Brunel University London has partnered with the National Structural Integrity Research Centre to provide an opportunity for students to undertake in-depth research in combination with the industrial experience of TWI across the varied disciplines essential to structural integrity. 

 

Considering the expertise and track record of both Brunel and NSIRC-based staff, the following areas have been identified as the main research strengths within the wider field of Structural Integrity: 

• Dynamic response of materials and structures (modelling, experimental characterisation and design/optimisation for composites and metals); 
• Structural health monitoring based on ultrasound wave propagation and acoustic emissions in solids (modelling, experimental validation, signal processing and sensors); 
• Steel, concrete and hybrid structures (material design, manufacturing, modelling and experimental characterisation); 
• Fatigue and fracture (modelling, experimental characterisation);
• Extreme loading (e.g. fire, earthquake, blast and progressive collapse)
• Fluid-structure interaction (unboned flexible risers)
• Manufacturing (e.g. sheet metal forming, bulk-forming, casting, extrusion, 3D printing).

 

A key aim of the PhD programme is to supply a stream of industry-ready, world-class engineers and scientists in structural integrity disciplines such as fail-safe design, corrosion control, structural health monitoring, ageing asset management and fitness for service.