Funded Studentship: Flowability Assessment of Weakly Consolidated Powders

Description

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The award of a research grant from the International Fine Particle Research Institute (IFPRI) has created a unique opportunity for a PhD programme to develop fundamental understanding of powder flowability at low consolidation stresses and at high strain rates, at the Institute of Particle Science and Engineering, University of Leeds.

The project involves experimental work on flowability assessment for a range of powders using a novel approach of ball indentation into a powder bed, along with numerical simulation by the Distinct Element Method (DEM) to understand the stress distributions within the bed. The aim is to develop a theoretical understanding of the flowability of powders at low stresses. The project will also go beyond a description of the initiation of flow and investigate powder flow under dynamic conditions.

Contents

The powders will be characterised using state of the art facilities at the University of Leeds, including nano-indentation to determine mechanical properties and X-ray micro tomography for describing particle shape.

Requirements

Applications are invited from candidates with or expecting a minimum of a UK upper second class honours degree (2:1), or equivalent, in an Engineering, Mathematics or Science discipline.

Funding

This studentship, which is open to both UK/EU and International students, will pay the academic fees at the UK/EU rate (£3,975), as well as providing an annual stipend of £16,000.