Fully Funded PhD Scholarship for Engineering Students at Ghent University in Belgium

Ghent University in Belgium is offering a Ph.D. Scholarship for Engineering Students for 1 year, with another 3 years after positive evaluation. The scholarship will start on 01/10/2021 at the earliest. This project aims to provide a better understanding of the “Structural integrity of remanufactured steel components made by Wire+Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM)”. The primary focus is on residual stress mitigation and characterization of the mechanical properties of the interface between WAAM deposit and substrate. The first objective is to better understand the effect of process and geometrical parameters on residual stresses. A novel procedure for residual stress quantification based on digital image correlation (DIC) will be developed and benchmarked against other techniques. The second objective is to better understand the WAAM part-substrate interfacial properties and their effect on global integrity. The results of a thorough mechanical characterization (static and dynamic) will support the development of a novel numerical approach considering interfacial strength heterogeneity to predict fatigue life. Finally, the third objective is to study the feasibility of a non-conventional post-deposition treatment (pneumatic impact treatment or PIT) on improving fatigue lifetime.

• You will receive a Ph.D. scholarship according to the general conditions at Ghent University. The tax-free scholarship includes full social security coverage.
• You will work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and international research environment.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as 35 days of paid leave, a wide range of training and education opportunities, bicycle commuting reimbursement, etc.

The applicant has to fulfill the following criteria:

• hold a master’s degree in engineering sciences, with a specialization in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, materials engineering, or an equivalent degree.
• have an excellent academic track record.
• You are highly motivated to conduct both experimental and numerical research, you are self-critical, you work with rigor and attention to detail.
• combine being an active team player with a strong sense of autonomy and responsibility.
• have good communication and writing skills and have an excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.
• have a genuine interest in the mechanics and structural integrity of additive manufacturing. Experience on the following topics would be advantageous: mechanical testing and materials characterization, residual stresses and measurement techniques, finite element analysis, and scripting.

About Ghent University:

Ghent University is a public research university located in Ghent, Belgium. It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands. Ghent University is one of the biggest Flemish universities, consisting of 41,000 students and 9,000 staff members. The University also supports the University Library and the University Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals in Belgium. It is one of the greatest beneficiaries of funding from the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO). Ghent University consistently rates among the top universities not only in Belgium but also throughout the world.

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