Vacant PhD position(s) ACOUSTICS/ULTRASONICS at KU Leuven - KULAK (Kortrijk, Belgium) Visualisation and localisation of defects by Nonlinear Elastic Wave Spectroscopy techniques This project aims at developing experimental and numerical techniques for nonlinear ultrasonic non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E). NDT&E is very important in material characterization, quality assurance of new products and structural health monitoring (SHM) of existing components. Among others, ultrasonic methods (20kHz-100MHz) are perhaps the most frequently used. At Kulak (KU Leuven Campus Kortrijk), several nonlinear elastic wave spectroscopy (NEWS) techniques have been developed and are continuously further refined. NEWS focuses on methodologies to increase the detection sensitivity of material microdamage through an amplitude dependent analysis of key material parameters. The generation of harmonics and intermodulation frequencies during wave propagation, and the excitation dependent frequency shifts and nonlinear damping properties under resonance conditions are directly related to the presence of microdamage in the material. This information can be exploited to visualize zones of deterioration. Current projects at Kulak, for which 4 year funding is available, aim at developing innovative implementations of experimental NEWS based techniques, at further enhancing the reliability and accuracy of microdamage detection by implementing selective-focusing techniques based on timereversal and tomographic approaches and at improving the detection of multiple damaged regions by signal processing techniques. Samples, mostly originating from the aeronautical sector, can be composites or metals, with damages in the form of delaminations or imperfect friction stir welds. The project is supported by three European grants in Aeronautics (Saristu, Alamsa, StirScan) with many academic and industrial partners throughout Europe. We are looking for two to three PhD students.
One position is open immediately, two other start in October/November 2012
Candidates should have a strong background in mathematical and electrical or computational engineering and be able to work in researchers. He/she will have experience and/or a strong interest control, software development and numerical mathematics. He/she towards the goal of the project.
applied physics, mechanical, an interdisciplinary team of in acoustics, instrumentation is able to focus his/her work
Application: http://phd.kuleuven.be/set/voorstellen.php?group=50000403 or send CV, letter of motivation and coordinates of three reference persons to
[email protected]
Koen Van Den Abeele KU Leuven - KULAK Science, Engineering and Technology E. Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium Tel: +3256246256
