research network that defines strategic research programmes with input from members (the water companies of the UK and Ireland).

The PhD will be carried out at the University of Southampton in the Engineering Materials Research Group within the Department of Mechanical Engineering.  You will be working as part of a close-knit group of researchers working under the supervision of Prof. P.A.S. Reed and will be part of a team working on failure mechanisms and modelling in a range of structural materials systems.

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: applications should be received no later than 31 March 2022 for standard admissions, but later applications may be considered depending on the funds remaining in place.

 Funding: For UK students, Tuition Fees and a stipend of £15,609 tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years. 

How To Apply

Applications should be made online. Select programme type (Research), 2022/23, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, next page select “PhD  Engineering & Environment (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor P Reed 

Applications should include: 

• Curriculum Vitae
• Two reference letters
• Degree Transcripts to date

Apply online: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/how-to-apply/postgraduate-applications.page

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk 

The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.