About the Project
The Faculty of Technology Design and Environment at Oxford Brookes University is pleased to offer a three-year full-time PhD studentship to a new student commencing June-September 2017.
The successful candidate, UK/EU nationals only, will work within the Engine Modelling Team, under the supervision of Dr Fabrizio Bonatesta and his collaborators. This is a fully-funded PhD studentship with annual bursary of £16,000.
The Engine Modelling Team at Oxford Brookes University is now part of a large multi-partner R&D project which will deliver the next generation of Gasoline Direct Injection engines, optimised for reduced fuel consumption and reduced noxious emissions. The involvement of Oxford Brookes will be in the area of engine modelling and will concentrate on the identification of control strategy to minimise Particulate Matter formation and emission.
The current powertrain development process focuses on engineering and validating individual engine systems in isolation and relies on a time intensive sequential process. This approach does not take account of interactions between sub-systems and, as a result, key attributes such as fuel economy do not reach the full potential available within the chosen hardware and controls. This project will develop and apply a new analytical, multi-objective, dynamic, optimisation methodology to simultaneously optimise across multiple engine systems, with specific intent to simultaneously reduce CO2 and Particulate Matter emissions. The project also aims to demonstrate a game changing CAE methodology that will substantially improve UK Automotive engineering competitiveness, improving capability, and significantly reducing time to market.
Within the larger R&D project, the Engine Modelling Team at Oxford Brookes will support the engine optimisation exercise through development and application of validated full-cycle models of modern downsized GDI engines, to evaluate the effects of a range of engine calibration controls on in-cylinder soot formation mechanisms, as well as on fuel consumption. The project will seek to identify effective and feasible control strategies to reduce soot formed “at source”, enabling lower ultra-fine soot yield (especially in terms of particle number) and lesser reliance on Gasoline Particulate Filters. The project also aims to develop improved modelling techniques and methodologies for model calibration. The research activity will ultimately deliver improved, exploitable, fundamental knowledge of soot mechanisms taking place during partially-premixed spark ignition combustion.
The Oxford Brookes Engine Modelling Team is currently seeking to expand through recruitment of a number of different research positions. The present offer is for a 3-year fully funded PhD post.
The essential selection criteria include:
- A good first degree in Mechanical, Automotive or Motorsport Engineering.
- Experience in engine modelling using CFD or other modelling software, or experience using CFD software in another relevant engineering area.
- Experience of processing, analysing and manipulating large amounts of technical data.
- Knowledge and understanding of internal combustion engines working principles, modern associated technology, pollutants formation and emission regulations.
- Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
- Excellent written and oral communication and organisational skills.
- A real passion and commitment for research and scholarship.
The successful candidate will be responsible to:
- Undertake independent research in engine modelling, relevant to the requirements of the multi-partner project.
- Develop, optimise, validate and apply CFD and/or 0D/1D simulations of internal combustion engines, including the development of statistical and optimisation techniques for model calibration; process, analyse and manipulate numerical and experimental engine data as appropriate.
- Liaise with and support industrial and academic partners; present research findings to groups of people (industrial meetings and academic conferences).
- Conduct literature searches and reviews, and assist with the preparation of papers for publication.
- Fulfil all the requirements of a PhD program according to University Regulations.
Application Process:
If you would like to apply for this position, you should request an application pack from the Research Support Office, [Email Address Removed], quoting “PhD Studentship in Engine Modelling”.
Fully completed applications must be sent to [Email Address Removed], by 5.00 pm on Friday 09/06/2017. As part of the application process you must submit your CV, along with a supporting statement (2 page maximum) which explains why you believe you are the best candidate for this job. Please be advised that the selection process may involve an interview.
Information:
For all informal requests about the project and this post, please contact Dr Fabrizio Bonatesta ([Email Address Removed])
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