(Matt Bees is an EngD researcher with the Institute of Structural Materials (ISM) at Swansea University, and has been based at Rolls-Royce plc in Derby since October 2011, working with the Critical Parts & Lifing (CPL) group on a project entitled “The Effect of Loading Proportionality on Fatigue Life.”)
I am now in the final months of my EngD programme (almost wondering where all the time has gone!), and in my time at Rolls-Royce plc, I have learnt many techniques and skills that have helped me become a better engineer and manage my own project.
My research
I am assessing the multi-axial fatigue and loading response of turbine discs for the current civil Trent engine fleet. My project has involved a lot of literature research (both public and Rolls-Royce domain), computational modelling, finite element (FE) analysis, multi-axial (tension-torsion) testing of small tubular specimens at Swansea University, and documentation for internal reports.
Most of my first year was spent conducting research and carrying out the necessary analysis of turbine discs in order to build a solid foundation for the remainder of my EngD programme. Frequent meetings with my industrial supervisor were key to my development and understanding, especially in the opening months – as my undergraduate degree was motorsport engineering. Socialising with other EngD students and learning from their past experiences was also invaluable.
As I unearthed more facts and issues regarding to multi-axial fatigue, I was fortunate to work with people from the Mechanical Methods team, helping to run some tension-torsion tests on a nickel super-alloy, were I took charge of analysing the data. This yielded some interesting results and my supervisors encouraged me to attend and present at the 10th International Conference on Multi-axial Fatigue & Fracture, in Kyoto in June 2013.
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The conference gave me the opportunity
to visit Kyoto and Tokyo. |
Following this conference, my paper was chosen for a special edition of the
International Journal of Fatigue published in October 2014. This was a great boost for my thesis, while the conference experience boosted my confidence in delivering technical presentations in Rolls Royce.
In my third and fourth years, my EngD has focussed on computational modelling, laboratory testing and documenting various reports for both academic and industrial purposes. This is when the importance of the project really hit me: my fatigue model research underlined the complexities of multi-axial fatigue and loading, and the resulting impact on fatigue life (explained in the literature but not previously supported by modelling). I am now using current and new methods to change this, whilst being supported by my supervisors and members from the Mechanical Methods group – it’s clearly an important topic for the company!
Mentoring, advising, and inspiring at Rolls Royce
Given my EngD experiences, I felt it was important to share these with other students. I now have monthly mentor meetings with a third year EngD student from Cambridge University, helping him see the 'bigger EngD picture' and make the most of his time and expertise to complete his project. I would recommend more students do likewise for the next intake of students.
Since August 2014, I have been part of the EngD Network team at Rolls-Royce. This provides a platform for communication and collaboration between EngD students across the company's nuclear and aerospace sectors. It also helps raise the profile of the EngD qualification within Rolls-Royce and the wider engineering community, and organises events to allow wider dissemination of EngD research.
We held our first EngD conference in November 2014, with current and past students presenting their work and findings, and showing its relevance to the company’s technology. The conference was a huge success with over 140 attendees, with talks from Henner Wapenhans, head of technology strategy at Rolls-Royce, and Martine Gagne, head of the Rolls-Royce Strategic Research Centre (SRC), and I presented an overview of my EngD programme to date.
EngD tips
With my EngD finish date approaching, I’m glad I took the advice of other EngD students and started my thesis as soon as I could. I might only be half-way through, but starting early is definitely better than waiting until most of the work is finished with a month or so to go! What else would I tell EngD research engineers?
- Start your literature research early so that you learn about your project. It's never too early to start thinking about your thesis, and a good literature chapter provides a solid foundation for your project.
- Spend as much time within your industrial sponsor’s department as possible; you learn more here as you progress through your EngD
- Embed yourself within the university and workplace; research can be lonely so mix in with other students and employees.
- It's important to relax as much as you can, so you can feel refreshed and energetic over your study period.
- Don’t get off on the wrong foot: build a good relationship with your supervisors - you will be working together for a long time
- Attend / present at a relevant conference. It’s a great experience, potentially boosting your thesis and viva presentation.
- Finally: enjoy your research project - you’ll end up being an expert in your field when you are done!
(Matt Bees' research has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board), Rolls-Royce plc and Swansea University, and he acknowledges the invaluable financial support provided by all parties.)
