Current project opportunities

The University of Bristol is offering an opportunity for doctoral studies sponsored by Carbon ThreeSixty starting in September 2025.  The project will be part of the new CDT launched in 2024 following on from five previous successful centres in Bristol Composites Institute (BCI). The purpose of the CDT is to train future leaders to doctoral level with the skills and expertise to address the design, manufacture and assurance of composite products. Carbon ThreeSixty  is a structural composites business that focuses on resin transfer moulding (RTM) processing and other processes that provide an alternative to classic prepreg/autoclave manufacture of structural composite parts for the aerospace, automotive and energy industry. RTM is a low energy manufacturing approach compared to autoclaving, which offers a more sustainable route to composite manufacture.   

Alongside conducting your research project, you will follow a taught programme that provides an in-depth knowledge of composite materials and their use, with a focus on sustainability and the circular economy. As well as the research and taught programme you will also follow a structured professional development programme to prepare you for a future career in industry or academia.  We are seeking highly motivated and committed individuals with an eye on the future, who are interested in conducting stimulating and essential, industrially relevant research and have a passion for finding sustainable solutions.  

Type of award: Engineering Doctorate (Composites Manufacture)/Doctor of Philosophy (Advanced Composites) 

Research focus areas: Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Design Engineering, Research group Bristol Composites Institute

Scholarship Details: A tax-free enhanced stipend of £26,780 for 2025/26, a fee waiver and generous financial support for research and training for the successful candidates.

Duration: 4 years

Eligibility: Home/permanent UK residents

Start Date: September 2025

Candidate Requirements: Applicants must hold/achieve a minimum a 2:1 MEng or merit at Masters level or equivalent in engineering, physics or chemistry. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree and performance at interview. 

Closing Date: 5th July 2025

 

There are 4 project options: two with a PhD award based at University of Bristol and two with an option of an EngD award where students spend 75% of their studies located at Carbon ThreeSixty: 

Project 1 PhD:  Process modelling & characterisation of a novel winding & compaction process for high-rate production of carbon fibre composite automotive wheels to allow rapid simulation of different wheel sizes and load ratings (Supervisor: Professor Stephen Hallett) 

Carbon ThreeSixty are developing a novel manufacturing process for the production of complex cylindrical geometries such as wheels based on the filament winding process. The process is designed to achieve much higher volume manufacturing and also enables the use of recycled carbon fibres, with a target to produce carbon fibre wheels with a similar CO2 footprint to aluminium wheels. Hence a circular manufacturing route is enabled with end-of-life product returned to recycled fibre feedstock. To facilitate the process fibre stacks are formed into a concave shape, with movement and shearing of fibres, making allowance for additional fibre preforms that make up the centre/spoked section of the wheel.  The project will involve the creation of an accurate model that can accommodate a range of wheel designs and simulate the process, enabling material configurations and processing details to be set at the design stage. The target is to reduce physical trials, by highlighting any potential defects or fibre angle deviations to feed into structural and impact simulation.   

Project 2 PhD:  Accurate RTM process simulation & sensitivity analysis method for high performance automotive and aerospace composites which inherently accounts for all common sources of manufacturing variability (Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Belnoue) 

Despite significant experience at Carbon ThreeSixty RTM remains a “black box” process, with the exact flow conditions unknown during each moulding. Many RTM simulation tools exist, but the majority simulate one set of conditions at a time.  Manufacturing variability leads to variations in the process due to a range of conditions that impact the flow and progression of resin in the mould creating defects such as voids.  The project will focus on the creation of a new statistical based simulation method that accounts for all the causes of variability that can be used to modify manufacturing conditions and reduce waste. 

Project 3 EngD:  Development of a simplified in-house impact test methods for testing of carbon fibre automotive wheels without the need for pressurised tyres to allow rapid development through assessment of comparative impact toughness (Supervisor: Professor Stephen Hallett) 

Standard testing of automotive wheels is performed with tyres fitted and pressurised. Carbon ThreeSixty currently offer wheel products that have undergone these tests but is seeking to develop new wheel products.  A simplified in-house rapid comparative test method for wheel impact to accelerate development is required. An impact test that is performed without fitting a tyre would reduce costs and time to market.  The EngD project would seek to create the new test methodology and build a validated prototype. 

Project 4 EngD:  Next generation structural core and lost-core materials characterisation and development for medium pressure RTM and prepreg compression moulding of complex carbon fibre composite structures (Supervisor: Dr Dmitry Ivanov) 

Carbon ThreeSixty manufacture many structural composite components with low-density core materials and/or hollow sections using both resin transfer moulding and prepreg compression moulding.  Cored structures allow for very lightweight and complex geometry composite components which can offer superior performance and efficiency in huge range of industries. 

The manufacturing process is challenging particularly using moderate pressures of around 3 bar. Hence a detailed charaterisation of different material types and formats is required to support the development of new products. The project will involve in-depth research into applications and materials processing approaches through physical trial to establish a suite of core technologies to deploy for different scenarios.   

 

All four projects will: 

  • Investigate designs and materials that support recyclability and reuse  
  • Employ smart digital technologies to investigate manufacture and design  
  • Enthuse your interest in creating enabling technologies for a sustainable future  
  • Be part of a large cohort of CDT students that conduct their research alongside industry associated within an organisation that supports the entire UK composites sector. 

 

To apply please submit a personal statement, outlining your experience, the project (s) you are interested in and why you are interested in doctoral studies, your CV and transcript of results to https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/. Please do not submit a project description; this is unnecessary as the project is already defined and select either EngD in Composites Manufacture or PhD in Advanced Composites. Please enter Professor Janice Barton the Director of the CDT as the 2nd supervisor (janice.barton@bristol.ac.uk) and indicate that the funding is provided by the CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering. 

Closing Date: 5th July 2025