PhD Studentship in Aeronautics: Programmable matter from entangled architected materials (AE0088)

Start Date:

Between 1 August 2027 and 1 July 2028

Application Deadline:

23.59 on 4 January 2027 (UK time)

Introduction: 

Robots, software and digital memory can be reprogrammed after they are built. Materials, by contrast, have mechanical behaviour that is fixed at manufacture. This PhD will investigate whether that behaviour can be reprogrammed after fabrication.

You will study architected entangled materials: networks of curved filaments whose stiffness and toughness arise from how the filaments interweave and contact one another. Fabrics and ropes are familiar examples. In these networks, small changes in contact and friction can produce very large changes in mechanical response.

The project will exploit this sensitivity by driving a weak deformation mode, orthogonal to the deformations caused by external loads, to reprogram the network. Ordinary loading does not activate this mode, so the network remains stiff and tough in service. Driving the mode deliberately changes the contact state and releases the network.

Potential applications include spacecraft trusses that can be reconfigured after launch, and wearable braces that stiffen to protect a joint and soften to allow movement.

Key objectives:

• Understand how contact and friction govern stiffness and toughness in each state
• Establish how driving a deformation mode that external loads do not activate changes the contact state
• Determine the range of loading over which this mode remains inactive
• Identify what limits the contrast in stiffness between the two states
• The project is approximately 50% experimental, 40% computational and 10% theoretical.

You will join the AIM Lab, a new group in the Department of Aeronautics. As one of its first members, you will help shape the group.

You will develop expertise in the mechanics of slender structures, contact and friction, and the geometry of filament networks. You will fabricate specimens using multi-material 3D printing and a robotic fabrication cell, test them mechanically, and write simulation code to model them.

You will present at international conferences, including the annual meeting of the Society of Engineering Science and the Functionality through Nonlinearity conference. Imperial’s Early Career Researcher Institute provides training in research and career skills.

Supervisors: 

Dr Tian Chen

Duration:

3.5 years

Funding:

Full coverage of tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of £23,805 for Home, EU and International students. Find out more about fee status on our Fees and Funding webpages.

Eligibility: 

Due to the competitive nature of our studentships, candidates will be expected to achieve/have achieved a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree (or international equivalent) in: Aeronautics, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering or physical science subject.

How to apply

Submit your application via our Apply webpages - you will need to upload the following:

• CV
• personal statement
• transcripts
• contact details for two references

When applying, you will need to complete the following fields:

• Search course/Programme: Aeronautics Research (PhD)
• Research Group: Aero
• Research Topic: Please use reference number AE0088
• Research Supervisor: Dr Tian Chen
• Entry term: Autumn 2027/8 or Spring 2027/8 

You can find out more general guidance on how to apply on our Admissions webpages.

Applying to two projects

You can apply for a maximum of two PhD projects in any academic year – this includes PhD projects in other departments at Imperial and the Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Aviation (DPSA) within our Brahmal Vasudevan Institute for Sustainable Aviation.

If you are submitting two applications for different PhD Studentships in the same academic year, you will need to select different entry terms – one application must be for the entry term Autumn 2027/8 and one application must be for the entry term Spring 2027/8. If you are successful in receiving an offer, we can amend the entry term of the relevant PhD Studentship.

References

You will need to provide the contact details of two referees – we will then contact them directly to request the references after you have submitted your application. Find out more about the importance of references and how to check the status of your references on our application references webpage.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your referees respond to any reference requests. To ensure we do not delay the admissions process for our applicants, any incomplete applications without references by 23.59 on 5 February 2027 (UK time) will be rejected. 

Contact

For more information about this specific PhD project, please contact: Dr Tian Chen

For questions about the application process, please first read our Frequently Asked Questions. If your question has not been answered, please email the PhD Administrator (Admissions)

Frequently Asked Questions

 You can find answers to common application questions on our Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Imperial is committed to equality and valuing diversity. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident Employer and are working in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.