DTU, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, the Section for Manufacturing Engineering invites applications for a PhD position (3 years) to develop a fundamental understanding of ex-situ and in-situ microstructural engineering applied to laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of steel and aluminum alloys using open-architecture LPBF systems.
The project is part of a Villum Investigator grant titled “Microstructural engineering of additive manufactured metals – MicroAM” funded by VILLUM FONDEN. The project aims to introduce microstructural engineering to the field of additive manufacturing (AM) of metals. This is to set the stage for optimizing metals microstructures in-situ during the AM process as well as ex-situ during post-AM treatments and enable predictions of the microstructural evolution, and thus changes in properties, while AM components are in use.
Responsibilities and qualifications
If you are you interested in additive manufacturing of metals, open-architecture laser powder bed fusion, microstructural analysis, process-structure-property validation, and developing a new paradigm in microstructural engineering of AM metals, perhaps you are our new PhD student.
At DTU, we have a custom-designed open-architecture LPBF system that provides a high-degree of freedom in producing AM samples with a wide range of processing parameters that can be locally varied at a high spatial and temporal resolution. You will be responsible for designing and building modules coupled with operation and maintenance of the open-architecture LPBF system. You will work on developing methods for microstructural engineering where in-situ heat treatments are utilized to change microstructural features of steel and aluminium alloys.
You will also work on detailed materials characterization of AM samples including electron microscopy, residual stress and 3D microstructure characterization by X-ray diffraction, as well as powder production by laboratory scale gas atomization. You will collaborate with other researchers that apply ex-situ microstructural modification based on plastic deformation by shot-peening, tension/compression, annealing, as well as stress corrosion experiments. You will assist on systematically benchmarking the effect of specific in-situ heat treatments on the microstructure and performance of three commonly used alloys, namely SS316L, 17-4 PH and AlSi10Mg. Lastly, you will collaborate with simulation experts on verification and validation of state-of-the-art multi-scale, multi-physics models.
You will work in close collaboration with a group of senior scientists, technicians as well as Post Docs and PhDs all engaged in the Villum Investigator project MicroAM. A 3–6-month foreign stay will be part of the PhD project.
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.
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.
Application procedure
To apply, please read the full job advertisement, by clicking the ‘Apply’ button.