Currently, evaluation techniques such as visual inspection, acoustic emission, and ultrasonic testing are used to detect and evaluate damage in civil structures such as bridges, buildings, and tunnels. However, some of these techniques are costly and require frequent maintenance, while others cannot evaluate the safety of the entire structure and the need of retrofitting. In addition the sensors used are costly and bulky and mainly connected by wires. Development of new real-time methodologies and sensor nodes to evaluate quickly the health condition of materials would add a great value in the condition assessment of civil structures. This will enable a rapid prioritization of preventive works and add resilience to the maintenance and disaster-mitigation procedures by providing a reliable decision-making framework.

This project aims to develop novel visual, magnetic and acoustic emission based sensor nodes for integration on materials in civil structures, which are power-free, wireless and affordable. Integrating sensors on structures, would eliminate the inconvenience of attaching hardware. This is very important for continuous monitoring, which requires the prolonged maintenance for installation of sensors and their associated wires. The sensor will communicate the data using visual inspection, contactless induction process, or Radio Frequency Identification technology. A self-contained and environmentally friendly energy source based on a triboelectric nanogenerator, which is capable of harvesting energy from the structural movements, will also be developed to provide the power free concept. Such sensors offer a comfortable and almost imperceptible way of continuous monitoring, as opposed to heavy and bulky equipment currently in use for the same purpose. In addition novel decision making algorithms will be developed to fuse different datasets collected from the developed sensors to provide a real-time evaluation method for the rapid and continuous monitoring of civil structures pointing out the necessity for strengthening.

The project is well suited to a motivated and hard-working candidate with a keen interest in Structural Engineering, Sensor Design and Machine learning. Basic knowledge of finite element analysis methods (e.g., ABAQUS, ANSYS) and programming languages (e.g., MATLAB or Python) is essential. Basic understanding/experience of laboratory procedures and experiments are desirable. The project will be supervised by Dr Mohammad Fotouhi and Prof Erik Schlangen.

Furthermore;

• You hold a relevant Msc degree
• You are independent, self-motivated, eager to learn and open to communicate and collaborate with peers
• You have excellent command of English, both verbally and in writing: if your mother language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0). Proof of English language proficiency certificates older than two years are not accepted.     

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2434 per month in the first year to € 3111 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Civil Engineering & Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource depletion, urbanisation and the availability of clean water, conducted  in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced that Open Science helps to achieve our goals and supports its scientists in integrating Open Science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.