DTU, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, the Section for Manufacturing Engineering invites applications for a PhD position (3 years) on the topic of simulation of process induced defects and the resultant fatigue life of metal additive manufactured samples.
The project is part of a Villum Investigator grant titled “Microstructural engineering of additive manufactured metals - MicroAM” funded by the VILLUM FONDEN. The overall aim of the project is to introduce microstructural engineering to the field of additive manufacturing (AM) of metals. This is to set the stage for optimizing metals microstructures in-situ during the AM process as well as ex-situ during post-AM treatments and enable predictions of the microstructural evolution, and thus changes in properties, while AM components are in use.
More specifically, the PhD position will look towards connecting different advanced software tools (of multi-physics and data-based models) simulating the metal AM process & microstructure with experimental observations of fatigue failure in AM samples under aggressive/corrosive environments. The goal is to establish causal pathways for understanding failure in AM components. The position will involve development of codes/models simulating the nucleation and propagation of stress corrosion cracking in samples under low cycle fatigue conditions, as well as models for linking the microstructure from the AM process to the fatigue behavior. The position will involve active collaboration with international research groups working on the simulation of corrosion of metal AM, as well as close interaction with the other PhDs/Postdocs and more senior scientists within the MicroAM project.
Responsibilities and qualifications
If you are interested in numerical simulations of advanced manufacturing processes which involve several physical phenomena and subsequent cross-linking of these simulations over different length-scales as well as of simulations and experiments, perhaps you are our new PhD student.
The aim is to predict the impact of external cyclic loads (during real-life loading scenarios under aggressive conditions) on the porosity and microstructural evolution in additively manufactured metallic samples, by the development of advanced computational multiphysics models of stress corrosion cracking and coupling these with process-microstructure models (being developed within MicroAM project). Main focus will be on additively manufactured AlSiMg alloys. You will be responsible for the development, calibration and validation of the corresponding advanced multi-physics computational models. You will collaborate closely with a postdoctoral researcher responsible for in-situ fatigue testing under corrosive environments, and will participate in the 4D (x,y,z,time) analysis of the AM microstructure and crack formation/propagation phenomena. In addition to the direct project related research, you will have the opportunity to disseminate your research through publication of papers and presentations at international conferences.
You will work in close collaboration with a group of senior scientists, technicians as well as Post Docs and PhDs all engaged in the Villum Investigator project MicroAM. A 3–6-month foreign stay at an international research group focusing on microstructural modelling of corrosion in AM parts will be part of the PhD project.
You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.
Demonstrated competence in programming with Python and working on Linux based platform is essential for this position. Further, we are looking for a doctoral candidate who meets the following requirements:
We envision that:
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education
.
We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.
Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.
The period of employment is 3 years.
You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Sankhya Mohanty, samoh@dtu.dk
.
You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at www.construct.dtu.dk.
If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark
. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar
” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.
Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 15 August 2025 (23:59 Danish time)
. Applications must be submitted as one PDF file
containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file
. The file must include:
You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.
DTU Civil and Mechanical Engineering
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