PhD Position on Impact Analysis of Composite Structures

The Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) is a leading institute for aerospace research and development in the Netherlands. Our organization is involved in various national and international projects, focusing on innovative technologies and materials for the aerospace industry. As part of our research efforts for the Ministry of Defense, we aim to develop methods to analyse advanced composite structures. The main focus is on implementing high-fidelity computational methods for reliable analysis of high-velocity impact events, with the goal of transforming these into computationally efficient, robust tools suitable for rapid design iteration, optimization, and certification of these advanced composite structures. Within this project, we are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our Computational Mechanics team.

The candidate will research the available computational methods and (open-source) software suitable for simulating high-velocity impact events. The method should be capable to predict all the relevant damage mechanisms observed in experimental testing that will be performed by the candidate in the first phase of the project. This includes investigating methods such as finite element analysis, mesh-free methods, and smoothed particle hydrodynamics, among others, to determine their suitability for capturing complex damage phenomena like delamination, fiber breakage, and matrix cracking. The first phase of the project is concluded with a comprehensive literature review that summarizes the state-of-the-art in computational modelling of high-velocity impacts on composite structures, highlighting the strengths and limitations of existing approaches. After a selection of the most promising method, the candidate should implement and further develop it, which may involve modifying existing algorithms and developing new material models.

The last phase of the project aims to develop computationally efficient tools for the design and optimisation of large-scale advanced composite structures. It involves translating the high-fidelity models into fast-running surrogate models using novel techniques within the field of machine learning and model order reduction. The surrogate models will be integrated into a design optimisation framework to enable automatic generation of optimal material architectures and layups for specific impact scenarios. The ultimate goal is to provide industry-applicable tools and design guidelines for certification of impact protection systems for advanced composite structures.

•        Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Civil Engineering with a focus on computational mechanics

•        Experience with Finite Element Modelling (FEM), aerospace structures, and damage mechanics

•        Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English

•        Able to balance broad research scope and real-world application

Excellent! Sent us your letter of motivation and CV via the ‘Solliciteren’ button on the website.

A positive outcome of a security screening (VGB) is a condition for employment. You can find more information about this on the MIVD website.

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