PhD in Multidisciplinary design and optimization of aero engines

The Department of Applied Mechanics is one of the leading environments within Vehicle and Mechanical Engineering research. The six different research divisions conduct world-leading research, usually in close collaboration with national and international industries. Research topics encompass both fundamental and applied research questions. Our goal is to contribute to the development of safe and environmentally friendly products for a sustainable society.

The Department of Applied Mechanics offers a wide range of courses in the undergraduate programmes, in addition to two international Masters programmes in Automotive Engineering and Applied Mechanics. Courses are available within the four graduate schools: Machine and Vehicle Systems, Solid and Structural Mechanics, Thermo and Fluid Dynamic and Internal Combustion Engine Technology. In addition Applied Mechanics provides international continuation courses.

The department has approximately 170 employees.Information about the scientific area
The turbomachinery and aeroacoustics research group at Chalmers has traditionally had a strong position in classical fluid mechanics modeling (incompressible/compressible flow, aero acoustics, CFD software development) as well as conceptual aero engine and turbomachinery design. The group is now looking to strengthen their position in multidisciplinary design optimization including solid mechanics modeling.  In aerospace industry, multidisciplinary understanding has always been a key to excellence. However, over the last decade this field has been transformed from inspired engineering judgment to synthesized calculation methods. The European research agenda (SRIA I) singles out that by 2050 a network of multi-disciplinary clusters should have been created as a collaboration between university and industry. Through European and Swedish research projects the research group is currently collaborating with the following industry partners: GKN Aerospace, Airbus, SAAB, Rolls Royce PLC and MTU Aero Engines (list is not complete). Recently, the group has initiated formalized corporation with product and production development at Chalmers, as a step towards an academic corporation within the field of multidisciplinary design optimization.

Major responsibilities
The task of the Ph.D. student is contribute to developing a multidisciplinary design and optimization tool applied to aero engines. This work will be done through the execution of a funded national project as well as a European project. The method development and research will revolve around a mechanical whole engine model that will be used for system level (reduced order assessments) of future aero architectures as well as to evaluate innovative concepts using multidisciplinary optimization. The student is expected to publish work in the core field of multidisciplinary design and optimization and participate in international conferences.

Your major responsibilities as PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing, both in Swedish and in English. The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours.

Positions summary
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

Qualifications
The ideal candidate has a master’s degree in the field of CFD/Solid mechanics modeling with an interest to expand into multidisciplinary optimization. Industrial experience on CFD/Solid mechanics simulations and design optimization is valued, ideally incorporating multiple disciplines. In general, a strong interest in modeling, simulation and experimental validation of models is appreciated. Knowledge of the Swedish language is desirable but not a requirement. However, all PhD Students are expected to be able to teach in Swedish as well as in English after two years of employment. Those who do not have Swedish as their mother tongue are offered courses in the Swedish language.

To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in a relevant field.

Application deadline: 2013-09-29

For questions, please contact:
Professor Tomas Grönstedt
Fluid Dynamics
tomas.gronstedt@chalmers.se
+46 31-772 1409

Professor Lars Davidson
Fluid Dynamics
lada@chalmers.se
+46 31-772 1404




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