metamaterials for broadband noise and vibration attenuation
(ref. BAP-2023-154)
Last modification : Friday, March 17, 2023
The KU Leuven Mecha(tro)nic System Dynamics (LMSD) and the Campus Diepenbeek Polymer Processing & Engineering (PPE) groups are searching for a research engineer to join their team to work in the challenging Horizon Europe MSCA doctoral network METAVISION.
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ProjectThis PhD is part of the Horizon Europe MSCA doctoral network METAVISION: “METAmaterials for VIbration and Sound reductION” (Grant number 101072415) funded under the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks within the Horizon Europe Programme of the European Commission (https: // www. heu-metavision.eu/). METAVISION is an international consortium of high-profile universities, research institutions and companies located in 7 European countries. METAVISION will train 11 doctoral candidates through intersectoral, multidisciplinary and international joint research and aims to reconcile two conflicting trends. On the one hand, people become increasingly aware of the negative health impact of excessive noise and vibration exposure. On the other hand, every kilogram of mass removed from the logistics chain has a direct economic and ecological benefit. Current noise and vibration solutions still require too much mass or volume to be practically feasible, particularly for lower frequencies. There is thus a strong need for low mass, compact material solutions with excellent noise and vibration characteristics, for which recently emerged so-called metamaterials have shown immense potential. METAVISION aims to develop novel design and analysis methods in view of broadening the performance and applicability of metamaterials, revolutionize the manufacturing of metamaterials towards large-scale and versatile solutions and advance academically proven metamaterial concepts towards industrially relevant applications
As DC2 within this project, you will work on efficient modelling strategies of variability and uncertainties in material and geometry parameters of vibro-acoustic metamaterials, and how these affect and may benefit their noise and vibration attenuation performance. Vibro-acoustic metamaterial modeling and design is typically based on regular, perfectly periodic configurations. In practice, however, material variations and manufacturing imperfections introduce variability, which can affect their robustness, but might also enable broadening their performance. Deeper insight and more efficient modelling tools are required to understand and control these effects, especially when many uncertain parameters are present. As DC2, you will develop these efficient modelling tools. These tools should allow accurately predicting, characterizing and optimizing the influence of variability on the metamaterial performance, already early in the design process, for which validation by vibrational and acoustic measurements manufactured metamaterials will be performed.
The PhD is supervised by prof. Elke Deckers (https: // www. kuleuven.be/wieiswie/nl/person/00059933) from the KU Leuven LMSD division. The research is hosted by the Mecha(tro)nic System Dynamics division (LMSD), which currently counts >100 researchers and is part of the department of mechanical engineering of KU Leuven. The research group has a long track record of combining excellent fundamental academic research with industrially relevant applications, leading to dissemination in both highly ranked academic journals as well as on industrial fora. More information on the research group can be found on the website: https: // www. mech.kuleuven.be/en/research/mod/about and our linkedIn page: https: // www. linkedin.com/showcase/lmsd-kuleuven/.
If you recognize yourself in the story below, then you have the profile that fits the project and the research group.
A remuneration package competitive with industry standards in Belgium, a country with a high quality of life and excellent health care system. You will receive a monthly gross salary of €3400. The net income will be lower since a deduction of income tax, the social contributions, and other permitted deductions need to be considered. In addition to the net salary you will receive a mobility allowance of €600 and, if applicable, a family allowance of €600.
An opportunity to pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, typically a 4 year trajectory, in a stimulating and ambitious research environment.
Ample occasions to develop yourself in a scientific and/or an industrial direction. Besides opportunities offered by the research group, further doctoral training for PhD candidates is provided in the framework of the KU Leuven Arenberg Doctoral School (https: // set.kuleuven.be/phd), known for its strong focus on both future scientists and scientifically trained professionals who will valorise their doctoral expertise and competences in a non-academic context. More information on the training opportunities can be found on the following link: https: // set.kuleuven.be/phd/dopl/whytraining.
METAVISION on the European Commission portal METAVISION website Website of KU Leuven Division LMSD
Interested?To apply for this position, please follow the application tool and enclose:
1. full CV – mandatory
2. motivation letter – mandatory
3. full list of credits and grades of both BSc and MSc degrees (as well as their transcription to English if possible) – mandatory (when you haven't finished your degree yet, just provide us with the partial list of already available credits and grades)
4. proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, …) - if available
5. two reference letters - if available
6. an English version of MSc or PhD thesis, or of a recent publication or assignment - if available
For more information please contact dr. Lucas Van Belle (mail: [email protected]) and Prof. Elke Deckers (mail: [email protected]) by mail and mention METAVISION in the title.
You can apply for this job no later than April 27, 2023 via the online application tool.
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at [email protected].
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at [email protected].