Biography
2023-Present: Research Associate in the RR UTC - University of Cambridge
2018-2022: PhD (Materials Science & Metallurgy) - University of Cambridge
2017-2018: MSci (Materials Science & Metallurgy) - University of Cambridge
2014-2017: MA (Materials Science & Metallurgy) - University of Cambridge
Nicole is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the group working on a range of different metallic systems. She has recently finished her studies at the University of Cambridge, UK, aiming to address the issues of cyclic degradation in superelastic Ti-Nb based alloys. She received a first class MSci degree in Natural Sciences in 2018, specialising in Materials Science, from the same institution. Her work involves analysing the microstructure and properties of superelastic alloys following different processing and testing regimes and has contributed to the development of a new theory governing the behaviour of these alloys. This has involved characterisation using multiple in situ and ex situ techniques, including synchrotron x-ray diffraction, channelling contrast imaging in an electron microscope and mechanical testing of small-scale specimens.
Research
Superelastic materials have great potential as the basis for high frequency damping systems, as the martensitic transformation that gives rise to the phenomenon is fully reversible and occurs at near sonic velocities. However, transformation stability is a key issue if these materials are to be successful in engineering applications and so characterising the contributions to their cyclic fatigue behaviour is critical. In addition, little is known about the effect of microstructural and loading variables, which can be critical design parameters. As such, there is need to create a behavioural database, containing information that is not only important in defining the useable design space of these materials but also in identifying points at which behavioural changes occur.
- Metastable beta-titanium alloys (Ti-Nb base alloys)
- Superelasticity / Shape memory behaviour
- Ti2448 (Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn, wt%)
Publications
1. On the Influence of Thermal History on the Martensitic Transformation in Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn (wt%) (https://doi.org/10.1007/s40830-021-00309-2)
2. The influence of stress on subsequent superelastic behaviour in Ti2448 (Ti–24Nb–4Zr–8Sn, wt%) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2021.142530)
3. Functional Fatigue During Superelastic Load Cycling of Ti2448 (Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn, wt%) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtla.2023.101719)
4. Evidence of Dislocation Dependent Behaviour in Superelastic Ti2448 (Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn, wt%) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2023.119066)
A full list of publications can be found on Scopus, Google Scholar, or ORCID.
Teaching and Supervisions
1A Materials Science Supervisor for the Natural Sciences Tripos.
Part III Project Demonstrator for Materials Science working on aspects of the superelastic transformation in beta titanium alloys.
Part 1A and 1B laboratory demonstrator for undergraduate practicals in materials science.
Part II Materials Science lecturer and supervisor in "Fracture and Fatigue"
Part III Research project assessor
