PhD student in Production Technology

Högskolan Väst

PhD student in Production Technology – with focus on CFD for laser welding. Ref. nr R 2013/37

Based in Trollhättan, University West has over 11 500 students and around 600 employees. Work Integrated Learning is our profile, in both education and research and we are among the highest ranked universities in the country for graduate employability. With industry within the field of aerospace, new business ventures and a strong confidence in the future, Trollhättan is a hub for development in their sub-region of West Sweden.

Project description

The welding group carries out experimental and theoretical research on different welding processes, including electric arc and laser welding. One main focus is to understand how different welding parameters influence the final welding results. In a new project in cooperation with GKN Aerospace (Understanding of Laser Welding Phenomena) we seek a PhD student for a position at University West.

Swedish aero-engine industry is today focusing on fabricated load carrying static structures allowing a more flexible design and manufacturing. In this way material configuration and combinations can be selected to optimize e.g. strength, which in turn results in lower weight, lower fuel consumption, and less environmental impact. Laser welding provides a means of achieving this goal. The purpose of the project is to gain deeper understanding of the laser welding process. Specifically we will develop and verify a CFD model for laser welding and carry out simulations to investigate the influence of process parameters on the laser weld pool. Ultimately this will allow for optimization of the laser welding process.

The scientific work in the project

In this project the PhD student will address the process modeling based on thermal fluid mechanics for multiphase problem, and include key elements such as heat input into the base metal, melting and solidification, and metal vapor formation.

The simulation model is to be implemented in the open source CFD software OpenFOAM. The project will be carried out in collaboration with GKN Aerospace that will provide support for defining test cases and experimental data needed for testing the simulation model. The PhD-student will test and apply the simulation model first to understand the physics and then to determine relevant parameters that can be used as basis for online control of this process.

Doctoral degree program: Production Technology

Job description:

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