Novel hybrid composites for extreme loads (AE0077)

Start Date: Between 1 August 2026 and 1 July 2027

Introduction: Carbon fibre composites are widely employed in aviation, automotive, and energy applications owing to their exceptional stiffness and strength-to-weight ratios, making them central to the development of a more sustainable industry. However, under extreme environments and loading conditions (high strain-rate, temperature), these materials tend to fail in a catastrophic and brittle manner, posing significant safety concerns. 

Hybridisation has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate this limitation, enhancing the properties of composites in a synergistic manner — for example by introducing pseudo-ductility, improving damage tolerance and improving energy absorption. This project aims to investigate novel fibre hybrid configurations to improve mechanical performance in composite structures under extreme loads. Emphasis will be placed on the design of hybrid configurations capable of promoting controlled and progressive failure modes, thereby enhancing structural robustness and energy absorption capacity across various loading rates. The successful candidate will also prepare journal publications and present their findings at major international conferences.

This project is ideal for students interested in advanced composite materials, structural/solid mechanics, sustainable structures, and material modelling. It provides a balanced combination of experimental work, rig development, and computational modelling, and will equip the student with a unique skill set highly relevant to both academic research and industrial careers such as composite manufacturing, high‑rate testing, instrumentation, and predictive modelling.

Supervisors: Dr Gustavo Quino

Duration: 3.5 years.

Funding: Full coverage of tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU and International students. 

Eligibility: Due to the competitive nature of these studentships, candidates will be expected to achieve/have achieved a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree (or international equivalent) in: Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Materials or Physics

We would also like to see experience in: Mechanical experimentation, FEA stress analysis, manufacturing, hands-on oriented, digital image correlation, Abaqus, scripting

How to apply:

• Stage 1: Submit your 2-page curriculum vitae (CV), transcripts and a 300-word statement explaining your motivation for applying to this PhD Studentship to: Supervisor Review Form. Our supervisors will perform a comprehensive review to long-list candidates. You do not need to contact the supervisors directly to confirm you have submitted the application.
  
  Deadline: 8 January 2026
• Stage 2: Supervisors will email further instructions and an application link to long-listed candidates, inviting them to make a formal application to the PhD Studentship.

Contact: For questions about the project: Dr Gustavo Quino: g.quino-quispe@imperial.ac.uk 

For queries regarding the application process, email Lisa Kelly, PhD Administrator: l.kelly@imperial.ac.uk

Frequently Asked Questions: You can also find answers to common 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.