PhD in DEM Platform Technology for Rock Material Applications

The department of Product and Production Development performs research and education in the areas of styling, design engineering and production development - and in the interaction between these disciplines. The research aims to shorten the time from idea to finished product while achieving an added value for the customer. Automotive and engineering industries are among the major customers. The department has approximately 85 employees and is organized into three sections: Design & Human Factors, Product Development and Production Systems.The Division of Product Development (http://www.chalmers.se/ppd/EN/) at the department of Product and Production Development is well established with internationally recognized and nationally leading research groups with strong networks in both academy and industry. The core competences of the division are machine elements, design theory and methodology, product modelling, product data management, robust design and variation simulation within the framework of Integrated Product Development, Systems Engineering and Product Lifecycle Management. All research is conducted in close cooperation with both national and international industry.

The division is responsible for product development courses in Chalmers bachelors, masters and PhD programs in mechanical engineering. Chalmers international master’s program in Product Development is managed by the division.

Major responsibilities

A PhD candidate at the Division of Product Development is employed at a department for five years. The major part (80%) of this time will be spent on graduate studies, which in turn is divided between course work (25%) and research (75%) within a project which is conducted in collaboration with an industrial partner or sponsor. You will be working in a dynamic environment in close cooperation with other PhD candidates and the senior researchers in the research group.  In your research you will address long-term scientific as well as more applied and industrially relevant research questions.

You will work as a teaching assistant in undergraduate courses the remaining 20% of full time. Then you will get training and experience in communication and transfer of knowledge which is an important role in your future positions.

Positions summary

The research and thesis work to be conducted by this PhD student will be directed towards implementation and development of the use of Discrete Element Method (DEM) in rock material applications. DEM is still a relative new method and is rarely used in construction applications. As a research team member the specific focus will be directed towards rock material applications such as road construction. The behaviour of asphalt pavings and the distribution and compaction of the sub-base material in roads is an area where deeper understanding is needed. Improvement of the performance and service life time of road can lead to large savings in maintenance costs for society. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with the industry.

Qualifications

-    Master degree in mechanical or civil engineering, mechatronics or applied physics.
-    Be prepared to mix theoretical literature studies, analytical work, modelling and simulation combined with verification in laboratory and site work in mineral processing plants.
-    Experience of CAD, CAE, FEM, programming in MATLAB is a merit.
-    Be orally fluent in Swedish or English and sufficiently skilled for day-to-day communication in the other language - high English writing ability.

Application deadline: 2013-09-22

In order to improve the gender balance at the Department, we welcome in particular applications from female candidates.

For questions, please contact:

Professor Magnus Evertsson
magnus.evertsson@chalmers.se
+46 -31-772 1368
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 eight Areas of Advance; Built Environment, Energy, Information & Communication Technology, Life Science, Materials Science, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, 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 10,000 students and 2,900 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!