Novel metamaterials for mechanical waves attenuation

The Engineering and Mathematics Group within the School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment is inviting applications for a research studentship in developing novel metamaterials for high-energy mechanical waves attenuation leading to the award of a PhD degree.

Development of effective protection against intensive mechanical waves (vibration induced by high-speed transport, seismic events, etc.) is an extremely important and challenging research area. Vibrations can be undesirable and/or harmful in various applications, including buildings, machinery, and electronic devices.

Metamaterials, metasurfaces and metastructures offer unique properties that can be utilised to effectively control and mitigate vibrations. While extensive research is ongoing in this field, a majority of the questions regarding the design and production of the most efficient metamaterial for a specific application remain without answers.

This doctoral research project aims to develop new approaches in design of metamaterials, metasurfaces and metastructures combining classical numerical techniques of continuum mechanics (i.e. Finite Element Method, FEM) with cuttingedge evolutional algorithms and AI utilised to discern optimal metamaterial configurations. Another important part of the project will consist in production (ex. utilising 3D printing) and laboratory testing of optimal metamaterial designs.

Since the core objective is to develop numerical approaches for simulations in solid mechanics, this research requires an excellent understanding of solid mechanics and elasticity theory, solid body dynamics, wave mechanics and numerical methods for solution of equations arising in the above areas (i.e. most probably FEM). Furthermore, the research involves interconnection to discrete approaches and evolutionary computations/AI, so it is desirable that a candidate has an understanding of probability, combinatorics, linear algebra and discrete mathematics. This research will include a big part of code development, so experience with programming (ex. PYTHON, FORTRAN, ANSYS APDL, C++) is essential. 

Academic qualifications

A first-class honours degree, or a distinction at master level, or equivalent achievements in solid mechanics, applied mathematics.

English language requirement

If your first language is not English, comply with the University requirements for research degree programmes in terms of English language.

Application process

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor, Dr Vladimir Bratov ([email protected]) to discuss the content of the project and the fit with their qualifications and skills before preparing an application. 

The application must include: 

Research project outline of 2 pages (list of references excluded). The outline may provide details about

• Background and motivation, explaining the importance of the project, should be supported also by relevant literature. You can also discuss the applications you expect for the project results.
• Research questions or
• Methodology: types of data to be used, approach to data collection, and data analysis methods.
• List of references

The outline must be created solely by the applicant. Supervisors can only offer general discussions about the project idea without providing any additional support.

• Statement no longer than 1 page describing your motivations and fit with the project.
• Recent and complete curriculum vitae. The curriculum must include a declaration regarding the English language qualifications of the candidate.
• Supporting documents will have to be submitted by successful candidates.
• Two academic references (but if you have been out of education for more than three years, you may submit one academic and one professional reference), on the form can be downloaded here.

Applications can be submitted here .

Download a copy of the project details here.