PhD: modelling of compressive failure in complex NCF composite structures

Do you want to work with physically based modelling of compressive failure in highly complex carbon fibre reinforced composite structures aiming at developing an efficient methodology for design of composite aeroengine structures? We are currently searching for a creative and ambitious person for a PhD student position at the Division of Material and Computational Mechanics at Chalmers’ Department of Applied Mechanics.

Information about the project
The research will be performed in close collaboration with GKN Aerospace and Swerea SICOMP. The main part of your work will be devoted to research aiming at development of physically based strength criteria and efficient computational methods needed for reliable and efficient design of aero engine outlet guide vanes made from textile composites. The complex shape of the guide vanes, due to aerodynamic constraints, requires new lay-up strategies resulting in a great increase in the number of ply drops. These ply drops generate wavy laminas in the laminate, in addition to the fibre tow waviness from manufacture and fibre undulation within tows, all which result in impaired compressive strength. This research sets out to investigate and model effects of interaction of waviness at different length scales on compressive strength of NCF composites. The work comprises both experimental investigations, i.e. mechanical testing and fractographic analysis, and model development (analytical and numerical models). The research is to result in a virtual design tool adapted for use by GKN in their design of aero engine structures.

The majority of your working time will be devoted to research, where you will have the chance to specialize in the area of composite mechanics with emphasis on compressive strength of high performance fabric reinforced composites in complex structures. Within the scope of the project, you will further develop your competence and pursue your scientific ideas, so that you can communicate the results in a wide context, through the publication of scientific articles and oral presentations at international conferences as well as within our existing industrial network. In addition to the research tasks, you will take courses and contribute to the teaching through class room teaching and project supervision, through which you will develop both your subject-specific and communicative skills.

You will belong to the Division of Material and Computational Mechanics. Within our group, we actively conduct research and offer courses within computational and material mechanics with special interest in failure and multiscale modelling. Our applications typically concern the development of novel computational methods and simulation tools based on the finite element method. The ambition of the current project is to develop and combine our existing competence within computational fracture modelling and computational multiscale modelling with new developments within the area of failure of complex composite structures.

Major responsibilities
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.

Since communication of knowledge results is a central part of the work, communicative skills in English (oral as well as in writing) is vital. Furthermore, it will also be expected that you can take on responsibility and have the ability to take own initiatives and, when needed, work independently. At the same time, being a successful researcher also involves working with others as well as disseminating the results within existing and new networks, both within academia but also to industry and society, whereby networking skills, team work skills and quality assurance abilities are important.

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

Qualifications
We expect you to have a MSc in solid/structural mechanics or computational mathematics with an emphasis on applied mechanics. Profound knowledge in solid mechanics, continuum mechanics, material mechanics, FEM and computer programming is required.

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.

The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in Swedish and English. If Swedish is not your native language, you should be able to teach in Swedish after two years. Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

It is desirable that you have basic knowledge of composite materials and mechanics of composites. Finally, additional meriting factors include technical development and research project skills, journal publications and industrial employment or similar experience.

Application deadline: 2013-10-09

For questions, please contact:
Professor Ragnar Larsson
Phone: +46-31-772 52 67
E-mail: ragnar.larsson@chalmers.se

Adj. Professor Leif Asp
Phone: +46-070-706 63 49
E-mail: leif.asp@chalmers.se




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