Developing methodologies for correlative microstructural characterisation of materials degradation

这项与EDF Energy核能发电有限公司共同资助的项目将专注于开发新的方法，将材料降解的微观结构特征与导致它们的工程应力、应变和环境条件联系起来。该项目的长期目标是开发一种广泛适用于表征材料退化(包括蠕变、疲劳和应力腐蚀开裂)的微观特征的方法。重要的是要了解退役和测试样品中的损伤位置如何与材料的微观结构和操作条件相关联。重点将放在利用机器学习工具开发图像处理技术，以结合多种大规模绘图技术，将退化与潜在的微观结构和应力相关联，并与工程模型预测进行比较。它还将研究存储材料分析数据以供未来使用的最佳方式，包括元数据和数据层次结构。最终目标是设计一种方法来最好地获取、存储和分析显微镜数据，这种方法可以被未来的研究人员通过数字仓库复制和使用。该项目的基础是布里斯托尔大学物理学院的界面分析中心，并将与格洛斯特郡巴恩伍德的机械工程学院和EDF Energy核能发电有限公司密切联系。学生将有机会接触到各种最先进的表面和材料分析仪器，提供发展先进材料表征技术技能的机会，包括电子背散射衍射(EBSD)和聚焦离子束横截面，以及领先的材料建模方法和图像分析工具。该项目属于EPSRC的材料、核和聚变研究主题。

This studentship, co-funded with EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd, will focus on the development of new methodologies to correlate the microstructural features of materials degradation with the engineering stress, strain and environmental conditions that caused them. The long-term ambition of the project is to develop a methodology applicable broadly for characterising microscopy of materials degradation including creep, fatigue and stress corrosion cracking. It is important to understand how the location of damage in ex-service and test specimens correlates with both the microstructure of the material and the operational conditions. Emphasis will be placed on developing image processing techniques using machine learning tools to combine multiple large-scale mapping techniques, correlate degradation with the underlying microstructure and stresses, and compare to engineering model predictions. It will also investigate optimal ways to storing data from materials analysis for future use, including metadata and data hierarchy. The ultimate goal will be to design a methodology to best obtain, store and analyse microscopy data in a way that can be replicated and used by future researchers through digital repositories.The project is based in the Interface Analysis Centre within the School of Physics at the University of Bristol and will be closely connected with the School of Mechanical Engineering and EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd at Barnwood, Gloucestershire. The student will have access to a wide range of state-of-the-art surface and materials analysis instrumentation providing the opportunity to develop skills in advanced materials characterisation techniques including electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and focused ion beam cross-sectioning, as well as leading materials modelling methods and image analysis tools. This project falls within the EPSRC Research themes of Materials, Nuclear and Fusion.