Postdoc in soil-structure-interaction for railway infrastructure

Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering is now looking for a Postdoc researcher who will study dynamic Soil-Structure-Interaction (SSI) and its effect on design and maintenance of railway infrastructure. Ultimately, the project will contribute to performance-based design and improved management through digital twins and monitoring. Hence the project is aimed to contribute towards more sustainable railway systems.

Information about the project
The aim of the postdoc project is to contribute to increased knowledge in the field of SSI and predictive models that describe the response of railway infrastructures. Currently the superstructure and foundation system are designed in isolation. This leads to unexpected degradation of the track superstructure, and poor control of vibrations emitted in the subsoil. An objective of the project is to identify the potential to optimize the infrastructure through enhanced analysis models that take dynamic SSI into account. Another objective is to study how such models can be incorporated in digital twins for improved maintenance of the infrastructure. The project is a part of Chalmers’ centre for railway mechanics, CHARMEC, and a national programme for railway research and innovation in Sweden, funded by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket).

The research is a cooperation between the research groups Concrete Structures and Geotechnics at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE). The Concrete Structures research group has long experience in numerical modelling of concrete structures and is internationally well-known for its expertise in assessment of existing structures, and has research on e.g. monitoring and inspections, impulse loaded concrete structures, innovative materials in concrete (such as fibres and textiles) and the structural design process. The Geotechnics research group focuses on modelling and characterization of complex geomaterials, such as natural and stabilized soils. The research activities aim to bridge fundamental understanding and advanced modelling & testing capabilities with application in engineering practice. We have modern experimental facilities and a newly upgraded laboratory, and have access to advanced computational infrastructure.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibility will be to carry out the postdoc project and to conduct research on SSI as part of modelling the dynamic response of railway infrastructure. You will be engaged in the cooperation within the centre CHARMEC, and with Trafikverket. You will have the opportunity to influence the details of the research towards the needs of the project, with the possibility to combine numerical modelling, simplified analysis models, monitoring and experiments. As a postdoc you will be involved in teaching activities at the department. You will develop your skills in communicating scientific results both to the industry and the public, and through scientific publications to the research community.

As a Postdoc you are employed by Chalmers and will receive a salary according to current salary agreements. The position is limited to 2-3 years. A maximum of 20% of your time may be spent on departmental duties, mainly teaching of undergraduate courses. The remaining time will be spent on the research. You are expected to connect with the other researchers of both research groups, and to communicate your research both internally and externally.

Qualifications
Being a successful applicant, you have a good basic knowledge in structural mechanics, structural engineering, soil dynamics and geotechnics, demonstrated by graduate and undergraduate courses. You are skilled in analyses of the physical/mechanical behaviour of structures and/or geo-materials and foundations. Furthermore, a good knowledge of soil-structure-interaction is beneficial. A suitable background is a PhD degree within structural engineering or geotechnics, or an equivalent degree. You are expected to work relatively independently (although you will be a part of very active research environment with several other researchers and Ph.D. students), have an ability to plan and organize your own work, to work in collaboration with others, and to be able to communicate your scientific results in English verbally and in writing.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. You will be employed for 2 years, with a possible extension up to a maximum of 3 years in total.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.


Application deadline: 28 March 2022. 

Read more and apply here: https://www.chalmers.se/sv/om-chalmers/Arbeta-pa-Chalmers/lediga-tjanster/Sidor/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=10303&rmlang=SE





*** 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!