The goal of a crashworthy airframe is to prevent occupant fatalities and minimize the severity of injuries in survivable crash impacts. Conventional aircraft configurations have used crushable structures underneath the cabin floor and seat designs to achieve this goal. The Flying-V and other novel aircraft concepts such as the Airbus MAVERIC propose a maximum use of the cabin space with the reduction of the under-floor volume, making the use of conventional design solutions for crashworthiness no longer applicable.

The aim of this PhD project is to develop a design philosophy and methodology for crashworthy structures applicable to unconventional aircraft already during the preliminary design phase. The Flying-V concept developed by the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. All applicable certification requirements and relevant load cases, including emergency landing, will be considered in the project.

This work is part the Smart Flying V Project, funded by the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate, with excellent qualifications and with a Master of Science degree, or equivalent, in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related subject. For this position, we require: 1) demonstrated affinity with dynamic simulations including progressive damage for composite structures and/or metallic structures; 2) demonstrated experience working in a multidisciplinary team; 3) demonstrated good programming skills; 4) very good written and spoken English. It is also desirable to have experience with 5) aircraft design and manufacturing; 6) multi-disciplinary design; 7) structural analysis.

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 € 2395 per month in the first year to € 3061 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 Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 250 PhD candidates and over 2,700 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond.

The Aerospace Materials and Structures (ASM) department is dedicated to research on and development of structures and materials. Multiple groups cover the range from fundamental material science to full-scale structural component testing. This position is embedded into one of the sections of the ASM department, namely Aerospace Structures and Computational Mechanics (ASCM).

The ASCM section focuses on development of analytical, numerical and design methodologies for advanced aerospace structures. These methods range from multiscale structures to large-scale aircraft components. Also experimental testing on the bench and in the wind tunnel is an area of expertise of this section.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.