PhD Studentship
Effect of thermo-electro-mechanical coupling on dynamic processes in inelastic layered structures
Centre for Micro- and Nanomechanics (CEMINACS)
School of Engineering
Dept Supervisor: Professor Igor Guz

Applications are invited for a 3 year EPSRC funded PhD studentship. The successful candidate will join the Centre for Micro- and Nanomechanics in the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, U.K.

Project:
The forced-vibration analysis of structures and their members occupies a significant place in the dynamics of deformable systems. An accurate prediction of the dynamic and quasi-static response of structures and their members is a huge challenge, since the material of a structure may become plastic under intensive loading and/or exhibit viscous properties. Variable viscoelastoplastic behaviour should be studied when designing metal dampers for the vibrations of building structures under wind and seismic loads, devices for suppressing vibrations of pipelines, test specimens in low-cycle fatigue tests, etc.

The overall aim is to improve our understanding of the complex coupled processes in thin-wall inelastic structures that can contain both active and passive layers and can experience intensive cyclic or impact loading, with a long-term goal of development of general design guidelines to achieve the necessary productivity and reliability of structures.

The work is likely to involve a combination of analytical studies and computer modelling including Finite Element analysis and MatLab/Fortran programming.

Person specification:
You will have a first or upper second class degree in: applied mathematics, solid mechanics, engineering or materials science (or an equivalent qualification) and ideally be familiar with some or all of the following: non-elastic constitutive equations; vibration analysis; numerical modelling using MatLab, C++ or FORTRAN; Finite Element analysis using ABAQUS or ANSYS.

For more information see the web-site of the Centre for Micro- and Nanomechanics (www.abdn.ac.uk/ceminacs) or contact Professor Igor Guz directly (i.guz@abdn.ac.uk).

If you are interesting in applying please send a detailed CV to:
Lisa Clydesdale, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, U.K.
Tel: 01224 272820; Fax: 01224 272497; E-mail: eng800@abdn.ac.uk.