Early-Stage Researcher
(PhD student position)

Objectives

Components made of SFRP are typically manufactured via injection molding. Hereby, the resulting local microstructural configuration of the composite, i.e. the spatial arrangement of the fibers, highly influences the deformation and failure behaviour of the macroscopic component.

Later in the application, products are exposed to harsh environments and severe operational loads. Aiming at the development of products with high reliability requirements in a time- and cost-efficient manner, simulation methods with high accuracy predictions and efficient adaption routines are becoming increasingly important. To achieve this, robust multiscale techniques must be established that contain elements of virtual material testing where a large portion of the required experiments are transferred to the virtual or numerical world.

Clearly, this requires a model on the microscopic scale that captures all relevant failure mechanisms like fiber fracture, cavitation fracture at fiber tips, and matrix fracture. In this context, PF models for fracture are promising approaches, as they can be employed to describe highly complex fracture processes in very complicated 3D microstructures. With precise microscopic models at hand that are validated with non-standard microscopic experiments, numerous simulations are performed with highly efficient Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) solvers.

In line with concepts of data-driven modeling strategies, effective material laws for the macroscopic component scale are derived based on closed form approaches or on modern model order reduction techniques which are fed by the previously performed microstructural simulations.

The 1st objective of this ESR project is to deliver variationalbased robust PF models for fracture that can be employed to predict damage progression on the microstructural level for complex operational loads. In order to achieve this, experiments on the microscale of the composites will be carried out to make the main failure mechanisms visible and to motivate the specific PF modeling approaches. Having the microscopic model at hand, the 2nd objective of this ESR project is the derivation of a suitable effective model that can be employed for component simulations that are performed with commercial FEM packages

Benefits

A full-time fixed-term contract is offered. Marie Curie ITNs provide competitive financial support to the ESR including: a competitive monthly living and mobility allowance and salary, coverage of the expenses related to the participation of the ESR in research and training activities (contribution to research-related costs, meetings, conference attendance, training actions, etc.). The recruited researchers will have a regular contract with the same rights and obligations as any other staff member of the institution.

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Eligibility criteria

Applicants must at the time of recruitment:

1. Be in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers. The four years start to count from the date when a researcher obtained the degree (e.g. Master’s degree) which would formally entitle him/her to embark on a doctorate.
2. Candidates could be of any nationality but have not resided in the host country for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.
3. Have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

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Selection process

Applicants are evaluated by a selection committee on the basis of past academic performance (grades) and background, scientific relevance and aptitude to research, and any other additional pertinent data submitted in the application (such as scientific publications, if any).

The candidates that pass the initial assessment of the applications will be invited for an interview with the selection committee, either in person at the campus, or via standard internet videoconference. Equal opportunities are ensured to all candidates throughout the evaluation process.

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EURAXESS offer ID: 572885