KU Leuven consistently ranks among the top 50 universities in the world. For four years in a row, Thomson Reuters ranked KU Leuven as Europe's no.1 most innovative university, with its researchers having patented more products than any other university in Europe. This vacant position is part of the fully funded FailProof Special Research Fund (BOF) project, a collaborative effort between the departments of materials and mechanical engineering. The MEtaL PerfOrmance InnOvatIon (ELOOI) Laboratory, part of the Materials Engineering Department (MTM) at KU Leuven Campus-Gent, focuses on understanding the performance of metallic materials in industrial applications through innovative techniques. This project involves close collaboration with the Noise and Vibration Research Group at KU Leuven Campus-Arenberg (LMSD), Department of Mechanical Engineering.
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Project
Structural failure in the aerospace sector presents significant safety risks to passengers and substantial financial burdens for operators and manufacturers. Ensuring the structural integrity of aircraft is therefore critical, with a significant portion of operational costs dedicated to rigorous ground inspections throughout an aircraft's lifecycle. These inspections are designed to detect and mitigate potential failures before they evolve into severe issues. However, current methods are expensive and time-consuming. The FailProof research project addresses this challenge by developing advanced techniques for online detection and characterization of minor failures in aircraft structures. Conducted in close collaboration with industrial partners such as ASCO, Brussels Airlines, and Embraer, the project aims to enhance safety while reducing maintenance costs. This PhD project focuses on the advanced numerical modeling and experimental investigation of fatigue fracture behavior in metallic fuselage stiffened panels subjected to representative fuselage fatigue spectra. By integrating and validating simulation results with experimental data, the project seeks to refine and enhance the accuracy of numerical models, ensuring their applicability in real-world aerospace structural assessments. This dual approach—combining numerical simulations with experimental validation—aims to create a robust framework for predicting the remaining useful fatigue life of aircraft structures, thereby enabling more effective and efficient monitoring and maintenance.
Profile
The successful PhD candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing numerical modeling techniques and conducting experimental fatigue and impact testing. This position involves close collaboration with two other PhD students and a postdoctoral researcher within the FailProof project.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following qualifications and skills:
Educational Background:
- A Master’s degree in Electromechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Physics, or a related field, with excellent academic performance (minimum distinction).
Research Interests:
- A strong passion for multidisciplinary research in mechanical and materials engineering.
- Interest in topics such as impact dynamics, fatigue, fracture mechanics, finite element modeling, Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM), Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM), and mechanical testing.
Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in finite element analysis software, particularly ABAQUS.
- Competence in programming languages such as Fortran and Python.
Personal Attributes:
- Enthusiastic, self-motivated, and capable of meeting the academic requirements for a PhD at KU Leuven.
- An inquisitive and rigorous approach to research.
- Strong communication skills, with a willingness to collaborate with industrial stakeholders.
- Open-mindedness, teamwork, and a commitment to mobility.
Language Proficiency:
- Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
Availability:
- Ready to start the position within the next six months.
This opportunity offers the chance to contribute to cutting-edge research in aerospace engineering, while working within a dynamic, interdisciplinary team at KU Leuven.
Offer
- We offer a fully funded full-time PhD position for 4 years.
- The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the rules for PhD students at KU Leuven.
- You will have opportunities to attend and present your research at major international conferences, as well as publish scientific papers in the relevant journals.
- Upon completion of the research project and successful PhD defense, you will be awarded a PhD in Engineering Technology.
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Reza Talemi, tel.: +32 9 398 64 47, mail: reza.talemi@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. ir Dirk Vandepitte, mail: dirk.vandepitte@kuleuven.be
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