Ethan Edmunds

I completed my bachelor’s in aerospace engineering, specialising in aeromechanics, at the University of Sheffield in 2024. During my undergraduate degree, I had the opportunity to contribute to the design and analysis of rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles through student-led projects. Additionally, I attended technical training at the European Space Agency, focusing on spacecraft operation, and completed several placements at AtkinsRéalis, where I worked within their Nuclear and Power division.

For my final year project, I explored the application of machine learning in microstructural characterisation, proposing the use of deep learning models to classify microstructural defects and comparing their performance to traditional supervised machine learning models. This project sparked my interest in using computational mechanics and artificial intelligence to study metallurgical systems.

Nuclear fusion reactors create extreme environments, exposing components to high temperatures, intense magnetic fields, and severe radiation damage. This project focuses on the durability of plasma-facing components, which are subject to intense bombardment by high-energy neutrons that alter their atomic structure and material properties over time. Using the crystal plasticity finite-element method (CPFEM), this research aims to simulate and predict the behaviour of materials under these harsh conditions. During the project, classical molecular dynamics simulations will be employed to study the behaviour of dislocation defects in the presence of abundant point defects. The insights gained from the molecular dynamic simulations will contribute to the development of more accurate crystal plasticity models, ultimately advancing the understanding of how materials perform and degrade over long periods of time in fusion environments.

This PhD project is being funded by the Centre for Doctoral Training in Fusion Power and the University of Sheffield.

Supervisors

• Prof Christopher Race
• Prof Hector Basoalto