Phd Scholarship in Simulations of Fatigue Life in Additively Manufactured Al-components Exposed to Corrosive Environments Due to Am Process Defects and Microstructures

DTU, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, the Section for Manufacturing Engineering invites applications for a PhD position (3 years) on the topic of simulation of corrosion fatigue life in AlSi10Mg based on microstructural characterizations.

The project is part of a Villum Investigator grant titled “Microstructural engineering of additive manufactured metals - MicroAM” funded by the VILLUM FONDEN. The overall aim of the project is to introduce microstructural engineering to the field of additive manufacturing (AM) of metals. This is to set the stage for optimizing metals microstructures in-situ during the AM process as well as ex-situ during post-AM treatments and enable predictions of the microstructural evolution, and thus changes in properties, while AM components are in use.

Responsibilities and qualifications

If you are you interested in numerical simulations of advanced manufacturing processes which involve several physical phenomena and subsequent cross-linking of these simulations over different length-scales as well as linking simulations and experiments, perhaps you are our new PhD student. 

The aim is to predict the impact of external cyclic loads (during real-life loading scenarios under aggressive conditions) on the porosity and microstructural evolution in additively manufactured metallic samples, by the development of advanced computational multiphysics models of stress corrosion cracking and coupling these with process-microstructure models (being developed within MicroAM project). Main focus will be on additively manufactured AlSiMg alloys. You will be responsible for the development, calibration and validation of the corresponding advanced multi-physics computational models. You will collaborate closely with a postdoctoral researcher responsible for in-situ fatigue testing under corrosive environments, and will participate in the 4D (x,y,z,time) analysis of the AM microstructure and crack formation/propagation phenomena. In addition to the direct project related research, you will have the opportunity to disseminate your research through publication of papers and presentations at international conferences.

You will work in close collaboration with a group of senior scientists, as well as Postdocs and PhDs all engaged in the Villum Investigator project MicroAM. A 3–6-month foreign stay at an international research group focusing on microstructural modelling of corrosion in AM parts will be part of the PhD project. 

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. 

Demonstrated competence in programming with Python and working on Linux based platform is essential for this position. Further, we are looking for a doctoral candidate who meets the following requirements:

• A background and strong interest in aluminum alloys, fatigue analysis, and numerical modelling is preferred. 
• Experience with computer aided design and engineering (CAE, e.g., Abaqus, Ansys) software tools commonly used in additive manufacturing, structural design and related research (e.g., parametric design tools, finite element simulation tools, path planning and slicing tools, etc.).
• Deep enthusiasm for conducting original research in an interdisciplinary and international team and strive for scientific excellence.
• Fluency in English (oral and written).
• Excellent communication abilities, social skills, and independent attitude paired with the ability to network and interact with relevant stakeholders.

Application procedure 

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 30 November 2025 (23:59 Danish time).

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