PhD Scholarship in Multi-scale design of improved-fatigue TMCP steel

Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in Multi-scale design of improved-fatigue TMCP steel Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering and Ryan Institute for Marine, Environment and Energy

Application(s) are invited from suitably qualified candidates for full-time funded PhD scholarship(s) starting in September, 2023 affiliated to the Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering and Ryan Institute for Marine, Environment and Energy at the University of Galway.

University of Galway

Located in the vibrant cultural city of Galway in the west of Ireland, the University of Galway has a distinguished reputation for teaching and research excellence For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie

Detailed Project Description

The TAILORED MANUFACTURING FOR SAFE, SUSTAINABLE OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE SUPPORT STRUCTURE MATERIALS (TRANSFORRM) project, funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), aims to develop a multi-scale, process-structure-property-performance (PSPP) framework for manufacturing-informed design of safe, sustainable structures for upscaling of offshore wind turbines (OWTs). TRANSFORRM will develop methods to achieve increased safety, reduced cost and longer life for offshore renewable energy (ORE) structures (e.g. monopiles, jackets) via through-process design and thermo-mechanical controlled processing (TMCP) and welding of state-of-the-art high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel.

The specific focus will be on increased material strength and increased resistance to fatigue crack initiation (FCI) and growth in welded connections, via control of manufacturing-induced microstructure. In partnership with industrial collaborators, TRANSFORRM will thus provide the key building blocks for a digital twin for OWTs and novel structural design and condition monitoring techniques. TRANSFORRM will involve close collaboration with relevant key national and international academic, research and industry partners. The position may involve international travel for collaboration visits (up to 6 months in duration) and conference attendance. International collaborators include IMDEA Materials Institute (Madrid, PFM and multi-scale modelling), Imperial College London (residual stresses and FCG in welds), Universities of Plymouth (offshore renewables), Nottingham (fixed OWT design, analysis), Strathclyde (floating OWT design, analysis) and DTU Denmark (Design Codes and Standards), as well as Univ of Limerick (EBSD, CPFE). This PhD will focus primarily on multi-scale modelling for TMCP for explicit simulation of process-induced thermo-mechanical evolution of texture and grain size distributions in HSLA steel.

The work will be in close collaboration with Prof Javier Segurado at IMDEA Materials nstitute (Madrid) and Prof Noel O’Dowd at Univ of Limerick. Attention will be focussed on self-consistent viscoplastic finite element (FE) and crystal plasticity finite element, as well as fast Fourier transform crystal plasticity for efficient modelling for design of through-thickness microstructure (texture) homogeneity, and hence strengthening, during the manufacturing process. The model will be coupled with a phase field model of the TMCP process, developed in parallel. Validation will be achieved using experimental testing results (EBSD, SEM, TEM) from collaboration with other researchers on the project team. This person will thus liaise closely other PhD and post-doctoral researchers, for calibration and validation process-microstructure data for process modelling, phase field modelling and crystal plasticity modelling etc.

Living allowance (Stipend): €19,000 per annum, [tax-exempt scholarship award]

University fees: €5,500 per annum Start date: 1st September, 2023 Academic Entry Requirements: 1st class or 2.1 honours Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical engineering or closely related discipline (e.g. Civil or Biomedical Engineering, Materials Engineering or Science). Candidates must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and a strong passion and motivation for excellence in engineering research, with a view to publication, international conference presentations and collaborations.

Candidates must also be motivated to work within a team to achieve overall project objectives.

To Apply for the Scholarship:

Expressions of interest comprising submission of a covering letter, CV, statement of personal research interests, evidence of performance or equivalent and the contact details of two referees, to be submitted via e-mail to [Email Address Removed]

Contact Name: Prof Seán Leen Contact Email: [Email Address Removed]

Application Deadline: 01/07/2023 (1st July, 2023) and time 17:00 (Irish time 24hr format)

Primary Supervisor name (if applicable): Prof Seán Leen