PhD Scholarship in Nonlinear Strain Paths in Sheet Metal Forming

If you are looking for a research opportunity and a PhD position, here is a possibility at the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark. The PhD project involves experimental testing of formability limits and contact conditions under complex in-plane loading paths of sheet metal during forming. Analytical and numerical models will be developed to describe the experimental findings, and new theories will be established to extend current state of the art. Academic, international partners will be involved, and Danish industry will support the project with experimental facilities and will be following the developments to ensure applicability for industry. The position is to be filled April 1, 2025, or soon after that.

Responsibilities

The PhD project will explore formability and contact mechanics under non-linear strain paths, where the principal strain directions change. In the limit, the major and minor principal strain axes may even swap. This will add a new dimension to the understanding of both formability and the development of real contact area against a tool surface, which is important for estimation of friction. A new tool will be developed for combining real-time measurements of in-plane strains and live-update of the actual formability curve/surface accounting for the nonlinear strain paths. Analytical and numerical modeling will be carried out to enrich the understanding of the strain path influence on both formability and real contact area.

Your primary tasks in the PhD project will be to: 

• Characterize sheet material in terms of flow stress curves and anisotropy.
• Design and carry out experiments following selected strain paths.
• Evaluate resulting formability based on measured in-plane strains.
• Evaluate real contact area in tool contacts.
• Establish new models to describe the experimental findings.
• Apply FEM simulations to gain necessary process information.
• Demonstrate how the new models can be used for prediction and link to industrial use. 

Furthermore, your tasks as academic employee will include: 

• Assistance in teaching.
• Supervision of BSc and MSc student projects.
• Dissemination of research results in scientific journals and conferences. 

Qualifications: 

• Good understanding of metal forming processes and/or solid mechanics.
• Experience with experimental work is an advantage.
• Experience with numerical simulations (FEM) is an advantage. 

You will work in a research team combining Manufacturing Engineering, Solid Mechanics, Experimental Methods and Analytical/Numerical Modeling. A longer period at a university outside Denmark is needed, lab work will partly be carried out with an industrial partner, and visits and presentations to Danish industry are also generally expected.

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.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Chris Valentin Nielsen, cvni@dtu.dk and Associate Professor Brian Nyvang Legarth, bnle@dtu.dk. 

Application procedure 

To apply, please read the full job advertisement by clicking the 'Apply' button

Advert information