Mechanics of Materials (MoM)
Following a number of years under the leadership of Professor Jingzhe Pan, the MoM group is now led by Professor Bo Chen. The group was established by Professor Frederick Leckie in 1968 and currently has 10 academic staff (10 FTE). The group core values are nurturing the next-generation academic leaders and delivering world-class research and impact. Our successes are evidenced by many internationally renowned researchers who came from this group (e.g., Professors Alan Ponter, David Hayhurst and Alan Cocks, to name a few) and left important footprints in improving the safety and reliability of the UK’s nuclear systems.
Our research strength
A unique strength of the MoM group is that it consists of colleagues from both materials science and computational mechanics backgrounds. The group is internationally leading in its research on material processing and material behaviour. Our work is underpinned by computational materials science, micro-mechanics and machine learning. The group has five overlapping signature themes: Metals and Advanced Manufacturing, Digital Twin of Ceramic Processing, Advanced Surface Technologies, Advanced Nuclear Systems, and Structural Integrity.
Outward-facing research culture
A number of different trends in research – team-based research, transdisciplinary approach, the push for greater actionable knowledge – require researchers outside of the traditional lens. The MoM group is a signatory to embracing the Outward-Facing Culture. We have been very successful in cutting across traditional disciplinary boundaries, by working with colleagues from Schools of Chemistry, Computational and Mathematical Science, Geography, Geology and the Environment, and Physics / Space Park Leicester, as well as the Colleges of Life Sciences, Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities within the university, and beyond. Our forward vision is to continue our community building strategy with everyone walking hand in hand to tackle the materials and circularity challenges for the Net Zero.
Infrastructure and facilities
The MoM group hosts the following centres and laboratories:
- Advanced Microscopy Centre (contact: Dr Ben Grew)
- EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Innovative Metal Processing - IMPaCT (contact: Professor Simon Gill)
- Digital TWIN laboratory (contact: Professor Jingzhe Pan)
- Mechanics of Materials Laboratory (contact: Dr Ben Grew)
- High Temperature Creep and Fatigue Laboratory (contact: Professor Bo Chen)
- EPSRC Strategic Equipment – The Hercules (contact: Dr Gareth Douglas)
Solution to industrial problems
We are keen to provide solutions to industrial problems using our computational and experimental expertise. Informal discussion can be made with the Head of Group. The MoM group has considerable experience in working with the industry. Our current industry links include: Alstom; TWI; Doncasters; Purac; Morgan Matroc; Jaguar; Tata Steel; Ilmor; Mercedes Benz High Performance Engines; Delphi Systems; Pankl Motorsport; Teer Coating; GSK; Caterpillar; Siemens (Lincoln); Doosan Babcock; NPL; NG; Qinetiq; FEI; EoN; RSP; Bodycote HIP; Holset; 3M (Atherstone); Perkin-Elmer; Mettler; TA Instruments; Netzsch (Germany); Setram (France); Rolls Royce; Deritend Precision Castings; Centrax; Howmet; Oxley; Federal Mogul; Astra Zeneca; Plansee (Austria); Caleva; Various Police Forces; National Police; Improvement Agency and Frenzak (Poland); University Hospitals of Leicester; Welding Alloys.
PhD applications
We welcome applications from students who wish to study for PhD degrees in any of our research areas. Informal discussion can be made with either the Head of Group or any of the MoM Group members directly. Details of our research activities can be found within the personal web-pages of MoM Group members.