2 PhD student positions within Geometry Assurance & Robust Design

Want to become a PhD within state-of-the art dimensional management in a stimulating research environment and with close collaboration with industry? You will, in collaboration with our industrial partners and by the use of advanced simulation tools, accelerate the transformation towards a more sustainable industry and become a part of the global research community. We will extend our research team with two PhD students in new research projects.

Information about the research
The Geometry Assurance & Robust Design Group , at the Department of Industrial and Materials Sciences (IMS) and Wingquist Laboratory, conducts research on assembly modelling and analysis, robust locating system design, variation simulation, visualization, tolerance optimization, inspection preparation and use of inspection data for product and process control. The research group has over the last decade produced a number of scientific results that have been transferred into commercial software products, today used in daily operation by a large number of engineers at several international companies.

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student in this project you will focus on one of the following areas:

Variation Simulation for Composites: Variation from individual manufacturing processes, together with the assembly and joining process, affect the fulfillment of geometrical requirement on the final product. By the use of variation simulation tools, the geometrical outcome of an assembled product can be predicted. Tolerances and locating schemes can then be optimized with respect to cost and quality. In the variation simulation software RD&T, developed by the research team, a FEA solver is integrated to predict how non-rigid parts or subassemblies behave after assembly. New materials such as composites put new requirements on design and manufacturing of complex assembled product. This in turn puts new requirements on the ability to simulate and verify both product functionality and manufacturability in early design stages.

Research within this area will cover:
- Variation simulation including new materials and material combinations
- Minimization of variation due to the joining (riveting, gluing, welding…) process
- Optimization of fixture design with respect to geometrical robustness, taking the joining sequence into consideration

The research will be carried out in close collaboration with our partners within the aircraft and space industry.

Quality control and Inspection: To follow up and secure the quality of a product and to monitor its fulfillment of requirements, inspection is a vital step in the product realization process. The inspection procedure needs to be fast and accurate. New, fast in-line inspection methods, based on photogrammetry, are under development. To be able to adapt the inspection data from this method to use in simulation, and to evaluate the product's or part's actual shape, adjustments for effects from gravity and effect from heat need to be made. Those adjustments will be based on FE analysis and be integrated in the variation simulation software RD&T, developed by the research group.

Research within this area will cover:
- Adjustments of part shapes due to gravity and effect from heat
- Contact modelling
- Estimating the accuracy of the inspection data

The research will be carried out in close collaboration with our partners in the automotive industry.

The position also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 10-20 per cent of working hours.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of 5 years.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree in Engineering or Applied mathematics. Courses in material science, numerical analysis, FEA are meritorious. You need to be fluent in English and be able to produce high-quality written documents. If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg .
Read more about working at Chalmers  and our benefits  for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence . Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20210523 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:

CV:(Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter:(Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 9 January, 2022

For questions, please contact:
Professor Kristina Wärmefjord, Industrial and Materials Sciences
Email: kristina.warmefjord@chalmers.se
Phone: +46766108312

Professsor Rikard Söderberg, Industrial and Materials Sciences
Email: rikard.soderberg@chalmers.se
Phone: +46317728617

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***

Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!

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