Phd Scholarship in Topology Optimization of Cellular Materials for Heat Pipes

Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD position starting in the fall of 2022 within the field of topology optimization of materials and structures for extreme heat transfer, which is a part of the “Towards extreme heat transfer – combining multiphysics-multi scale modelling, topology optimization as well as superconductive materials” project financed by the Independent Research Fund Denmark and carried out at the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark with collaborators such as The Frauenhofer Institute, Germany. 

The project considers the multi-scale improvement of extreme heat transfer devices by optimizing material composition, material microstructure and meso-structure for applications such as wicked heat pipes. This, among other, includes topology optimization of fluid flow and heat transfer problems subject to phase change conditions. 

Responsibilities and qualifications

The development of topology optimization methods for optimized micro- and meso-structural extreme heat transfer requires insight into the modeling of thermo-fluids as well as phenomena such as evaporation and condensation i.e., two phase flows. Models useful and robust for the application of topology optimization need to be developed, implemented and validated to support the overall goal of improving extreme heat transfer applications. You will be responsible for the development of topology optimization models on multiple scales ranging from local micro features to overall application scale. Thus, candidates should document experience within several of the fields: computational fluid mechanics, computational heat transfer, computational mechanics, finite element methods, numerical optimization techniques, shape/topology optimization.

In addition to the direct project related research, you will attend courses, conduct teaching related activities, disseminate your research through publication of papers and attending conferences and internationalize by research stay abroad.

We envision that:

• You have an open mind and can think creatively in a mathematical, mechanical and programming context
• You are eager to elaborate on the newest research result, improve the ideas and test them by implementation.
• You have experience within programming as our research elaborates on an in-house parallel optimization framework written in c++.
• You know and have experience within shape or topology optimization of fluid flows/thermofluidics and are committed to improve the state-of-the-art  

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 in a relevant area such as Mechanical Engineering or Applied Mathematics, etc. 

Approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility. 

Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 25 August 2022 (Danish time).