Four-Year Fully Funded PhD Studentship at University College London in UK

Applications are invited from UK/EU students to apply for a four-year PhD studentship fully funded by EPSRC focusing on structural behaviour of basalt FRP reinforced geopolymer concrete in the Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering at University College London (UCL).

The studentship offers a maintenance stipend of £16,057 per annum (tax free) and covers tuition fees equivalent to the standard postgraduate UK/EU rate for full-time study. The supervisors will be Dr Mingzhong Zhang and Professor Dina D’Ayala.

The project will investigate the structural behaviour of a novel, durable and sustainable composite system, i.e., geopolymer concrete reinforced with basalt rebar,

through experiments and modelling. Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world. The production of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), a traditional binder material in concrete, accounts for around 8% of global CO2 emissions. Corrosion of reinforcing steel is one of major problems affecting the safety and durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Thus, it is urgent to develop novel sustainable and durable RC systems for infrastructures. Geopolymer concrete made of a cement-free binder (termed ‘geopolymer’ and made from industrial wastes) as alternative to OPC offers 60-80% reductions in CO2 emissions and better performance and durability compared to OPC concrete. Due to its good resistance to corrosion and acids, cost effectiveness, high temperature resistance, etc., basalt rebar is rapidly emerging as a desirable substitute for steel rebar. These lead to the entirely novel idea of combing geopolymer concrete and basalt rebar in a composite system to improve the sustainability and durability of RC structures. This project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of behaviour of geopolymer concrete reinforced basalt rebar in order to expedite its structural applications. The main objectives are: (1) to study the mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete and basalt rebar, and propose optimum mix proportions of geopolymer concrete; (2) to investigate the mechanism of bond between basalt rebar and geopolymer concrete and (3) to explore the overall structural behaviour of RC members including beams and columns.

Eligibility:

Applicants should possess a good honours degree (a first or upper second class or equivalent) in Civil/Structural Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline. Experience with finite element software (e.g., ABAQUS and ANSYS) is a significant advantage. Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a team is required.

Please note that due to funding restrictions only UK and EU passport holders are eligible for this studentship.

How to Apply: Interested applicants should send a covering letter and CV to Dr Mingzhong Zhang (mingzhong.zhang@ucl.ac.uk). Formal applications should then be made via www.PRISM.ucl.ac.uk, finding Research Degree: Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering and clicking on the Apply Now button. Please name Dr Mingzhong Zhang as the proposed supervisor.

Application Deadline: Contact Employer