Applicant information
What happens after you apply to Bristol?
Advanced Composites
| Awards available | PhD |
|---|---|
| Duration of programme | Four years full time |
| Number of places | 10 per year |
Page contents
Programme overview
The Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science Doctoral Training Centre (ACCIS DTC) offers exceptional candidates across engineering, science and mathematics the unique opportunity to become involved with groundbreaking research in composite materials and structures technologies. The technological landscape continues to evolve, with a particular shift towards high performance advanced composite materials. With drivers such as increased fuel efficiency and safety, aerospace, automotive and renewable energy industries require individuals with the qualifications and acumen to drive forward business and technology.
This four-year, fully funded programme includes a taught element in the first year as well as a group project designing, building and testing a composite structure, and an individual six-month research project. PhD projects are selected by students towards the end of the taught component. The programme provides an opportunity for you to broaden and deepen core engineering skills and promotes the exploration of the interface between science and engineering.
The scope of research within the ACCIS DTC covers a wide-range of composite engineering. Possible fields of research include:
- Morphing structures for aircraft, cars and marine craft
- Multifunctional materials, with embedded functionality for thermal management, sensing, actuation and self-repair
- Innovative manufacturing solutions
Research Groups
All DTC students are based in the ACCIS research group. The vision of ACCIS is to be a world-leading centre for composites research, combining cutting-edge fundamental science with strong industrial links for exploitation and technology transfer. ACCIS is a focus for collaboration internally, nationally and internationally, and was recently selected by the UK Government to lead the establishment of the UK National Composites Centre.
Entry requirements
An upper-second class degree in a relevant subject (or equivalent qualification).
For information on international equivalent qualifications, please see our International Office website.
Admissions statement
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
Key research interests
Professor Ian Bond, (Head of Aerospace Engineering), Development and performance of novel and multifunctional composite materials.
Dr Jacopo Ciambella, (DTC Lecturer), Micro-macro modelling of multifunctional materials; polymer composites; energy absorbing nanocomposites.
Dr Ian Farrow, (DTC Teaching Co-ordinator), Design of aerospace composite structures.
Dr Dimitry Ivanov, (DTC Lecturer), Innovative approaches to composites manufacture and modelling.
Dr Sameer Rahatekar, (DTC Lecturer), Carbon nanotube and graphene-based nanocomposites; multiscale composites; cellulose and natural polymer-based composites; molecular-scale and continuum-scale modelling of composite manufacturing.
Dr Richard Trask, (DTC Research Co-ordinator), Biologically inspired multifunctional composite materials; self-healing; crack delocalisation; novel fibre architecture.
Professor Paul Weaver, (DTC Director), Composite plates and shells; buckling; materials performance; cellular structures and morphing composites.
Professor Michael Wisnom, (DTC Chair, Director of ACCIS), Predicting the behaviour of composite structures and materials; application of finite element methods
Application deadline: Not fixed
Get in touch
ACCIS Doctoral Training Centre
Graduate School of Engineering
Merchant Venturers Building
Woodland Road
Bristol BS8 1UB
Phone: +44 (0)117 331 5315
Email: composites-dtc@bristol.ac.uk
Web: http://www.bris.ac.uk/composites/dtc
International students
English-language requirements: 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in the speaking and reading bands and a minimum of 6.5 in the writing and listening bands, in addition to the standard entry requirements.
Find information for international students on eligibility, funding options and studying at Bristol.
Fees and funding
2014/15 fees
Full-time: UK/EU £3,939;
overseas £17,000
Fees quoted are provisional, per annum and subject to annual increase.
Funding options
Enhanced EPSRC studentships covering fees and living costs are available to UK students; fees-only studentships are available to EU students. Further information on funding for prospective UK, EU and international postgraduate students is available from the Student Funding Office website.
Research Assessment Score
Unit of Assessment 28B applies. See Complete RAE listings for University of Bristol for further details.
Useful further information
Accommodation
Our Accommodation Office helps all postgraduate students find accommodation.
Living in Bristol
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