PhD in production technology - AI and non-destructive techniques for quality assessment

In many industrial applications, there are increasing demands on cost-efficient, reliable and safe components with reduced fuel consumption and environmental impact. These requirements have stimulated a development of new advanced manufacturing technologies and light weight technology based on fabrication and additive manufacturing (AM). This raises higher demands on product quality assurance and reliable and cost-effective non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and material characterization methods in order to maintain the quality and safety levels. In a new project in cooperation with Swedish industry we seek a PhD student for a position at University West.

The scientific part of the project

The simulation software (simSUNDT) enables simulation of both contact as well as so-called Immersion Phased Array technique (PAUT) in combination with different kinds of manufacturing defects (both volumetric and crack-like) which may potentially occur in components built using additive manufacturing. The model will then be used in the development of a non-destructive method that will enable, not only detection of defects, but also sizing and characterization (QNDE). The developed system will be part of an in-line quality assessment system that also incorporates information from other kind of non-destructive techniques with less degree of information depth and will be merged into a machine learning system.

Based on simSUNDT and developed models of conventional and immersion phased array probes identify if frequency content in received signal (pulse-echo inspection) can be correlated with parameters (i.e., size, depth and angles) defining a circular defect (penny shaped). Optimize the generated sound field with respect to the selected detection parameter from a circular defect. Quantification of detection capacity using probability of detection (POD) based on simulated data and compare different detection criteria. Identify a procedure to 1/detect the defect and 2/characterize it in terms of type (volumetric or crack loke), size and orientation. Experimental validation of conclusions drawn from above model-based POD study.

• Optimization of ultrasonic fields using simulation technology.
• Comparison between different detection criteria’s both for conventional and immersion probes.
• What are the possibilities and limitations for using Acoustic Emission (AE) as a tool for process monitoring and quality assessment in Additive Manufacturing (AM)?
• Investigate how in-process monitoring data can be correlated to post inspection data and utilized for more efficient quality control.

Doctoral degree program: Production Technology

Research center:

Doctoral students in Production Technology become members of the research group PTW (Production Technology West). The group collaborates with the engineering industry in the region at the Production Technology Centre, which houses an advanced research laboratory. Click here for more information about our research center.

Job description:

The research program includes, in addition to participation in third-cycle courses and other activities, the implementation of independent thesis work. Doctoral students shall primarily devote themselves to their own education. A doctoral student may, however, be engaged to a limited extent in education, research, and administration, mainly within Production Technology. Such duties, before a doctorate has been conferred, may not occupy more than 20 percent of full-time working hours. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 2).

Qualification requirements:

To qualify for appointment as a PhD, two eligibility requirements must be met: 1) basic eligibility and 2) special eligibility.

1) The basic eligibility requirements for doctoral programs as set out in the Higher Education Ordinance are as follows:

• a degree at master’s level,
• completed courses totaling at least 240 university credits of which a minimum of 60 at master’s level or,
• substantially equivalent knowledge gained in some other way whether in Sweden or abroad.

2) To fulfil the special eligibility requirements for a doctoral degree in Production Technology, a student must hold a degree at master’s level in a subject relevant to the doctoral degree subject. This degree may be in Applied Physics, Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Physics, or equivalent, with a thesis project corresponding to at least half a year of study. The eligibility requirements may be fulfilled by studies in Sweden or abroad.

For more information please read 3.1 and 3.2 in General syllabus for the third-cycle programme in Production Technology, Ref. No U 2021/160.

Additional Qualifications:

Mandatory:

• A master’s degree in applied physics, mechanical engineering, material science, engineering physics, or equivalent.
• Ability to communicate orally and in written English
• Good cooperation skills

Other relevant but not mandatory qualifications:

• Documented experience/courses in numerical modelling with finite elements or advanced programming in e.g., MATLAB, Fortran, C/C++/C#, Python or equivalent language
• Experience of NDE, signal processing and measurement systems
• Documented experience of research work and scientific writing (prior publications in the subject is regarded as a merit)
• Ability to communicate in Swedish is regarded as a merit

Selection:

The basic factor for selection among qualified applicants is the ability to profit from such a program. For more information, please read 3.3 in General syllabus for the third-cycle programme in Production Technology, Ref. No U 2021/160.

We believe that a successful applicant should have a genuine interest in the development of mathematical models of physics. It will also be essential to actively take part in the experimental verification of the developed software and algorithms (optimization schemes). For this reason, the ability to work well in a group with other employees and students is necessary.

Duration and terms of employment:

Employment as a doctoral student shall be on an open-ended basis but not for longer than to a specific point in time and never for a period extending more than one year after receiving the doctoral degree. The initial appointment must not be for more than one year. The appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time. A person may be employed as a research student for a total of not more than eight years. The total period of employment, however, may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study at the third level of higher education. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 7). If 20% of the working hours are dedicated to education and administration, this normally means an employment of 5 years.

Application

Applications are to be submitted electronically through the University West web-based recruitment tool, Varbi.

The application must include:

• CV/Personal qualifications
• Personal letter containing
  • Interest in the research topic.
  • Previous experience regarding the proposed research topic and its research methods and scientific theories.
  • Motive to pursue doctoral studies
• Degree project of second level of higher education
• Degree certificate of first and second level of higher education in the original language and in translation
• Diploma Supplement in original language and in translation
• Course list/transcript of all semesters for bachelor's and master's degrees in original language and in translation
• Other documents which the applicant wishes to invoke

If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier. If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.

Approved written languages regarding papers, diplomas, grades and other relevant documents are the Scandinavian languages and English, or translations into those languages. Attach the original when submitting translated documents.

Documents that cannot be sent digitally, should be marked with ref.no R 2023/261 sent to:

University West
HR
461 86 Trollhättan
Sweden

The application should reach University West no later than 2024-02-16. Mark the application with ref.no: R 2023/261.

The Department of Engineering Sciences strives for equality and diversity in all professions. We welcome applicants with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. For us, it is natural with an inclusive working environment and that our employees can combine work with active parenthood.

Welcome with your application!

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