Personal statement
My research focusses on design and manufacture using advanced metals and alloys. I apply fundamental materials science and engineering to help broaden our understanding of how these materials behave during various manufacturing stages and in service as structural components.
The deformation behaviour and environmental resistance of engineering alloys are my particular scientific interests, and my research focusses on studying and improving these properties. This requires an understanding across all length scales - from atoms to components. For this reason, sophisticated materials characterisation techniques and computer simulations of materials are the staple methods in my research.
Short Bio:
I am a Lecturer in the Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management (DMEM), appointed in 2018 under the Strathclyde Chancellor’s Fellowship scheme.
My previous post was as a research fellow in the Department of Materials at Imperial College London. The post was jointly funded by Rolls-Royce plc and the college. During this fellowship, I studied the high-temperature deformation of new cobalt-based superalloys, which can help improve the efficiency of aero engines and gas turbines. Prior to this, I worked as a post-doctoral research associate at the same university, working on a variety of alloys used in aerospace, biomedical, defence and nuclear applications.
I received my PhD degree from the University of Cambridge at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy. The research topic of my dissertation was the development and experimental verification of a computer model for high-temperature deformation of nickel-based superalloys used to make turbine blades in jet engines. My undergraduate MEng degree is from the Department of Materials at Imperial College London.
Professional activities
- Characterising compositional and microstructural effects on precipitation hardening in nickel and cobalt base superalloys
- Speaker
- 21/9/2022
- EPSRC Peer Review College (External organisation)
- Member
- 2022
- Materials & Design (Journal)
- Peer reviewer
- 16/10/2018
- Journal of Applied Physics (Journal)
- Peer reviewer
- 16/10/2018
- Journal of Alloys and Compounds (Journal)
- Peer reviewer
- 10/8/2018
- Journal of Crystal Growth (Journal)
- Peer reviewer
- 18/7/2018
More professional activities
Projects
- Doctoral Training Partnership 2020-2021 University of Strathclyde | Dogan, Gulsum
- Vorontsov, Vassili (Principal Investigator) Evans, Dorothy (Co-investigator) Rahimi, Salaheddin (Co-investigator) Dogan, Gulsum (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 01-Jan-2025
- Doing More With Less: A Digital Twin for state-of-the-art and emerging high value manufacturing routes of high integrity titanium alloy components
- Wynne, Bradley (Principal Investigator) Rahimi, Salaheddin (Co-investigator) Vorontsov, Vassili (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2020 - 31-Jan-2024
- Improved metallurgical manufacture via multiaxial testing of microstructures
- Vorontsov, Vassili (Principal Investigator)
- Next-generation metallurgical manufacturing requires a new level of understanding of how metals and alloys deform under multi-directional loading. The project will address this critical knowledge gap by developing a miniature bi-axial mechanical testing apparatus for in-situ studies inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Deformation of materials is often modelled on their uniaxial test characteristics. However, many modern metal-forming processes subject alloys to very complex loading regimes. The limited practical understanding of plastic deformation under multi-axial loading can place constraints on the geometry of the manufactured components. Bi-axial testing provides valuable insight about the intricate deformation mechanics of these processes. The constructed miniature load-frame will be used to investigate microstructure-level deformation of selected high-performance structural alloys in order to characterise component-scale deformation. Digital image correlation and crystal orientation mapping (electron back-scatter diffraction, EBSD) will be used to measure the degree to which deformation is localised at the different microstructural features of the alloys. The studies will identify distinctions between uniaxial and bi-axial deformation behaviour in modern microstructurally complex alloys produced via conventional and additive manufacturing techniques. The results will be used to develop new theories for the deformation of different types of alloy microstructures. These improved models will enable the development and optimisation of novel resource-efficient metal-forming and additive manufacturing processes that produce lighter components with superior structural integrity.
- 01-Jan-2019 - 30-Jan-2023
- Industrial Case Account - University of Strathclyde 2019 | Catterson, John Conor
- Vorontsov, Vassili (Principal Investigator) Rahimi, Salaheddin (Co-investigator) Catterson, John Conor (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2019 - 01-Jan-2024
- Industrial Case Account - University of Strathclyde 2019 / S190404-102
- Vorontsov, Vassili (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2019 - 30-Jan-2024
- Miniaturised experimental simulation of ingot-to-billet conversion
- Vorontsov, Vassili (Principal Investigator)
- Ingot-to-billet conversion processing, or "cogging", is an important production step in high-value metallurgical manufacturing. It is necessary to homogenise and refine the microstructure of high-performance alloys before they proceed to subsequent processing stages, such as hot-forging. Despite its importance, the process is still not very well understood for many modern advanced alloys and few published studies exist. The limited knowledge of the deformation and microstructure evolution leads to difficulties in achieving the desired accuracy of microstructure control. Given significant costs of large multi-tonne workpiece ingots and the difficulties with their non-destructive evaluation, it is crucial to develop a laboratory-scale evaluation for the cogging process so that scrapping and re-processing can be avoided.
Over the course of the project the student will develop automated apparatus to cost-effectively simulate cogging on a laboratory scale, whereby test specimens will be rotated in synchronous alternation with compressive deformation at elevated temperatures. A commercial high-temperature superalloy will be used for the study to help gain an improved understanding of plastic deformation during cogging and optimise the processing conditions. The student will use digital image correlation and crystal orientation mapping (electron back-scatter diffraction, EBSD) to measure how deformation is localised within the different microstructural features of the alloys. - 01-Jan-2019 - 30-Jan-2022
More projects
Address
Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management
James Weir
James Weir
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