PhD in Engineering (Aeronautics Or Mechanical Engineering)

Hydrogen fuel offers a clean and efficient alternative to conventional fossil fuels and is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the transition toward a net-zero energy future. Despite its enormous potential as a clean aviation fuel, hydrogen has not yet become a practical option for powering aircraft due to several major technological and safety challenges. The foremost issue lies in storage, hydrogen’s low volumetric energy density requires it to be stored either as a compressed gas at extremely high pressures or as a cryogenic liquid at very low temperatures (−253 °C). Both approaches demand lightweight yet robust composite tanks that can safely withstand cyclic loading, impact, and fatigue over long service lives. In addition, hydrogen embrittlement, leakage, and long-term material degradation raise critical reliability concerns for flight certification. You will develop a strong expertise in computational mechanics, structural health monitoring and machine learning with a particular focus on fundamental aspects that can have far-reaching impacts in diverse fields.