Are you fascinated in shaping the future of zero-emission aviation? This PhD investigates how liquid hydrogen (LH₂) moves inside lightweight composite tanks during aircraft manoeuvres and whether this can cause hydrogen to leak. You will combine hands-on experiments with numerical modelling to understand sloshing effects on tank performance and safety. The project offers the opportunity to collaborate closely with TWI Ltd on the permeation analysis of the composites tank walls. It will also provide opportunities to work closely with aircraft manufacturers, fuel tank designers, and regulators, ensuring your research has real-world impact. By generating key cryogenic hydrogen data and sharing findings, your work will help enable safe, certifiable hydrogen-powered aircraft and contribute directly to the UK’s net-zero aviation goals.

This project aims to investigate manoeuvre-induced LH₂ sloshing and hydrogen permeation in composite cryogenic tanks. It combines scaled experiments and computational modelling (CFD, FEA, FSI) to predict permeation, validate multi-physics simulations, and develop design insights for safe, lightweight hydrogen storage in aircraft under realistic flight conditions.

Cranfield’s Centre for Aeronautics, Propulsion and Power is a leading postgraduate hub for aerospace education and research, offering PhD and MSc programmes in aircraft design, propulsion, simulation, and sustainable flight. The centre offers hands-on experience with flight simulators, labs, and industry collaborations addressing real aerospace challenges. The Hydrogen Integration Research Centre (HIRC), part of the Cranfield Hydrogen Integration Incubator (CH2i), provides cutting-edge facilities for hydrogen production, storage, and materials testing, enabling interdisciplinary research on safe, efficient hydrogen systems for aviation. Together, these centres offer unique opportunities to the researchers to develop specialist expertise and contribute to net-zero aviation technologies.

TWI Ltd, a global leader in materials joining and engineering solutions, is advancing technologies for safe, efficient hydrogen storage and use. Through TWI’s long standing National Structural Integrity Research Centre, TWI will host the research student for a significant period at their world leading facilities to gain hands-on experience with advanced testing and analysis techniques for composite materials

You will have the following opportunities,

  • Specialised interdisciplinary training on aircraft loading actions and cryogenics.
  • On board flight training from Cranfield’s National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) to understand the aircraft motions and to collect and process the real time flight data.
  • Complementary skills in risk assessment (HAZOP), aviation safety regulations, and responsible research practices.
  • Engagement with industrial partners and workshops to understand practical challenges in hydrogen certification and sustainable aviation.
  • Support may be available for national or international conference and workshop travel, providing opportunities to present research findings and engage with leading experts in the field.
  • Access to Cranfield’s development workshops such as Doctoral Researchers Core Development Programme

At a glance

  • Application deadline10 Jun 2026
  • Award type(s)PhD
  • Start date28 Sep 2026
  • Duration of award3.5 years (full-time)
  • EligibilityUK, Rest of world
  • Reference numberCRAN-0071

Supervisor

1st Supervisor: Dr Ammasai Sengodan Ganapathi

2nd Supervisor: Prof Martin Skote

Industry Supervisor: Alex Skordos (TWI Ltd)

Entry requirements

Applicant should possess a first-class or upper second-class UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Aerospace/Mechanical or related engineering field.

Experience in coding, numerical analysis (CFD/FEA/FSI) and background in composite structures is advantageous.

A strong passion for designing and conducting high-quality laboratory-scale experiments is highly desirable.

Funding

Sponsored by EPSRC, TWI Ltd and Cranfield University, this studentship will provide a bursary of up to £23,000 (tax free) plus fees* for three and a half years with an enhanced stipend to attract outstanding candidates.

This studentship is open to both Home and Overseas fee status students, however we are only permitted to offer a limited number of studentships to students with Overseas fee status. Eligibility for Home fee status is determined with reference to UK Department for Education rules. As a guiding principle UK or Irish nationals who are ordinarily resident in either the UK or Republic of Ireland pay Home tuition fees. All other students (including those from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) pay Overseas fees. Further advice can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.

Diversity and Inclusion at Cranfield

We are committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in our CDT program, and warmly encourage applications from students of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups. We particularly welcome students with disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, and those who identify with diverse ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses. Cranfield strives to provide an accessible and inclusive environment to enable all doctoral candidates to thrive and achieve their full potential.

At Cranfield, we value our diverse staff and student community and maintain a culture where everyone can work and study together harmoniously with dignity and respect. This is reflected in our University values of ambition, impact, respect and community. We welcome students and staff from all backgrounds from over 100 countries and support our staff and students to realise their full potential, from academic achievement to mental and physical wellbeing.

We are committed to progressing the diversity and inclusion agenda, for example; gender diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through our Athena SWAN Bronze award and action plan, we are members of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and Working Families, and sponsors of International Women in Engineering Day. We are also Disability Confident Level 1 Employers and members of the Business Disability Forum and Stonewall University Champions Programme. 

Cranfield Doctoral Network

Research students at Cranfield benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the Cranfield Doctoral Network. This network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas and collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge. A tailored programme of seminars and events, alongside our Doctoral Researchers Core Development programme (transferable skills training), provide those studying a research degree with a wealth of social and networking opportunities.

How to apply

For further information please contact:

Name: Dr Ammasai Sengodan Ganapathi

Email: g.ammasaisengodan@cranfield.ac.uk 

If you are eligible to apply for this studentship, please complete the online application form.

Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received. Therefore, we encourage early submission, as the position may be filled before the stated deadline.