[UK] PhD Studentship in High Power Laser Welding

Cranfield University, UK

The last decade has seen a huge increase in the need for high power lasers for precision welding and over the next two decades there will be an increasing requirement for long distance pipelines, with an investment of £billions per year.

Cranfield University’s Welding Engineering Research Centre has recently been awarded a substantial grant, which, together with a major industrial grant, has allowed the Centre to set up a high power laser laboratory. The laboratory is equipped with two state-of-the-art high power 6kW fibre-delivered lasers and a high-tech robot system to provide laser welding head manipulation.

This Centre now has an opening for a high-calibre graduate to undertake a PhD research project on applications of the new fibre laser with a focus on the high productivity welding of pipelines. The Welding Engineering Research Centre has already had considerable success in making dramatic improvements in pipe welding using arc welding technology.

This project will focus on hybrid laser/arc welding of pipe root welds to achieve substantial improvements in productivity whilst still achieving acceptable properties in high strength pipeline steels. In addition, fundamental work is proposed on the underlying plasma physics of laser-arc hybrid systems to support the application of the process.

The project has a high level of industry support, reflecting the increasing significance of the use of these high power lasers, which now make welding of complex and thick structures possible. For the first time it is also possible to consider the practical use of high power lasers in field applications.

The Welding Engineering Research Centre is the largest academic group in the United Kingdom dedicated to welding and welding automation with a portfolio of research programmes currently totalling in excess of £1million from an international group of clients. Facilities include a fully equipped welding laboratory with state-of-the art equipment for arc welding process development, welding metallurgy, and welding process automation.

It is a 3 years scholarship with Bursary of up to £17,000 . Applicants should have a First or Second Class UK Honours degree, or equivalent in physics, materials science or laser processing

Entry requirements
Applicants should have a First or Second Class UK Honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as physics, materials science or laser processing. A range of backgrounds are suitable for this project, including metallurgy, mechanical engineering, physics, electronics, control systems and software development.

Funding
This studentship will provide a bursary of up to £17,000 p.a. for three years dependent upon qualifications, experience and project plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate only. Details of overseas student fees are available online.

To apply, please complete the Application Form, or you can request that we post one to you. Alternatively you may wish to apply online. For further information contact us :

School of Applied Sciences
T: +44 (0)1234 754086
Email: appliedsciences@cranfield.ac.uk

Application deadline: 30 November 2007

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