JOB DESCRIPTION

The ASSESS project aims to bridge the gap between research and industry by designing, manufacturing and testing the next generation of smart FRP composites. Smart composites will empower safer, more lightweight, and structurally efficient composite aerospace components and wind turbine blades, which in turn will contribute to reduce material waste, aircraft fuel consumption, C02 emissions and enhance renewable wind energy production. Hence, ASSESS will play a pivotal role in the context of future European green energy and transportation..
Topic: Multi-physics modelling of Smart FRP composites with embedded fibre optic sensors.
The objective of the PhD project is to develop multi-physics numerical 3D FEM simulations to analyse the performance of single mode FBGs/TFBGs and their interaction with the surrounding FRP composite for SHM of wind turbine blades. The perturbation of the
surrounding field in the host material due to the presence of the optical fibre not only perturbs the measured field variables, but also affect the integrity of the composite, the sensor, and their interface. The resulting degradation can compromise the accuracy of measurements and the SHM reliability of FBGs. The proposed FE models will (i) account for different composite fibre reinforcements, matrixmaterials, lay-ups, and geometries, (ii) analyse the effects of external loads on changes in the light transmission spectrum of FBGs/ TFBGs and (iii) examine optimal sensor positioning.
There are planned secondments at Warsaw University of Technology, Poland and Bladeworks, Italy.
Research Fields:
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), Fibre Optic Sensors, Modelling, Composites, Aerospace Engineering

Secondments:

• Warsaw University of Technology, Poland
• Bladeworks, Italy

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research as outlined in the project’s objectives under the supervision of Dr. Roger Groves.
• Engage in secondments as part of the project’s training activities with Warsaw University of Technology and Bladeworks .
• Contribute to academic publications, project reports, and other dissemination activities.
• Participate in structured training programs and network-wide events organized by the consortium.
• Collaborate with international partners and other Doctoral Candidates within the network.

Principal Supervisor:
Dr. Roger Groves, Delft University of Technology

REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility Criteria

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent)
• Not in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.
• Recruited applicants can be of any nationality and must undertake trans-national mobility (i.e., move from one country to another) when taking up the appointment. In particular, at the time of selection, the recruited applicant for this position must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in The Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. You will be asked to enclose evidence to prove this. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.-

Required Skills:

• Affinity with engineering structures and materials, ideally in aerospace
• Expertise in non-destructive testing, structural health monitoring and/or other inspection techniques
• Interest in instrumentation development and automation.
• Good experimental and modelling skills. Able to develop concepts, build and test them
• The following are an advantage: knowledge of sensor physics, optics, mathematics and ultrasonics
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Optional Skills:

• The following are an advantage: knowledge of sensor physics, optics, mathematics and ultrasonics
• English Requirement: High level of proficiency in English (will be tested at interview).

• Conduct research as outlined in the project’s objectives under the supervision of Dr. Roger Groves.
• Engage in secondments as part of the project’s training activities with Warsaw University of Technology and Bladeworks .
• Contribute to academic publications, project reports, and other dissemination activities.
• Participate in structured training programs and network-wide events organized by the consortium.
• Collaborate with international partners and other Doctoral Candidates within the network