PhD Study : Fire Dynamics, Material Flammability, Computer Modelling of Fire Phenomena

Apply and key information  

Summary

Fire dynamics and material flammability are important research areas within the fire safety engineering (FSE) in identifying and understanding the mechanisms related to the degradation, ignition and burning of materials and subsequent the fire spread and development with the ultimate goal to improve fire safety (people and structure) in buildings and other spaces.  Fire dynamics and material flammability are closely related as studying the degradation and flammability of a material allows the evaluation of its fire performance, whereas understanding the fire dynamics of that material can contribute to the fine tuning of the material properties to make it more fire safe/resistant.

Research on fire dynamics and material flammability can be based on experimental testing, numerical analysis of heat transfer, and/or numerical modelling with advanced computer models, which allows the investigation of ignition, burning, fire development and smoke movement with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and thermal responses and behaviour of structural elements under fire conditions using finite element analysis (FEA).

The successful candidate will work in a multi-disciplinary research team on areas related to material flammability, thermal degradation and burning behaviours of materials used in modern building, construction and aviation industries, fire dynamics and smoke movement in compartment and facade fires. For experimental testing, the student will avail of the-state-of-the-art experimental facility at the FireSERT centre, which consists of a suite of high-precision thermal analytical instruments for detailed measurements of thermal degradation of milligram samples, meso-scale testing of material flammability and fire behaviour using the standard apparatus including cone calorimeter,tube furnace, rheometer and customised experimental rigs for enclosure and façade fires.

The research environment also includes wet chemistry provisions for syntheses of flame-retardant polymers and a range of spectroscopic techniques for characterisation of novel formulations and materials. The FireSERT laboratory is also equipped with single burning item (SBI), an indicative furnace (1.5m x 1.5m x 1.5m) and a full-scale ISO standard furnace, which will allow large-scale compartment and façade fire tests as well as evaluation of fire performance of structure elements.

In terms of numerical modelling, the student will utilise the latest computer software based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and/or finite element analysis (FEA) with the aim to increase current understanding of the important phenomena in fire. These models will be validated against data in the literature, existing experimental data available at FireSERT and/or new data which will be obtained in this project.

The supervisors have all necessary and complementary expertise and have published widely in international journals and conferences in the areas of synthesis and development of novel fire retardants, evaluation of materials properties and burning behaviours of polymer nanocomposites, wood and insulation materials, fire dynamics and compartment and façade fires as well as computer modelling of fire related phenomena. The supervisors also collaborate widely with universities, research institutions and industry, both nationally and internationally. The research will involve a wide range of disciplines including engineering, chemistry, mathematics, and computer engineering.  The diversity of this research theme means that the student will potentially cross these disciplines.

The successful candidate would be expected to have an undergraduate or master degree in Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics or a related discipline.

The student will have the opportunity to collaborate with national and international research groups in various research areas highlighted in the Research Summary through research projects in which the supervisors are involved.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • Clearly defined research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Recommended reading

[1].Asimakopoulou, E.K., Chotzoglou, K.E., Kolaitis, D., Zhang, J., Delichatsios, M.A., Numerical investigation of externally venting flame characteristics in a corridor-façade configuration (2019) Fire Safety Journal, 110.

[2].Chotzoglou, K.E., Asimakopoulou, E.K., Zhang, J., Delichatsios, M.A. An experimental investigation of burning behaviour of liquid pool fire in corridor-like enclosures (2019) Fire Safety Journal, 108.

[3].Ren, F., Hu, L., Zhang, X., Sun, X., Zhang, J., Delichatsios, M. Experimental study of transitional behavior of fully developed under-ventilated compartment fire and associated facade flame height evolution (2019) Combustion and Flame, 208, pp. 235-245

[4].Suzanne, M., Ramani, A., Ukleja, S., McKee, M., Zhang, J., Delichatsios, M.A., Patel, P., Clarke, P., Cusack, P. Fire performance of brominated and halogen-free flame retardants in glass-fiber reinforced poly(butylene terephthalate) (2018) Fire and Materials, 42 (1), pp. 18-27.

[5].Zhang, X., Lin, Y., Shi, C., Zhang, J., Numerical simulation on the maximum temperature and smoke back-layering length in a tilted tunnel under natural ventilation, (2021) Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 107, art. no. 103661.

[6].Tretsiakova-McNally, S., Le Douarin, A., Joseph, P. & Arun, M. Passive fire protection of Taeda Pine wood by using starch-based surface coatings. Polymers,  2021, 13(21), 3841.

[7].Aqlibous, A., Tretsiakova-McNally, S. & Fateh, T. Waterborne intumescent coatings containing industrial and bio-fillers for fire protection of timber materials. Polymers, 2020, 12, 757.

[8].Thomas, A., Joseph, P., Moinuddin, K. A. M., Zhu, H. & Tretsiakova-McNally, S., Thermal and calorimetric evaluations of some chemically modified carbohydrate-based substrates with phosphorus-containing groups. Polymers, 2020, 12 (3), 588.

[9].Thomas, A., Moinuddin, K. A. M., Tretsiakova-McNally, S. & Joseph, P. A Kinetic analysis of the thermal degradation behaviours of some bio-based substrates. Polymers, 2020, 12(8), 1830.

[10].Baby A, Tretsiakova-McNally S, Arun M, Joseph P, Zhang J. Reactive and additive modifications of styrenic polymers with phosphorus-containing compounds and their effects on fire retardance. Molecules, 2020, 25(17), 3779.

[11].Lim, O.K., Choi, S., Kang, S., Kwon, M., Choi, J.Y., Fire performance of headed shear studs in profiled steel sheeting, (2020) 164,.

[12].Kang, S., Kwon, M., Choi, J.Y., Choi, S., Thermal boundaries in cone calorimetry testing, (2019) 9 (10).

[13].Lim, O.K., Choi, S., Kang, S., Kwon, M., Choi, J.Y., Experimental studies on the behaviour of headed shear studs for composite beams in fire, (2019) 32 (6), pp. 743-752.

[14].Kang, S., Choi, J.Y., Choi, S., Mechanism of heat transfer through porous media of inorganic intumescent coating in cone calorimeter testing, (2019) 11 (2).

[15].Kang, S., Choi, S., Choi, J.Y., Coupled thermo-physical behaviour of an inorganic intumescent system in cone calorimeter testing, (2017) 35 (3), pp. 207-234.

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 27 February 2023
04:00PM

Interview Date
20 March 2023

Preferred student start date
18 September 2023

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Dr Jianping Zhang

Other supervisors