New PhD projects kicked off at TPRC
Following the successful completion of their PhDs by four (former) TPRC researchers last year, we are excited to introduce a new generation of researchers addressing relevant challenges in the thermoplastic composites research industry.
Over the next four years, PhD researchers Rachel Nguyen, Paul Ceralde, and Daniel Ladomerszki will be focusing on completely different topics. By developing a deep understanding of the processes they focus on, their research efforts aim to make thermoplastic composite components more accessible and cost-effective for large-scale applications.
To properly introduce you to them, here’s an overview of what these fresh new enthusiastic PhD researchers will work on.
Daniel: Prediction of wrinkling in press forming thermoplastic composites
Daniel’s research is about predicting wrinkles occurring during press forming. Better prediction of wrinkling would allow the industry to improve the utilization of the beneficial press forming process, for example for highly loaded, structural parts. The complexity of the problem requires continuous improvement on the constitutive models used in the simulation tools and experimental methods required for material card generation. In the end, the improved models will allow better prediction of small in-plane wrinkles, shortening development time of components, better characterization of materials and improved design guidelines. This research is part of the Dutch research program Luchtvaart in Transitie (LiT), in the field of process modeling for thermoplastic composites.
Paul: Characterizing flow behavior of recycled thermoplastic composites
Paul focuses on how to characterize flow behavior of recycled thermoplastics, i.e., how the material deforms and behaves during processes like compression molding. Paul’s research aims to reduce randomness in material response and design rheological experiments to analyze the flow behavior of discontinuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics. A successful outcome would be to use the results of these experiments as input for a model that would predict the flow and final internal structure of the material. Paul’s project is part of the European initiative project FibReLoop, funded by MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions).
Rachel: High-temperature applications of continuous fiber-reinforced TPCs
Rachel’s PhD research is about the use of thermoplastic composites at elevated temperatures. A wider range of applications opens up when these materials can be used very near or above their glass-transition temperature (Tg) for periods ranging from hours to years. This research is part of the ELEVATE project: Exposure of thermopLastic compositEs to eleVAted TEmperatures. Ultimately, the developed knowledge will contribute to design guidelines for high-temperature applications of TPCs, further increasing their use in the aerospace sector.
Other than these three researchers, Maria Puga, who was recently interviewed for TPRC's #TPRCminds series, also started this year - and other research projects are currently being developed.
