TITLE
Discrete Element Method to support microstructure design of refractories
HOSTING
3 years Phd – beginning in October 2022 18 months in the IMERYS company (www.imerys.com), Lyon, France 18 months in the IRCER laboratory (www.ircer.fr), Limoges, France
1. Research areas (one of the following) :
(1) Multiscale/multiphysics modelling for geotechnical engineering (fluid-structure-soil interaction);
(2) Advanced laboratory testing on granular materials and/or modelling;
(3) Chemical-mechanical improvement on soft soils (experiment and/or modelling);
(4) Smart monitoring of geotechnical engineering, data analysis and AI application.
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks to recruit a talented researcher to a 44 month Research Associate position to work on nature-based solutions to mitigate landslides. This position is funded by the UKRI Future. Leaders Fellowship project: ‘Soil-mycelia systems for slope stabilisation’ led by Dr Grainne El Mountassir. The aim of the project is to develop novel low-cost, low-carbon fungal-based biogeotechnologies for landslide mitigation. The project will focus on characterising the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of fungal treated soils over time and in response to varying environmental conditions (e.g. temperature and wetting-drying cycles). Experiments will be conducted at bench scale (cms) and at large-scale (several metres) in the laboratory. Experimental data gathered will be used to inform numerical models to investigate the influence of fungal treatment on slope stability for real case studies. The successful researcher will be based in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK and will have the opportunity to undertake an industrial secondment with BAM Ritchies. The Department has over £4.5 million of current research projects in ground and subsurface engineering and the researcher will
join an enthusiastic and friendly team of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers that research a range of bio- and biochemical ground improvement and grouting technologies.
The University is seeking an excellent and enthusiastic candidate that can contribute to laboratory-based research on the hydraulic and mechanical testing of soils (e.g. oedometer, shear box, triaxial, permeability, water retention behaviour, suction control/monitoring methods) and investigation of soil microstructure (e.g. Scanning Electron Microscope, X-ray micro-computed tomography, Optical microscopy). The project will also work towards developing a constitutive model for the hydromechanical behaviour of fungal treated soils and numerical modelling will be conducted to assess the influence of fungal treatment on slope stability. It is not necessary that you have expertise in all of these areas as training will be given, but you should have experience in at least some of these areas. To be considered for the role, you should have a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. Civil Engineering) and have successfully completed a PhD in a relevant field (e.g. geotechnical engineering, ecological engineering). You should be creative, with the ability to apply initiative and problem solve and have excellent communication skills.
Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Dr Grainne El Mountassir (grainne.elmountassir@strath.ac.uk)
Applications can be made here: https://strathvacancies.engageats.co.uk/ViewVacancyV2.aspx?enc=mEgrBL4XQK0+ld8aNkwYmH4Oj9yC5KGHG4JJXJqd3qumbkb1heGZAYU7C5Sfkr63rUIs6l3m64+4RVE3r821E1xMzEFLqimpynxY+xex1Irb9f+0DXyVs7d90Qijz0xyVhhicaeN7mRX3/BDRkdgRg==
Deadline: 22th May 2022
More information available in attached pdf file.
The University of Twente opens a PhD position on ‘Scaling friction from single grain to aggregate grain to (fault-gouge) contacts.‘ This project is in the area of tribology (study of friction, wear) with applications in earthquake (fault rock gouge) mechanics. It is a very interesting position on the boundary between tribology and geomechanics in the field of ‘geotribology’ – tribology of geomaterials. The project is funded by the DeepNL program of NWO.
The interested candidates can apply via this link: https://utwentecareers.nl/en/vacancies/558/phd-candidate-position-scaling-friction-from-single-grain-to-aggregate-grain-fault-gouge-contacts/
The deadline is 15th May, but could be extended to 29th May depending on the number of applications.
The Department of Civil & Structural Engineering at the University of Sheffield invites applications from outstanding and ambitious candidates for a position in Geotechnical Engineering at the Lecturer / Senior Lecturer level.
We seek a talented individual who can relate their research and teaching vision to impact within one or more of the following key challenges: infrastructure performance and resilience; adaptation of geotechnical systems for an evolving climate; low carbon development and management; integration of digital technologies with geotechnical applications. Applicants with a strong laboratory / physical modelling background are especially welcome, as are those with links to the design profession.
The Department has high quality geotechnical laboratory and physical modelling facilities including, at our Broad Lane site, advanced soil element testing laboratory, transparent soil (laser) laboratory and a 4.5m diameter beam centrifuge. The department is also home to the Integrated Civil and infrastructure Research Centre (iCAIR), part of the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC), where large scale physical testing on soil-water-structure problems can be carried out. Together, these offer a huge potential to develop and deepen experimental research interests across a range of geo-related problems.
Further information and an application link can be found below: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CON224/lecturer-senior-lecturer-in-geotechnical-engineering
The closing date for applications is 6th May 2022.
Informal enquiries can be made to Elisabeth Bowman, Reader in Geomechanics, at e.bowman@sheffield.ac.uk.
A PhD position in multi-scale modelling of auxetic cementitious composites is open at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology. The PhD will be part of a larger ERC funded project and collaborate closely with other members of the project team. Interested candidates can apply here:
Application deadline: May 15, 2022
We offer a postdoctoral position for investigating the hydromechanical modeling of masonry dams, subjected to flood and seismic events.
More information on this pdf file.
If you are interested, please send an application, including CV and a cover letter describing interests and qualifications related to the position and contact details of two reference people, to Guillaume Veylon, guillaume.veylon@inrae.fr, before 30th of April, 2022.
This is a full time 3-year PhD contract starting in October 2022, that will benefit from a collaboration between Université Grenoble-Alpes (www.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr) and specifically Laboratoire 3SR (Soils, Solids, Structures, Risks), Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris-Saclay (www.ens-paris-saclay.fr) and specifically the Laboratoire de Mécanique Paris-Saclay, as well as large scale facilities (Institut Laue Langevin, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility).
More information on this pdf file.
Application deadline: 20th of May 2022
Join the GEoREST team to contribute with your research to address one of the
major challenges of the XXI century: ending our dependency on hydrocarbons
and reaching zero or net negative emissions to achieve carbon neutrality.
We offer a postdoctoral position (1 year with possibility of another one depending
on results and funding availability) for investigating the mechanisms that induce
seismicity as a result of fluid injection/extraction related to geothermal energy,
geologic carbon storage and hydrogen 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.
If you are interested, please send an application, including CV and a cover letter
describing interests and qualifications related to the position and contact details
of two reference people, to Victor Vilarrasa, erc.georest@gmail.com, before 30th
of April, 2022. Selection will be performed on the basis of the excellence of the
CV and motivation.
More information on this flyer.
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks to recruit a talented researcher to a 24-month Research Associate position. The new Associate is required to demonstrate research experience in either Soil Mechanics, Soil Science or Plant Science. Within this project the Research Associate will work on a bioinspired system that uses emerging materials and concepts in geotechnical engineering to mimic the wicking mechanisms that plants use for transpiration. This position is funded by the EPSRC New Investigator Awards project: An ‘energy free’ pump: nanoporous gels to passively lift subsurface water” led by Dr Matteo Pedrotti.
The aim of the project is to develop a bioinspired pump capable of passively lifting subsurface water, from depths of tens-to hundreds of meters, using only energy that is provided naturally by the atmosphere. Through the design of a colloidal silica-based hydrogel that can be injected into soils and rocks, a soil-hydrogel network will be created that has an increased soil hydraulic conductivity and water retention capacity during periods of high negative soil water pressure, thus enabling the passive lifting of water from the deep groundwater table to near-surface soils during periods of drought. Providing a zero-energy engineering solution at the nexus between water, energy and food.
The project will tackle three specific challenges: to manipulate the hydrogel properties so that a sufficient water flux is provided over a desired range of negative pore water pressure values, whilst still maintaining injectability (a low initial viscosity and controllable gel time); to create a continuous, durable network of nanopores within the grouted soil that is resistant to repeated cycles of wetting and drying, i.e. the system must not irreversibly cavitate (form cracks or bubbles) at high negative water pressure, or the long-term hydraulic continuity will be lost; to demonstrate that plants can thrive when connected to an “Energyfree water pump”.
More information on this pdf file.