PhD Position Hydrogen-assisted Fatigue in Pipeline Steels

PhD Position Hydrogen-assisted Fatigue in Pipeline Steels
PhD Position Hydrogen-assisted Fatigue in Pipeline Steels

Published	Deadline	Location
today	18 Apr	Delft

Job description

Hydrogen is considered a clean and efficient energy carrier crucial for shaping the climate-neutral future. A large-scale production, transportation and storage of hydrogen will escalate in the next decades. However, due to the small size of hydrogen atom, it can be absorbed and interact with crystal defects in metallic materials, and degrade their mechanical properties, leading to a pre-mature failure. To support the upcoming hydrogen economy, understanding the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) in structural metals is essential for future hydrogen infrastructure. In particular, knowledge and control of the degrading effect of hydrogen on the material properties of pipeline steels are essential for transport safety.

This PhD project aims to experimentally investigate, understand and measure the influence of hydrogen on fatigue crack initiation and growth behaviour in pipeline steels and their welds. To achieve this, in-situ gaseous hydrogen fatigue testing at the macro-scale under representative service conditions, i.e. frequency, pressure, stress ratio, stress intensity range and load cycle shape, will be performed in combination with advanced nano- and micro- characterization. The impact of microstructure, hydrogen environments and stress state will be evaluated.

This PhD is embedded in the HyTROS (Hydrogen Transport, Offshore and Storage) project, funded under the GroenvermogenNL R&D program. You will join a lively community of internationally renowned interdisciplinary researchers in the Mechanical Engineering Faculty. The research is performed in a large team that include daily interactions with mechanical engineers, microscopists, surface scientists and computational scientists, all operating at multiple length scales. We expect that as part of your PhD, you will take the lead on interacting and collaborating with other researchers at TU Delft, with research groups at other universities, and with industry and other stakeholders. The HyTROS project, with partners from academia, research organizations and industry, will facilitate such interactions. 

Specifications

• 36—40 hours per week
• €2770—€3539 per month
• Delft View on Google Maps

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Requirements

You must be able to demonstrate:

• Masters degree in the field of materials science, metallurgical or mechanical engineering, (must have been awarded by the agreed-upon starting date of the PhD).
• A relevant background in steels and metallurgy.
• Documented experimental skills in conducting fatigue crack growth testing and potential drop measurements in metals.
• Documented experimental skills in microstructural and fractographic analysis.
• Strong analytical skills.
• You take initiative, are eager to learn, have a drive for excellence, and enjoy developing yourself through both academic challenges as well as through direct interaction with experts from industry.
• Very good written and spoken communication skills in English (Dutch is not required).

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Conditions of employment

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme  for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Employer
Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values  and we actively engage  to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Department
Faculty Mechanical Engineering

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos  will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Vera Popovich ([email protected] ).

For information about the application procedure, please contact Anita van Vianen ([email protected] ).

Working at TU Delft

Join the oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands. Work on clever solutions for worldwide challenges, to change the world and make an impact. Ready to bring your energy to our research?

Challenge, change, impact!

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Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 18 April 2024 via the application button and upload your motivation and CV.

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.