4 PhD Positions for ERC-project MAGICON

Job description

In construction practice the properties of the composite ‘concrete’ are not measured, only the performance. A lot of research on concrete focusses on processing and composition of new binder systems. Huge steps have already been achieved to make the concrete industry more sustainable by using (partly) replacement of cement. Application of recycled aggregates in concrete is an additional step towards circular concrete. The interplay (ITZ) between binder and aggregates (or fibres), especially when we use alternatives for them, is not yet understood. The behaviour of the ITZ is the most important property of the composite if we want to design the performance of concrete.

To be able to characterize the ITZ and incorporate the results in the design philosophy the following challenges that never have been tried before should be overcome:

• (1) Develop a method to produce small scale samples including particles, matrix and ITZ which are representative for the composite, including its eigenstresses that are always present in all the phases.
• (2) Develop testing techniques for measuring mechanical and transport properties and the combined effect of mechanics and transport on the small-scale samples.
• (3) Develop smart technologies for improving ITZ properties.
• (4) Understand, predict and tailor the results of the microscale testing by using deterministic models for upscaling.
• (5) Develop a strategy for creating datasets from experiments, combined with smart numerical modelling that feed into ML systems for validating the behaviour of new sustainable concrete.

There are 4 openings for a PhD student:

• PhD 1: A researcher with experience in experimental mechanical testing and nanoindentation and affinity with small scale manufacturing tools. The preferred background is mechanical or civil engineering.
• PhD 2: A researcher with experience in transport mechanisms and CT-scanning and evaluation. The preferred background is materials science, civil engineering or physics.
• PhD 3: A researcher with experience in computational modelling and experience with processes in construction materials. The preferred background of this student is civil engineering, and the candidate should be able to understand the mechanisms and processes that are studied by PhD 1 and PhD 2.
• PhD 4: A researcher with affinity for ML-tools and an engineering background. The main tasks will be to develop AI tools and ML techniques to transfer the mechanisms, relations and data developed by the other researchers into a multi-scale virtual Ashby plots-like design space for concrete. The developed tools should consider the heterogeneity and variability of the microstructure and should results in data with probabilistic nature.

The research will be conducted at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, department 3ME, section Materials & Environment. Within this section we have a Microlab that has all the facilities to perform this research. The PI of MAGICON is Professor Erik Schlangen. The research will be performed under supervision of a team of scientific staff, post-Docs and technicians in the research group. More information on the project can be found on: www.erc-magicon.eu

Job requirements 

The candidates for the PhD-positions need to have a MSc-degree in the fields mentioned in the job description.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration. 

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences 

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management. 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.