| KEYWORD |
Area Engineering
Innovating Aero-Engine Dynamics: Numerical Modelling of Wave Propagation in Granular Crystals
Thesis abroad
Reference persons DANIELE BOTTO
External reference persons Dr. Alfredo Fantetti - Imperial college London
Research Groups 11 - LAQ AerMec per componenti di turbine e compressori
Thesis type NUMERICAL
Description The aviation sector stands at a pivotal point, with the urgent need to design aero-engines that are not only lighter and more flexible but also environmentally sustainable to target Net Zero goals. Manufacturers such as General Electric and Rolls-Royce face the complex challenge of ensuring safety while reducing emissions, a task made daunting by the intricate vibrational behaviour of engine components. Predicting the engine dynamic behaviour is particularly complicated due to the complexity of the millions of components in contact. The different contact states introduce friction forces that can significantly affect the vibration amplitudes and induce a shift in resonant frequencies.
The goal of this Master Thesis Project is to develop a modelling solver to increase the understanding of friction in vibrating structures. The solver will model the propagation of solitary waves, which are mechanical waves that propagate in granular crystals. Solitary waves have been used for non-destructive evaluation (NDE) similarly to traditional ultrasonic waves. Although ultrasonic waves have also been used to monitor friction, solitary waves have never been used to this purpose. The goal of the newly developed solver is therefore to correlate for the first time changes in the solitary wave propagation to the friction properties of sliding contacts, thus developing a new modelling technique that could provide a breakthrough in the field of tribology and dynamics. By joining this project, you can make a tangible impact on the future of aviation, contributing to safer, cleaner, and more efficient air travel.
This research will be conducted at Imperial College London in the Tribology Group, which is one of the largest and most renowned tribology research groups in the world today. Its research is strongly supported by companies in Europe, the USA and the Far East (e.g. Rolls-Royce, Shell, SKF, Toyota, Bosch etc.) and it collaborates with many universities across the globe.
See also numerical thesis imperial college london.pdf
Deadline 10/03/2025
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