About the project
This project aims to identify, detect, understand, and suggest mitigations for the effects of deviations in porous architecture on the properties and performance of porous metamaterials.
Porous metamaterials derive their properties and functionality not only from the material of which they are made, but also from the shape and configuration of material and pores in space. Examples include:
- polymer foams containing spherical pores due to expansion of entrapped gas during processing
- cancellous bone made up of struts and plates that grow and adapt in response to external loading
- additively manufacturing (AM) lattice materials that resemble space truss structures like the Eiffel tower that are shrunk down to smaller length scales
These materials are used for myriad applications, such as foam cushioning used to absorb impact, or as part of lightweight structural elements in transport applications like aircraft and automobiles.
The mechanical properties of these metamaterials can be severely impacted when the porous architecture (shape and configuration in space) deviates from the surrounding material, such as a larger gas pore in foams, or an intended design, such as missing truss element in an AM lattice.
You'll make use of the facilities and expertise in additive manufacturing, mechanical testing, and characterisation, to design, manufacture, and study porous metamaterials.
The µ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre at the University of Southampton will enable X-ray computed tomography (XCT) to be used as a key tool for volumetric imaging, deformation measurement, and analysis of porous architectures.
Your work will be conducted in collaboration with an industrial partner with interests in defence and UK national security. There will be opportunities for placement within the sponsor organisation during the project and potential for future employment.
