PhD student position in innovative propulsors and aero engine integration

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 research/the project
Aerospace is a rapidly growing part of the global economy and a key ingredient in the globalization. To reduce CO2 emissions, make aircraft more silent and provide better service to society aero engine technology needs to continuously progress beyond state of the art. In Europe, a substantial part of the research efforts in aero engine technology is devoted to large scale demonstrators of new engine concepts as part of the Clean Sky project. Two of these engines are open rotor engines comprising fast spinning counter-rotating propellers. These concepts are expected to provide substantial reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions compared to competing turbofan based concepts.

At Chalmers University work has been on-going for some time to demonstrate a new propeller concept. As part of the work initiated by an industrial Ph.D. student (GKN Aerospace) a new box-bladed propeller concept has been patented. This propeller concept provides an alternative to the open-rotor designs currently being considered and may help to reduce noise and CO2 emissions further. Previous work on the box bladed propeller was initiated within the National Aviation Engineering Research Programme (NFFP5) and this work has recently been funded to continue within NFFP6 by executing the project described here.

Major responsibilities
The major research task of this project is to develop a deeper understanding of the flow around the box-blade propeller concept, and based on this understanding propose refined designs and make more detailed estimates of how well this concept can work on a real aircraft installation. This work will include advancing current CFD-modeling (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and conceptual design tools as well as to carry out further propeller testing on proposed new designs. The work is expected to be presented at international conferences as well as in well reputed scientific journals. The major part of the working time will be devoted to research studies. As a PhD student, you are also expected to contribute to teaching, develop your own ideas and to communicate scientific results orally as well as in written form.

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

A suitable background is a Master of Science (Swedish: civilingenjör) in mechanical engineering. A good understanding in turbomachinery, fluid mechanics and aero engine design is valued. Documented knowledge in compressible flow, turbulence modeling and finite element modeling is qualifying. A strong interest in modeling, simulation and experimental validation of models is required. 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.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 2013-09-15

For questions, please contact:

Prof. Tomas Grönstedt
Department of Applied Mechanics
Division of Fluid Dynamics
Email: tomas.gronstedt@chalmers.se
Tel.: +46-31-7721409

Prof. Lars Davidson
Department of Applied Mechanics
Division of Fluid Dynamics
Email: lars.davidson@chalmers.se
Tel.: +46-31-7721404




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