PhD Position Composite Materials with Architected Discontinuities

Challenge: Predict mechanical response of thin discontinuous fibre tapes.

Change: New constitutive laws and and experimental methodologies.

Impact: Enable structural application in clean aviation.

Job description

Unidirectional composites with discontinuous fibre architectures may offer processing advantages to manufacture thin shells with nonzero Gaussian curvature, like in for example pressure vessels. Furthermore their discontinuous structure offers challenges but also benefits in mechanical performance. The aim of this project is to investigate the mechanical response of novel thin ply thermoplastic unidirectional tapes with fibre discontinuities at the micro and mesoscale and to derive their constitutive laws towards the macroscopic scale. 

In this position you will contribute to this need, by developing and validating experimental methodologies to assess the influence of discontinuities at various length scales for laminate architectures utilizing thin plies. Supported by analytical or numerical modelling you will develop physical theories substantiating constitutive laws to be developed. This project will feature a large amount of experimental work, in combination with analytical and/or numerical modelling, depending on which approach proves to be most feasible.

You will conduct this PhD research within the Aerospace Structures and Materials Department of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of TU Delft. Direct supervision will be provided by Dr.ir. R.C. Alderliesten, Dr. ir. J.M.J.F. van Campen and Prof.dr. C.A. Dransfeld. 

This position is a part of the 'Luchtvaart in Transitie project. You will therefore collaborate with other PhDs and post-docs, and communicate with industrial partners. Within the ASM department there is currently a larger community of PhD candidates and post-docs working on related activities.

Requirements 

Need to have:

• A MSc degree in a relevant field, e.g. Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or similar, with a research topic relevant for this project.
• Affinity with the topic of mechanical properties, fatigue and damage tolerance of composite structures and materials.
• A desire to acquire the new skills and knowledge needed to complete the project.
• A critical attitude towards your own work and that of others.
• Good written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate the value of your work in both academic and industry settings.
• English proficiency

TU Delft

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 Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 270 PhD candidates and close to 3000 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond. 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

Conditions of employment 
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. 

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.  

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr. ir. René Alderliesten, via r.c.alderliesten@tudelft.nl . For administrative questions relating to the application procedure, please contact the management assistants of the Aerospace Structures and Materials department (secr-ASM-lr@tudelft.nl).

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 1 Jan 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter. In your motivation letter, describe your interest in the project and why you think you would be a good fit for this position. Additionally, describe briefly what aspects or phenomena you think will make discontinuities in composites more challenging than predicting the behaviour of traditional composites, and why thin ply composites might improve the material performance.

You can address your application to Dr. ir. René Alderliesten. Based on the submitted cover letters and CV, a shortlist of suitable candiddates will be invited for an (online) interview. During this interview you will be asked to present your own research experience so far, and to provide a short research proposal for this PhD project.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.