EPSRC FIBE3 CDT Studentship with National Highways: Rapid, low risk, adoption of lower carbon concrete

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded

Stipend

Job summary

The University of Cambridge invites applications for a four-year funded CDT studentship in the Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (FIBE3) CDT, Unlocking Net Zero.

The project investigates lower-carbon concrete binders using SCMs and filler materials, combining experiments with multi-physics modelling.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, sciences or relevant discipline.
• High 2.1 degree is expected; first-class strongly preferred.
• Master's degree level is preferred for this four-year CDT studentship.
• Experience with concrete materials is desirable for project success.

Responsibilities

• Conduct experimental investigations and multi-physics modelling of low-carbon concretes.
• Collaborate with the FIBE3 CDT team and National Highways to derisk binder alternatives.
• Analyse performance against design standards and contribute to service-life modelling.

Skills

Concrete materials

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or sciences

High 2.1 degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

This is a four-year (1+3 MRes/PhD) studentship funded through the Cambridge EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Unlocking Net Zero (FIBE3 CDT). Further details can be found at https://www.net-zero-fibe-cdt.eng.cam.ac.uk/The project is funded in collaboration with National Highways. National Highways is the UK government company which plans, designs, builds, operates and maintains England's motorways and major A-roads.Concrete has traditionally used Portland cement as the primary binder material but the high embodied carbon penalty associated with high proportions of Portland cement is no longer tenable in a climate emergency. The construction industry is responding by actively replacing cement with other constituents with lower carbon footprints. The challenge is to rapidly adopt promising binder alternatives while ensuring that mix compositions with a relatively short performance track record will successfully meet the demands of infrastructure over 50-100 years.This project seeks to derisk the adoption of newer lower carbon concretes. Binders with higher levels of cement replacement through supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and/or filler materials will be scrutinised in the context of concrete material properties e.g. microstructure, and performance measures e.g. durability. A combination of digitally enhanced experimental work and multi-physics modelling will help establish performance comparisons for compositions with SCM replacement to thereby identify and validate appropriate limits on proportion and composition thresholds. The project objectives include: to quantify the alignment of lower carbon concrete combinations against current design standards; to identify promising multi-component binder concretes that sit within, or outside, design standards e.g. through combinations of limestone, calcined clay, fly ash and GGBS replacement, but for which testing compliance is needed to address knowledge gaps to provide confidence in future performance; to undertake comprehensive experimentation and theoretical investigations to support service-life modelling.The project outcomes will give greater confidence in the fundamental behaviour of lower carbon concrete mixes to accelerate uptake in UK infrastructure to help meet net zero aspirations.For project-specific enquiries please e-mail Professor Janet Lees: [e-mail]. For general enquiries, please email [e-mail] should have (or expect to obtain by the start date) at least a high 2.1 degree and preferably a 1st class degree. The degree should be in engineering, sciences or a relevant discipline, and will preferably be at a Master's level. Previous expertise in concrete materials is desirable.Fully-funded studentships (fees and maintenance) are only available for eligible home students in the first instance. A limited number of international students can be considered for funding at a later stage in the recruitment process. Further details about eligibility and funding can be found at: https://www.ukri.org/councils/esrc/career-and-skills-development/funding-for-postgraduate-training/eligibility-for-studentship-funding/ https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/fees https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships/Applications should be made online via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egegpdfib stating project title and supervisor's name. Please note there is a £20 application fee. Early applications are strongly encouraged as an offer may be made before the stated deadline.The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.