Modelling of aeroengine during transient and emergency operation - PhD

The CDT in Net Zero Aviation is the world’s first Centre of Excellence for Net Zero Aviation Education, Training & Research, delivering impactful industrial and academic partnerships, future-proof skills, innovation, and leadership to achieve Net Zero Aviation by 2050.Predicting the dynamic response of future aero engines with high confidence is essential for

Predicting the dynamic response of future aero engines with high confidence is essential for expanding the design space and exploiting more efficient architectures and operation strategies, paving the way for engines that deliver a 25% efficiency improvement over 2020 entry‑into‑service designs. Achieving this requires physical consistent whole engine dynamic models that capture the interactions between the engine and critical subsystems, such as the secondary air and control subsystems. Additionally, the capability to reliably assess system level responses, reduce reliance on empirical data and new products development time. 

This project aims to develop a novel method for the dynamic modelling of the secondary air system (SAS) of gas turbines that captures changes in thermal and aero mechanical behaviour and accounts for component displacements arising from unlocalised shaft failure events. The new methodology will be integrated into the Whole Engine Simulation Tool (WEST), a Cranfield University tool capable for simulating whole engine operation under fast transient and extreme off design scenarios. Embedding an advanced SAS model within WEST will increase the confidence on its results. Additionally, for enabling the assessment of different engine architectures (e.g. low specific thrust designs, electrical shaft power transfer) and control strategies (e.g. adaptive control) throughout the operating envelope and beyond it, suitable control logic and system modelling capabilities will be integrated into WEST and verified.

This position is part of the CDT in Net Zero Aviation, which offers a modular, cohort-based training programme with emphasis on innovation and impact, collaborative working and learning, continuous development, active engagement with partners and stakeholders and inclusion of student-led activities. You will be part of an annual cohort and will receive training at different universities and industrial partners providing world-class facilities in a supportive, innovative, inclusive and interactive learning environment.

Based at Cranfield University, a global leader in aerospace research, the project benefits from world-class experimental facilities in hydrogen testing and expertise in materials science and hydrogen technologies. The industrial sponsor, Rolls-Royce, is committed to net zero aviation by 2050 and is pioneering hydrogen propulsion systems through their Hydrogen Demonstrator program. This partnership provides a unique industrial environment, ensuring that research outcomes directly align with future aviation applications.

This research is expected to deliver verified tools and guidelines for unlocking highly integrated ultra-efficient engine designs optimized for performance and operation. For example, accurately predicting the operating line excursion during acceleration and deceleration will unlock designs with reduced surge margins, directly improving fuel burn. Integrating a verified dynamic secondary air system (SAS) model will enhance the prediction of blade metal temperature under fast transient events, expanding the design space and delivering significant benefits on specific fuel consumption and engine life. The capability to assess new control strategies and mechanisms (e.g. variable pitch fan & variable guide nozzles) with confidence has the poential to reduce both block fuel and maintenance costs. Overall, this research will support more aggressive small‑core architectures, including those incorporating power transfer or mild electrification, with the potential to achieve engines up to 25% more efficient than 2020 designs. The ability to model and predict engine behaviour at the boundaries of the operating envelope will reduce the number of required test and modification iterations, lowering development cost, time, and risk for new engines.

While working on this exciting research project, you will be provided with:

• A fully funded 4 year full-time PhD - £25,183 tax-free stipend per year.
• Attendance/presentations to international and national conferences with expenses fully covered.
• Cohort and individual modular training covering technical, research, professional and personal development.
• Minimum of 3 months fully funded industrial placement.
• Industrial supervision/mentorship scheme.
• Access to 40 industrial, government & research partners from the wider aviation sector.
• Access to world class research and education facilities.

The student will gain significant insight in numerical methods, performance engineering and engine operation. Given the multidisciplinary nature of the research, the goal is to train a highly skilled researcher who can act as an effective point of contact between diverse specialists, including mechanical engineers, turbomachinery designers, aerodynamicists, control engineers, software engineers, performance analysts, system architects and secondary air system designers. Close collaboration with Rolls‑Royce as the industrial partner will further strengthen the student’s transferable skills, particularly in technical communication, research management and stakeholder engagement. Access to industrial data for model validation will also build valuable capabilities in data handling and data analytics, both of which are increasingly essential in the modern aerospace sector.