Prof Nicola Pugno
MSc PhD
Research Funding
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Previous Funded Research Projects
Graphene Flagship Core Project 3 Start: 01-04-2020 / End: 31-03-2023 The 5 projects will be supervised by a team of 8 academics in SEMS and are in "Soft actuators and energy-responsive systems based on 2D materials"; "The design and manufacture of graphene related materials for high strength and super hydrophobic materials"; "Developing crashworthy and thermally conductive graphene related composite materials for electrical car battery assembly"; "Graphene based transparent electrodes for tuneable optical devices" and "Multifunctional composite filaments with integrated sensing and easy repairing capabilities". |
Previous PhD Studentship Projects
Leak Prediction for Elastomeric Seals in Oilfield Packers Start: 22-09-2017 / End: 21-03-2021 Completion packers, or simply packers, are tools that are used for isolating production zones in oilfield completions. They provide annular seals between two metal tubular components and direct production fluids from a reservoir, up a tubing string, and through a wellhead. The most critical component in a packer is its elastomeric sealing element (see graphic). These are radially deployed by mechanical manipulation or hydraulic actuation of the packer. Following large deformations during setting, they are subjected to pressures in excess of 70 MPa and 230°C and must last up to 20 years in harsh downhole environments. Complex deformations, interactions, and sealing requirements present numerous challenges to the development of packer elements. In an effort to shorten the design lifecycle, this research is developing constitutive models and methods to predict fluid leakage in these seals. |
Elastomer Friction in Subsea Sealing Applications Start: 22-09-2017 / End: 21-03-2021 This PhD project aims to improve the design approaches used in Schlumberger to model the behaviour of elastomers for subsea sealing applications. It will initially focus on modelling friction interactions and then consider the material behaviour. |