Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering – (Ph.D.)

Research is conducted within a vibrant environment which has benefited from major strategic investment via directed SRIF funds of £2.4M into the Cardiff University Structural Performance (CUSP) laboratory and collaborative industrial partnerships.

The focus of our research is on the development of innovative, advanced and environmentally friendly technology, together with its effective and sustainable implementation via suitable hardware, software or management systems to applications within the transport, energy generation and manufacturing industries.

Our close involvement with industry ensures our research has both relevance and meaning. Our focus on applied research enables us to work with some of the world’s most renowned engineering companies. Partners include Airbus, BAe Systems, Bosch, Tata Steel, Daimler, EADS, Fiat, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Messier-Dowty, Mitutoyo, Network Rail TWI, Parametric Technology, Physical Acoustics, Renault, Rolls-Royce, SAP, Siemens, Silicon Graphics, Stile Bertone, The Highways Agency, TRL, Water Development Services and Microchip, and WS Akins.

Our three strategic research areas are: Mechanical, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Aerospace Priority research topics: structural health monitoring, manufacturing and performance of lightweight structures including composites, energy harvesting, performance of transmissions and lightning strike.

Automotive Priority research topics: vehicle/pedestrian safety, low carbon vehicles, energy recovery, life extension and enhancement of transport infrastructure, vehicle dynamics, lightweight structures, and human machine interfaces.

MANUFACTURINGENGINEERING

Sustainablemanufacturing Priority research topics: sustainable technologies, product design and innovation, design for sustainability and sustainable manufacturing, eco-innovation and manufacturing, products and services for sustainable living, sustainable supply chains, condition monitoring for sustainability, improved, effective and sustainable management systems.

Advanced manufacturing technologies Priority research topics: multi-point forming, laser technology, metrology, high-speed machining, rapid manufacturing, CAD/CAM, fit manufacturing, manufacturing strategy, technologies for the factories of the future including digital, virtual, networked and adaptive manufacturing.

Micro/nano manufacturing Priority research topics: precision and micro manufacturing, nano manufacturing, dimensional and surface micro and nano metrology, design and characterisation of materials with microstructure optimised for atom cluster and atomic processing, CAD/CAM tools for layer-based micro and nano patterning, technology maturity assessment.

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Intelligent and knowledge based systems Priority research topics: knowledge engineering, knowledge management, decision support, expert systems, information retrieval, intelligent content, semantic-based systems, AI including data mining, machine learning and fuzzy systems, optimisation, pattern recognition.

Smart systems Priority research topics: embedded intelligence, marine renewable energy system design, predictive models, adaptive systems, adaptive control and condition monitoring, smart sensors, intelligent control, microprocessors, mechatronics, systems integration, converging technologies, robotics, systems of systems.