Introduction

PhD Student position Micromechanical modelling and experimental analysis of advanced high strength steels (AHHS). Two PhD vacancies are available in the Mechanics of Materials group led by Prof. Marc Geers (www.tue.nl/mechmat). The candidates will be co-supervised by Dr. Ron Peerlings, Dr. Johan Hoefnagels, Dr. Varvara Kouznetsova and Prof. Marc Geers. These PhD projects form a part of the Digitally Enhanced New Steel Product Development (DENS) program, in which Tata Steel Europe, Materials innovation institute (M2i) and several academic partners collaborate to enable the development of new generations of advanced materials for e.g. the automotive industry.

We are looking for the remaining candidate for Project 2. Read further for more information.

Digitally Enhanced New Steel Product Development (DENS) program

Significant progress has been made in the past decades in the development of advanced models that describe the behavior of steel during processing and subsequent applications. However, the quantitative application of through process models in new steel product development still lacks predictivity and therefore faces a number of scientific challenges. In modern steel grades, parameters of the steel production process have a significant influence on the final material properties. Furthermore, the trend towards complex multi-phase microstructures requires very sophisticated models to describe their mechanical properties in a predictive manner. Accordingly, a through process model (from process to engineering properties) relies on a series of models at different scales that strongly interact with each other. The main scientific challenge addressed in this program is to integrate state-of-the-art models in a single through process model framework that can be applied in practice for new steel product development. To this aim, a Digitally Enhanced New Steel Product Development (DENS) program has been initiated as a collaboration between Tata Steel Europe, Materials innovation institute (M2i), Max Planck Institute for Iron Research and academic partners TU Delft, UTwente and TU Eindhoven. In order to enhance this collaboration and ensure the maximum efficiency in knowledge transfer, parts of the projects will be executed at the main industrial partner (Tata Steel).

Organization/department

The scientific research activities in the Mechanics of Materials group (www.tue.nl/mechmat) concentrate on the experimental analysis, theoretical understanding and predictive modelling of a range of phenomena in engineering materials at different length scales, which emerge from the physics and the mechanics of the underlying multi-phase microstructure. The main challenge is the accurate prediction of the mechanical properties of materials with complex microstructures. This focus is closely related to intrinsic material properties (multi-scale plasticity in advanced steels, interfacial properties in laminates, thermo-mechanical fatigue in cylinder heads, etc.), the application of materials in microsystems (i.e. multi-phase functional materials, MEMS, stretchable electronics, etc.) and various systems and processes involving mechanically complex interfaces (e.g. in Systems in Package, flexible displays, electronic textiles). The aim is a substantial increase of the predictive power of state-of-the-art models, thereby enabling the optimization of critical, high-tech products and manufacturing processes in direct relation to the complex loading history of the underlying materials and joining interfaces. A systematic and integrated numerical-experimental approach is generally adopted for this purpose.

The group has a unique research infrastructure, both from an experimental and computational perspective. The Multi-Scale Lab allows for quantitative in-situ microscopic measurements during deformation and mechanical characterization within the range of 10-9-10-2 m. In terms of computer facilities, several multiprocessor-multi-core computer clusters are available, as well as a broad spectrum of in-house and commercial software.

 

PhD project : Multi-phase interfacial models for multi-phase steels

Interfaces are key ingredients for the engineering properties of AHSS, and in particular for formability, strength and edge ductility. Interfaces in AHSS are generally complex, multi-phase in nature, with a great intrinsic variability. Interfaces either separate different phases, grains or other units of the same phase (e.g. martensite blocks). These interfaces are formed throughout the whole material processing chain, whereby specific processing routes define specific physical, chemical and morphological features of the interfaces, e.g. distribution of carbon and alloying elements at and in the vicinity of the interface, possibly presenting non-negligible gradients, precipitates of various chemical compositions, sizes and shapes etc. These features will determine the strength and deformation mechanisms of the interfaces as well as of the surrounding phases. Interfacial properties therefore govern to a large extent the engineering properties of AHSS, in particular all deformation-driven properties (formability limits) and fracture (strength) and damage. A realistic through process modelling approach would therefore be incomplete without the incorporation of physically based models properly describing the mechanical behaviour of interfaces at the scale of the multi-phase microstructure of the AHSS.

The goal of this project consists in the development and numerical implementation of a generic class of physically based interface models, based on a two-scale representation of the multi-phase interfacial morphology and geometry, which enables the characterization of interfaces in AHSS. The generic model should incorporate fine scale chemical, physical and morphological features of the interfaces and the resulting elementary deformation mechanisms through an appropriate homogenization technique. The fine-scale parameters of the model need to be identified experimentally. To this end, a dedicated fine scale experimental program should be setup and executed within the project.

A MSc degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics or a related discipline is required. Furthermore:

a strong background in continuum mechanics and computational methods. 

experience in micromechanics, non-linear material modelling, finite element techniques and experimental microstructural material characterization are of benefit.

talent, enthusiasm and  excellent analytical skills for high-quality research.

good communication skills (high English proficiency) and high study grades. 

We offer:

A challenging job at a dynamic and ambitious university and in a world-class team

70% of the time working at TATA steel Europe, Ijmuiden (the Netherlands)

An appointment (1 fte) as a PhD-student for four years 

Gross monthly salary from €2222 (first year) to €2840 (fourth year) in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities (CAO NU), which favourably compares to conditions in the USA or UK.

An attractive package of fringe benefits, including excellent work facilities, end of the year allowance and sport facilities.