Long-term durability of polymeric composites in offshore wind energy applications: An integrated experimental and numerical study

Project Description:

This PhD scholarship is offered by the EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience; a partnership between the Universities of Durham, Hull, Loughborough and Sheffield.  The successful applicant will undertake six-month of training with the rest of the CDT cohort at the University of Hull before continuing their PhD research at Durham University. The project is part of the Research Cluster “Next Generation Manufacturing for Wind Turbine Blades”, which brings together projects in Hull, Sheffield and Durham Universities to look at the entire wind turbine blade lifecycle.

Ensuring the long-term durability of fibre-reinforced polymer composites (FRPCs) under harsh offshore conditions is a critical challenge for the renewable energy sector, particularly for offshore wind turbine components. Exposure to combined mechanical, thermal, and moisture loads can lead to progressive degradation, reducing structural performance and service life. Current understanding of these coupled effects is limited, making it difficult to predict damage evolution and optimise composite design for reliability and sustainability. 

This PhD project aims to develop an integrated experimental and finite element-based computational framework to assess the long-term structural performance of FRPCs. Using multi-scale and multi-physics finite element modelling, you will simulate the micro- and meso-scale behaviour of composites under coupled hygrothermal and mechanical loads, while accelerated ageing experiments will characterise the evolution of mechanical properties over time. The resulting experimental data will inform and validate computational models, enabling the prediction of degradation and failure mechanisms under realistic service conditions. The project will also explore the impact of static and low-velocity impact loads on aged and unaged composites. 

Working within the Computational Mechanics Research Node at the Department of Engineering, Durham University, you will collaborate closely with other PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. The project combines advanced finite element modelling with hands-on experimental techniques, providing a unique opportunity to develop expertise across computational mechanics, composite materials, and experimental characterisation. The outcomes of this research will support the design of more durable, reliable, and efficient composite structures, helping to extend service life, reduce maintenance costs, and strengthen the UK’s position in offshore wind energy technology. You will contribute to high-impact research with direct industrial relevance, preparing you for careers in composite design, structural integrity assessment, and advanced materials R&D in the energy and engineering sectors. 

Training and development

You will benefit from a taught programme, giving you a broad understanding of the breadth and depth of current and emerging offshore wind sector needs. This begins with an intensive six-month programme at the University of Hull for the new student intake, drawing on the expertise and facilities of all four academic partners. It is supplemented by Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which is embedded throughout your 4-year research scholarship.

Depending on your background, tailored training will be provided in composite mechanics, finite element modelling, and experimental techniques. 

Entry requirements

If you have received a First-class Honours degree, or a 2:1 Honours degree and a Masters, or a Distinction at Masters level with any undergraduate degree (or the international equivalents) in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics and Statistics, we would like to hear from you.

If your first language is not English, or you require Tier 4 student visa to study, you will be required to provide evidence of your English language proficiency level that meets the requirements of the Aura CDT’s academic partners. This course requires academic IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each skill.

If you have any queries about this project, please contact Dr Zahur Ullah, zahur.ullah@durham.ac.uk 

You may also address queries about the CDT to auracdt@hull.ac.uk.

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Funding

The Offshore Wind CDT is funded by the EPSRC, allowing us to provide scholarships that cover fees plus a stipend set at the UKRI nationally agreed rates. These are currently £20,780 per annum at 2025/26 rates and will increase in line with the EPSRC guidelines for the subsequent years (subject to progress).

Eligibility

Research Council funding for postgraduate research has residence requirements. Our CDT scholarships are available to Home (UK) Students. To be considered a Home student, and therefore eligible for a full award, a student must have no restrictions on how long they can stay in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the scholarship (with some further constraint regarding residence for education). For full eligibility information, please refer to the EPSRC website.

We also allocate a number of scholarships for International Students per cohort.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The CDT is committed to generating a diverse and inclusive training programme and is looking to attract applicants from all backgrounds. We offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for home fee status candidates who identify as Black or Black mixed or Asian or Asian mixed if they meet the programme entry requirements. This positive action is to support recruitment of these under-represented ethnic groups to our programme and is an opt in process.

Find out more

How to apply

Applications for this project will open in Autumn 2025 for September 2026 entry.

Interviews will be held online with an interview panel comprising of project supervisory team members from the host university where the project is based.  Where the project involves external supervisors from university partners or industry sponsors then representatives from these partners may form part of the interview panel and your supplementary application form will be shared with them (with the guaranteed interview scheme section removed).

If you have any queries about this project, please contact Dr Zahur Ullah, zahur.ullah@durham.ac.uk 

You may also address queries about the CDT to auracdt@hull.ac.uk.

References & further reading

Ullah, Z., Grammatikos, S. A., Evernden, M. C., & Pearce, C. J. (2017). Multi-scale computational homogenisation to predict the long-term durability of composite structures. Computers & Structures, 181, 21-31.

Ullah, Z., Kaczmarczyk, L., & Pearce, C. J. (2017). Three-dimensional nonlinear micro/meso-mechanical response of the fibre-reinforced polymer composites. Composite Structures, 161, 204-214.