Project summary

Program

PhD

Location

St Lucia

Research area

Engineering

Project description

Flexible Chain-die forming is a novel UQ patented advanced sheet metal forming technology which aims at manufacturing stronger, lighter and cheaper advanced high strength steel (AHSS) parts with improved quality and substantially lower energy consumption for many industries such automotive and clean energy systems.

The purpose of this research is to design, manufacture and optimize the advanced forming approach and the corresponding control system through analytical, numerical and experimental approaches. Flexible Chain-die forming is a highly non-linear complex deformation mechanism, where the deformation history of the sheet metal can be carefully designed due to the constraints provided by the tooling. These will result in significantly lowered longitudinal strain development, leading to a range of new products, lower cost of manufacturing by using fewer forming stands and smaller footprint.

The research will involve the development of an elasto-plastic finite element simulation model, analytical design of the transitional surface, the development of the control system, and experimental work to validate the performance of the designed system.

The PhD will focus on the design and validation of the control system.

Research environment

The advanced forming and railway mechanics groups at the University of Queensland are highly vibrant research clusters that typically work on both theoretical and practical aspects of mechanics phenomena with close industry interaction if needed. The group boasts both high impact in very high quality journals as well as industry impact in solving real problems.

Scholarship

This is an Fellowship support scheme scholarship project that aligns with a recently awarded Australian Government grant.

The scholarship includes:

living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually

your tuition fees covered

Supervisor

Principal supervisor

Professor Paul Meehan

School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

previous academic record

publication record

honours and awards

employment history.

A working knowledge of applied mechanics, finite element modelling, materials and/or control systems would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field(s) of applied mechanics including statics and dynamics and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of sheet metal manufacturing, contact mechanics, mathematical modelling, finite element modelling, metallurgical analysis and/or control theory is highly desirable.

How to apply

This project requires candidates to commence no later than Research Quarter 4, 2025. To allow time for your application to be processed, we recommend applying no later than 30 June, 2025 .

You can start in an earlier research quarter.

Applicants be domestic ie Australian citizens and should apply online through the link:

https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/control-advanced-flexible-chain-die-forming-process