PhD Position Hydrogen-assisted Fatigue in Pipeline Steels

5 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Research Field

Technology

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

18 Apr 2024 - 21:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

40.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer 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.

Requirements
Specific 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 .

Additional Information
Benefits

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.

Selection process

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.

Additional comments

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] ).

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/339862/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Delft University of Technology

Country

Netherlands

City

Delft

Postal Code

2628 CD

Street

Mekelweg 2

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/339862/phd-position-hydrogen-assisted-fatig…

Contact

City

Delft

Website

http://www.tudelft.nl/

Street

Mekelweg 2

Postal Code

2628 CD

STATUS: EXPIRED