PhD student position in Solid and Structural Mechanics

We are looking for a PhD student who wants to establish FE based models and to calibrate them by experimental results for study of damage in railway wheels. The overall aim is a more sustainable railway traffic.

Project description
The rolling surface of a railway wheel is damaged by wear and fatigue when large vertical and lateral forces are transmitted through the small wheel-rail contact zone. When tread brakes (friction brakes that act directly onto the rolling surface of the wheels) are used, also high temperatures are generated at the rolling surface. In total, the combination of braking and rolling contact leads to a complex thermomechanical loading that requires a deeper understanding for finding optimal solutions regarding material, design, and operations.

The aim of this PhD project is to develop a holistic simulation model for prediction of wheel tread damage (wear, rolling contact fatigue, thermal cracks etc) using numerical simulations. The model will be calibrated/validated using data from brake-roller-rig and field tests. The model will consider operating conditions, such as climate, mileage, braking strategies etc. It will incorporate wear and damage caused by the contacts between wheel and rail, and between wheel and brake block. Finite element simulations that incorporate high-temperature material behaviour, and damage prediction models will be used. Optimization methods are employed for calibrations. The models and methods will largely build on existing models and procedures.

The project will be carried out within the competence centre CHARMEC, established in 1995 and supported by Chalmers, Trafikverket and the Industrial Interests Group. The research will build on previous investigations in CHARMEC projects as part of long-term efforts to improve railway performance. It will be run in close cooperation with experts from our industrial partners.

Information about the division and the department
The project will be run at the Division of Dynamics, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences. The division currently has 15 faculty members and 8 PhD students. The present research activities are focused on mechanical systems, structural dynamics, wave propagation, and railway mechanics. Areas of interest relate to various problems in solid mechanics such as vibrational problems, fatigue, wear, contact mechanics, wave propagation, optimization and dynamics of smart materials and structures. The research activities range from basic research to applied projects, including theoretical and numerical modelling, and experimental activities. Experiments are performed either at the department's laboratory, at industrial partners or through field measurements.

Your project will be part of the activities within the Swedish National Centre of Excellence in Railway Mechanics CHARMEC - CHAlmers Railway MEChanics. CHARMEC was established in 1995 and is supported by Chalmers, the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) and an Industrial Interests Group comprising ten partners. Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences is the host department of CHARMEC. All research at CHARMEC is carried out in an international context with overall objectives to reduce the railway's costs for production, operation and maintenance, and to decrease the environmental footprint while improving safety, reliability and transport quality. Currently, some 25 research projects are carried out within CHARMEC.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibilities as PhD student are to pursue your own doctoral studies. This includes developing scientific concepts and communicating research results.

The position is a full-time temporary employment with a time limited to 4.5 - 5 years including teaching or other duties corresponding to 10 - 20 % of working hours. You will be employed by Chalmers and will receive a salary according to current salary agreements.

Read more about doctoral studies at Chalmers here.

Qualifications
A suitable background is a Master of Science (Swedish: civilingenjör) in mechanical engineering, civil engineering or engineering physics with emphasis on solid mechanics and computational methods. The position requires oral and written communication skills in English and Swedish. Swedish is not required, but you will be encouraged to learn Swedish during your employment.

Good knowledge in finite element analysis is required and a specialization in solid mechanics is meritorious. It is also good if you have some experience of data processing and commercial finite element software, e.g. ABAQUS.

We will evaluate all candidates after the deadline. Security concerns may then be considered. We will not pre-review applications sent by email, thus please ensure that you have provided all required information through the online application system!

You are expected to take initiatives, work independently when needed and to take responsibility for your work. Further, the project interacts closely with adjacent disciplines and industrial partners. Thus you need to have high collaborative skills. Finally, you need to be able to disseminate results and knowledge within existing and new networks. This includes academia, industry and society at large.

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

For more information about what we offer, please visit Chalmers website.

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 
   



Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!