PhD studentships
Oxide Fracture in Irradiation Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking (PERFORM 60)
The internal components of light water reactors are fabricated from austenitic stainless steel and surround the fuel elements and ensure their positioning and cooling by supporting them and guiding the coolant flow. The internals are exposed to intense neutron irradiation (over 1dpa per year, depending on the reactor design), mechanical and thermal stresses and the corrosive action of the high temperature water coolant. This exposure may lead to several degradation mechanisms, limiting the useful life time of the internal components. One of these mechanisms is irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC).
This PhD contributes to a large, integrated research project across Europe (PERFORM 60) developing multi-scale modelling tools aimed at predicting the combined effects of irradiation and corrosion on austenitic stainless steels. You will seek to understand the role of oxide fracture in irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking, and will do this by observing the fracture of oxides in austenitic stainless steel during deformation. This will be done using high-resolution displacement mapping via digital image correlation. The aim is to observe the localisation of deformation that is responsible for oxide fracture, and to determine the relationship between the fracture of intergranular oxides and their neighbouring microstructure.
This project will train you in the techniques of materials characterisation and deformation mapping. You will gain an intimate knowledge of mechanisms of stress corrosion cracking in stainless steels, and will be involved in a Europe-wide research project, which involves the main designers and users of nuclear power plant.
Degree Type
3 year PhD
Eligibility
First degree or Masters in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
Funding
If you are from UK / EU you can apply for funding for this studentship through the School's EPSRC Doctoral Training Account (DTA). The award will provide Home tuition fees and an EPSRC-level stipend of £12,940.
Start Date
September 2009
Application Deadline
1st June 2009
Reference
PhD/08/TJM/01
Supervisor Contact Details
For further information about the project, please contact:
Name: Dr James Marrow
Email: james.marrow@manchester.ac.uk
Tel:44 (0) 161 306 3611
Admissions Contact
Postgraduate Team, School of Materials
Email: pg-materials@manchester.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)161 306 4824
How to Apply
You can apply for postgraduate opportunities online quoting the project reference number.