Thermo-mechanical performance of stainless steel members and connections in transmission towers

The UK’s national electricity network is dependent on aging transmission towers, which face increasing risk of progressive collapse from severe climate hazards like wildfires and extreme windstorms, posing a threat to energy security.

This 3.5-year PhD project offers a vital, cost-effective solution: strengthening these towers through targeted retrofitting using high-performance stainless steel. This material exhibits significantly superior thermo-mechanical performance, retaining critical strength and ductility better than standard carbon steel under elevated temperatures.

The research will focus on the most vulnerable retrofit components: cruciform sections and critical bolted connections, including mitigation of galvanic corrosion with existing tower members.

The methodology is highly innovative and interdisciplinary, combining small- and large-scale experimental testing with high-fidelity Finite Element Analysis (FEA). A core novelty is the application of computational intelligence, specifically Physics-Informed Machine Learning (PIML), to develop rapid surrogate models. These tools will instantly predict structural performance and quantify uncertainty across numerous design scenarios, drastically speeding up design optimization.

The project will deliver robust, material-efficient partial retrofitting strategies and clear design recommendations, directly informing future structural codes and industry practice for climate-resilient critical infrastructure. The student will develop an advanced skillset in experimental, computational, and AI-driven structural engineering.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme.

Open to any UK or international candidates. Up to 30% of our UKRI funded studentships can be awarded to candidates paying international rate fees. Find out more about eligibility.