Job University of Twente - Full Chair in Solid Mechanics

Description of the field

Nonlinear solid mechanics considers the mechanical behavior of structures and materials under large displacements and deformations, contact and slip between parts and nonlinear material behavior like plasticity, creep and fracture. For application in engineering, knowledge of this behavior is of crucial importance. Examples thereof are the behaviour of material forming processes and the prediction of failure. Safety and reliability of products and structures are important aspects. Numerical simulations play an important role in this field. Experimental facilities are available.

Actual research in the group

An important application in which nonlinearities play a role is the simulation of material forming processes. The development of new materials and production processes justifies continued attention in this field. Accurate simulations enable an efficient use of material and optimized forming processes. A second application is found in the mechanics of bone implants, in which incomplete bonding and progressive interface fracture cause significant nonlinearities. The goal is to come to a patient specific optimization of implants, with consideration of uncertainties in the mechanical behavior of bone and the placement of an implant. More applications are expected in the future, e.g. explosion safety of structures (collapse mechanisms) and high-temperature energy conversion (thermo-mechanical calculations on gas turbines).

Embedding

Research in (nonlinear) solid mechanics requires integration of mechanics with the areas of materials science and computational mathematics. Expertise concerning these areas is available at the University of Twente. Cooperation with other groups is expected.

Education

The Applied Mechanics section is extensively involved in the bachelor and master programmes in Mechanical Engineering and in Industrial Design Engineering, and also contributes to the bachelor and master programmes in Biomedical Engineering and in Advanced Technology. The new chair, together with the chair for Applied Mechanics supplies the courses in statics, dynamics and mechanics of materials, computational mechanics and design optimization.

Research

The new professor will focus his research on development, validation and application of computational/modeling techniques for multi disciplinary design problems.

He or she will develop engineering applications and will also support actual (and future) research area's of the group such as (not exclusively) modeling of plastic forming processes for metals, optimization of implants under nonlinear conditions, nonlinear structural behavior for high-temperature applications, collapse of structures under explosion conditions.

The successful candidate will lead a group of currently 6 permanent staff members, including 3 lecturers. At the moment this team supervises 10 PhD students and postdocs.

The professor is responsible for the educational, research and management tasks of the chair. He or she should be willing to participate in relevant committees within the faculty, the university and on national and international level.

For the realization of the research goals external funding must be attracted. A part of the research projects must comply with contractual obligations between the University of Twente and the Materials innovation institute (M2i).

The University offers a full time tenured position as Professor, with a competitive salary (maximum 8.622,- gross per month) and benefits commensurate with the position, experience and qualifications.

University of Twente. A place where talent emerges and develops. Students and staff are our valued core. Approximately 3,300 scientists and professionals work together on groundbreaking research, relevant innovation and inspiring education for more than 9,000 students.