PhD stipend in Multiscale Mechanical Modelling of Toughed Adhesive Joints in Large Composite Structure

Large Composite Structures

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Materials and Production, a position as PhD student in Mechanical Engineering is open for appointment starting between the 15th of August and 1st of October 2023. The duration of the position as PhD student is 3 years. Department of Materials and Production (MP) is a wide-ranging research and educational environment at Aalborg University. The Department's mission is to meet the future's demands for new materials and production systems by directing the whole value chain from basic material understanding, materials' applications in mechanical constructions, industrial production, and management. The department has several strong, international, and innovative research groups which comprise everything from basic science to strategic and applied research. The activities encompass research as well as education within materials, mechanics, physics, production technique, and industrial management and innovation. Benefitting the industry and additional collaborators several innovative and unconventional collaborations have been and are developed through interdisciplinary co-operations. Thereby, as an employee at the department, you will become a part of an international research environment, where the focus is on innovation, knowledge sharing/building, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

The PhD project is a part of the project NextGenBlade - Damage-Tolerant Designs for Long Term Endurance of Next-Generation Wind Turbine Blades, which is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark as a Sapere Aude project. The main workforce in the project consists of three people, of which there is an open full-time PhD position and an open postdoc position. The project leader of NextGenBlade and main supervisor of this PhD project is Associate Professor Brian Lau Verndal Bak.

The overall topic of the NextGenBlade is about developing a strong and fatigue-resistant adhesive assembly concept that enables an efficient manufacturing process of wind turbine blades and other large composite structures. The concept is based on a damage-tolerant concept with designed extrinsic toughening mechanisms. We will cover design, modelling, and experimental characterization of the adhesive joint in the project.

The focus of the PhD project is mainly on the modelling of the joint. This involves a multiscale model of the joint and damage mechanisms. First, a detailed multiscale model of fatigue-driven damage on the length scales from µm to cm will be developed. Based on this multiscale model, a machine learning model will be developed that mimics the effects of damage development relevant for a model on the structural scale. This model should be combined with an existing FEM-based damage prediction framework. Experimental characterisation will be handled by another researcher in the project. Collaboration between this modelling focused project and the work of the experimentally focused researcher is planned. The major topics in this PhD project are damage and fracture mechanics, programming, machine learning models, finite element method, and composite materials.

The ideal candidate has documented skills in the areas: Modeling and analysis of laminated composite materials, modelling using machine learning, progressive damage/fracture simulation during quasi-static or repeated loading, cohesive zone modelling, and fracture mechanics. We do not expect you to have all these skills, meaning a suitable candidate can primarily be based in either mechanical engineering or data science.

We are looking for a candidate who:

Please describe how you fit these personality characteristics, preferably with examples demonstrating this. A Good level in oral and written English is required.

You will join a research group with several PhD students, post-doc researchers, and professors, which gives excellent opportunities for inspiration, sparring, and academic discussions. We have a friendly and supportive working environment, believing this is the best way to ensure world-class scientific results.

The PhD scholarship includes a competitive salary where university and course participation fees are fully covered. The project also covers the cost associated with traveling, participation in scientific conferences, and an external research stay at a university outside Denmark for 3-6 months. All relevant IT and laboratory costs associated with the tasks to be carried out in the position are also covered. When employed in Denmark, you are covered by Danish health insurance. We can also provide guidance on how to re-locate to Aalborg, Denmark.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please send them to Associate Professor Brian Lau Verndal Bak via email [email protected].

The application must be written in English and must include the following:

We will inform you shortly after the application deadline if you are invited to a job interview.

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.

Shortlisting will be applied. This means that subsequent to the deadline for applications the head of department supported by the chair of the assessment committee will select candidates for assessment. All applicants will be informed whether they will be assessed or not.

For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure contact Ms. Katrine Eline Søndergaard, The Doctoral School at The Faculty of Engineering and Science, email: [email protected].

For more information of The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science: www. phd.engineering.aau.dk

The application is only to be submitted online by using the "Apply online" button below.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of 15 December 2021 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the current Circular of 11 December 2019 on the employment structure at Danish universities.

915-23022

Thu Apr 27 00:00:00 CEST 2023