PhD on the reuse of steel bridge members with fatigue damage

Are you eager to work on the reuse of steel bridge elements which experienced fatigue damage during their service time? In a world with finite resources and limited and slow natural renewal, we must preserve and conserve what is already there. Nevertheless, growth and the desire for creating something new continue to shape human activity and facilitate the preservation or even the desired expansion of the quality of life. This project aims at reusing components from existing steel and steel-concrete composite bridges as components in new bridge and building structures, thereby contributing to a fully circular economy. 

The central question for this PhD study is: Can we reuse steel bridge members in new structures? How do we  limit the impact of deconstruction? How do we repair these members in case they are damaged? How is this repair effective?
To answer these questions, you will use questionnaires to ask experts, perform experiments, and develop prediction models. 
You will focus on the effect of deconstruction on the structural strength, stability, and fatigue life of reused components. Your goal is to develop a set of metrics that aim at quantification of the effect of selected deconstruction methods on the structural reliability of deconstructed elements.

As a part of your project you will make a selection of repair and improvement techniques suitable for the rehabilitation of damaged welded and bolted joints typical for bridge structures. Assisted by finite element modelling, existing techniques are selected on the basis of their effectiveness and considering different levels of fatigue damage. Hence you will be able to identify the repair methods. Depending on the selected repair method, you will focus on the determination of the uncertainties and the performance related to the repair of connections.

To validate your models you will execute fatigue tests under constant and variable amplitude loading on a selected welded joint. The main goal of these tests is to assess the fatigue strength and remaining fatigue lifetime after repair. During the tests you will monitor fatigue damage development with different sensors, hence measuring the fatigue behaviour at the repair location and the extended component lifetime. Ultimately, you will develop and deploy advanced models for an accurate estimation of the remaining fatigue life of reused bridge components based on fracture mechanics incorporating short crack growth. The tests will be used to validate these models.

The knowledge that you develop is crucial for a safe prolonged use of cyclically loaded steel structures such as bridges or crane runways. As such, it helps in creating a sustainable future.

You will benefit from, and contribute to, the acknowledged forefront position in fatigue life prediction of our Steel Structures chair. You will use the experimental facilities of our structures lab.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 2.901,- max. € 3.707,-).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 

Curious to hear more about what it's like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please contact

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more about the content of the PhD project?
Please contact the hiring manager Davide Leonetti, Assistant Professor, d.leonetti@tue.nl

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Scott Jacops, HR Advisor, s.m.m.c.b.jacops@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using exclusively the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.

Applications and curriculum sent via email will be disregarded.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.