The Department of Mechanical Engineering is hiring two PhD Students to study the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of metals.

The starting dates will be in the late fall of 2013.

Responsibilities and tasks
The long-term goal is to develop a material model suitable for process simulation of metal forming. During metal forming involving several strain paths the material exhibits sudden stress jumps or stress transients, which often lead to early fracture. The origin of this behaviour is changes in the microstructure of the metal, which are at present not fully understood. A collaboration between scientists at DTU and University of Illinois, USA, aims at formulating a new microstructure based material model for this mechanical behaviour. Two fully financed PhD projects are offered.

Main tasks of PhD Project 1:

• Design and analysis of mechanical tests to characterise the mechanical response of single and polycrystals to strain path changes
• Crystal plasticity modelling relating microstructural and mechanical changes

Main tasks of PhD Project 2:

• Probing the microstructure of individual grains during mechanical testing by three-dimensional X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation (experiment and data analysis)
• Crystal plasticity modelling focusing on the interaction between grains

Both projects will also include microstructural characterisation by electron microscopy

Qualifications
Candidates should have a master's degree in engineering or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the master's degree in engineering.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.

Assessment
Preferred background for both projects:

• Physical metallurgy, mechanical engineering or physics
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken
• Experience with finite element modelling is an advantage

Specific to PhD Project 1:

• Experience with mechanical testing/metal forming

Specific to PhD Project 2:

• Programming skills and basic mathematics

Candidates may apply for one or both of the projects. The assessment of the applicants will be made by Dr. Techn. Grethe Winther.

Application
To apply, please read the full job advertisement at www.career.dtu.dk.

Application deadline: 10 September 2013

DTU Mechanical Engineering covers the fundamental engineering disciplines within Solid mechanics, Fluid mechanics, Coastal and Maritime Engineering, Energy systems and energy conversion, Materials and Surface Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering design and Product development. The department has a scientific staff of about 100 persons, 100 Ph.D. students and a technical/administrative support staff of more than 80 persons.

DTU is a technical university providing internationally leading research, education, innovation and public service. Our staff of 5,000 advance science and technology to create innovative solutions that meet the demands of society; and our 9,000 students are educated to address the technological challenges of the future. DTU is an independent academic university collaborating globally with business, industry, government, and public agencies.

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