PhD on insitu corrosion fatigue tests for offshore steel structures in the Department of Wind Energy, Division of Materials and Components

Are you interested in contributing to the development of a novel and advanced insitu corrosion fatigue test facility to improve the safety and reliability of offshore steel structures?

If so, the Department of Wind Energy, Division of Materials and Components invites applicants for a PhD position in the area of experimental investigation of the effect of insitu corrosion on the fatigue lifetime of carbon steel in harsh environmental conditions.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The PhD project aims at advancing the state of the art in the area of insitu corrosion fatigue (CF) testing of low to medium carbon steel under realistic marine conditions. The main objective of this project is to develop an advanced insitu corrosion fatigue test facility in which a steel specimen is subject to mechanical cycling loading while fully immersed in an electrolyte mimicking offshore conditions. The system will be accommodated in an existing uniaxial servohydraulic test machine and capable of measuring the crack propagation under controlled frequency, electrolyte temperature, chemical composition and impressed electrical current from cathodic protection. The experimental results will be validated against test data from the literature.

Your primary responsibilities and tasks will be to:

  • Design the CF test cell in conjunction with the grip sealing setup, auxiliary support systems such as circulation pumps, cooling device and insitu crack length measurement system.
  • Build and assemble the different components into a fully functional CF test setup
  • Conduct insitu corrosion fatigue tests under different environmental- and load conditions such as force amplitude and frequency.
  • Validate the insitu CF test data by comparison with other test data from the literature.
  • Disseminate the test results in peer-reviewed top tier journals and conferences

As a formal qualification, 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. Furthermore, strong English communication skills are essential. Applicants should be highly motivated, ambitious, and eager to seek and share knowledge, willing and able to work independently as well as in a team.

More specifically, you should have the following qualifications:

  • Strong background in mechanical engineering and profound knowledge in machine element design
  • Good knowledge of mechanical material testing with emphasis on fatigue testing of metals
  • Experience in corrosion theory and electrochemistry is an advantage

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.

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Senior Researcher Hilmar Danielsen and Associate Professor Martin Eder.

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.

Starting date is 1. November 2022 or according to mutual agreement.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Senior Researcher Hilmar Danielsen (hkda@dtu.dk) and Associate Professor Martin Eder (maed@dtu.dk).

Please refrain from sending your applications or reminders to hkda@dtu.dk or maed@dtu.dk as they will not be considered

You can read more about Department of Wind Energy at www.windenergy.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 1 July 2022 (Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link “Apply online”, fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

  • A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
  • Scientific publications (if any)

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,race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Wind Energy is one of the largest and most well-known university department for wind energy in the world with 250 employees. The institute is in the international driving field with a unique integration of research, education, innovation and public / private government service. DTU Wind Energy has extensive expertise in wind turbine technology, focusing on the impact of loads, structural design and reliability, aeroelastic design and materials.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 13,400 students and 5,800 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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