X-ray tomography for in-situ characterization of crystallization damage in layered artworks

One of the most common deterioration problems affecting cultural heritage worldwide is crystallization damage caused by an interplay between salts, environmental changes and material properties. Especially porous materials are susceptible to salt crystallization. It threatens artworks such as sculptures, ceramics, frescoes, paintings, archeological objects and buildings in museums as well as outdoor environments. Most of these artworks are made of an assembly of layered materials with different physicochemical properties. Additional layers of material are sometimes added as conservation measures. The properties of all materials involved and the interfaces between these materials affect the artwork’s susceptibility to deterioration.

As a PhD student within the CRYSTINART consortium, you will focus on the use of high-resolution X-ray computed tomography to characterize salt damage across layered artwork systems. You will mimic salt weathering scenarios in a climatic chamber, and once realistic scenarios defined, you will translate them to the X-ray tomograph. Time-resolved high-resolution X-ray computed tomography allows to follow the changes in the internal structure of the layered porous materials in-situ, and to monitor brine and salt crystal distributions as a function of time in a non-destructive way. Subsequently, you will set up image analysis workflows to derive quantitative data from the X-ray scans that can then be employed as direct input for theoretical crystallization damage models and for numerical studies.

More details on the project and how to apply can be found in the attached pdf.

Fed up with polluted skies? Looking forward to sunny days? Contribute with your
research to address one of the major challenges of the XXI century: achieving
zero emissions to enjoy the blue sky again.

We offer a 3-year PhD position for developing predictive models of induced
seismicity as a result of fluid injection/extraction related to geothermal energy,
geologic carbon storage and subsurface energy storage. The position is related
to the ERC-StG project GEoREST (predictinG EaRthquakES induced by fluid
injecTion) (www.georest.eu), funded by the European Research Council (ERC,
https://erc.europa.eu/). The candidate will perform her/his research at the
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in a collaborative and enthusiastic
environment.

Qualifications and application requirements in the attached .pdf.

PhD opportunities available on following multidisciplinary research topics:

– AI/ML, data-driven and probabilistic methods in: bridge scour predictions, early detection of internal erosion in dams/levees, porous media simulations, geomaterials constitutive behavior and failure predictions, offshore geohazard assessments

– Advanced soil-structure interaction analysis and large-scale testing for complex geo structural systems under extreme events: Impact/collision on retaining structures and piled barrier systems, Seismic behavior of deep foundations and underground structures subjected to liquefaction/lateral spreading

Includes Opportunity to: Receive Scholarships (stipend and fee waiver), Collaborate with industry and researches across other disciplines; Work with academics from leading universities in the US and Canada; Travel for presenting research in conferences/
symposiums

Interested applicants to send CV, transcripts and sample publications (if available) to negin.yousefpour@unimelb.edu.au. First round of scholarship deadline on Aug 28th.

Dr Negin Yousefpour
Doreen Thomas Fellow in Infrastructure Engineering

Two PhD Scholarships are available at the University of Queensland (Australia) on the study of “Thermo-Mechanical Damage Behavior of Rock Under Polyaxial Stresses” and “Combined Dynamic/Biaxial Compression Failure Mode of Geostructures” for Domestic and Onshore International candidates. See the links below for detail:

• https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/phd-scholarship-combined-dynamicbiaxial-compression-failure-mode-geostructures
• https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/phd-scholarship-thermo-mechanical-damage-behavior-rock-under-polyaxial-stresses