phd in mechanical engineering - 30th cycle · fatigue strength of mechanical components. ......

PhD in MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - 30th cycle

Research Area n. 2 - Machine and vehicle design

Number of scholarship offered 3

Department Dipartimento di Meccanica

Description of the Research Area

This research area is involved in advanced design methods and fitness for purpose of mechanicalcomponents. Advanced design methods refer to the definition of multiaxial low and high cyclefatigue life prediction criteria, the assessment of structural integrity of cracked elements, theprediction of fatigue life criteria of advanced materials as polymer matrix composite materials(short and long fibres), the definition of approaches to predict the influence of shot peening onfatigue strength of mechanical components. Gears, pressure vessels and helicopter componentsare dealt with. The optimal design and the testing of vehicle systems create a synergism betweenthe theoretical and the experimental researches on ground vehicles.

For further information:http://www.mecc.polimi.it/en/research/research-lines/machine-and-vehicle-design/

A selection of possible PhD thesis in Area 2 is listed here below and described in specificattachments; further research topics are also available.The assignment of a specific PhD topic to candidates admitted to the Programme will bedefined at a later stage by the Faculty Commitee, after the beginning of the PhD.Scholarships allocated in this area may or may not be associated with the PhD topicspresented here below:

1. Analysis of crack propagation by crystal plasticity models

2. New methods for improving the structural integrity of railway axles

3. Lightweight construction

4. Mechanical behaviour of materials under extreme conditions

5. Design of multilayer protections for low and high velocity impact

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6. Design of passive impact monitoring systems for metallic and composite structures

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Research Field: ANALYSIS OF CRACK PROPAGATION BY CRYSTAL PLASTICITY MODELS

Monthly net income of PhDscholarship (max 36 months)

€ 1200.0In case of a change of the welfare rates during the three-year period, the amount could be modified.

Context of the research activity

Motivation and objectives of the researchin this field

The research aims to develop models for the analyzingthe driving force at the tip of a growing cracks and theirreversibility of plastic deformation in grains near thecrack tip by means of crystal plasticity models.The aim of the research is to improve the damage modelsfor the advanced material adopted in turbines andaeroengines under static and cyclic loading (LCF), anarea where there are cooperations with industrialpartners.

Methods and techniques that will bedeveloped and used to carry out theresearch

In particular the analysis will be based on detailedmeasurements near the crack tip for cracks in advancedmaterials (superalloys, TiAl intermetallic alloys) by usingDigital Image Correlation (DIC) in order to capture thestrain distribution near the crack tip under cyclic andmonotonic loading. The experimental measurements willthen modeled with suitable numerical models adopting theopen source code WARP3D (developed at UIUC) wherethe microstructure can be modeled with crystal whoseorientation/distribution is the same observed in theexperiments.

Educational objectives We provide doctoral candidates with high-level scientifictraining, fostering and refining research and problem

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solving abilities by focusing on both theoretical andexperimental skills. A PhD in Mechanical Engineering willbe able to layout, draft and carry on original research, byleading a research group or working in a team.

Job opportunities

National and international academic and non-academicinstitutions and organizations, engaged in innovation,research and technical development; high-tech SMEs,government departments.

List of 5 Universities, Companies, Agencies and/orNational or International Institutions that are cooperatingin the research:

- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign - UIUC(USA);- Paul Scherr Institute (Switzerland)

Composition of the research group

3 Full Professors6 Associated Professors9 Assistant Professors18 PhD Students

Name of the research directors S. Beretta, G. Mastinu, L. Vergani

Contacts

Supervision of this research topic: Stefano [email protected]

For further information:http://www.mecc.polimi.it/en/research/research-lines/machine-and-vehicle-design/

For general information: [email protected]

Additional support - Financial aid per PhD student per year (gross amount)

Housing - Foreign Students --

Housing - Out-of-town residents(more than 80Km out of Milano) --

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Additional information: educational activity, teaching assistantship, computer availability, desk availability,any other informations

Educational activities (purchase of study books and material, funding for participation incourses, summer schools, workshops and conferences): financial aid per PhD student per year:2nd year: 1.370 euro per student 3rd year: 1.370 euro per student

Teaching assistantship: availability of funding in recognition of supporting teaching activities bythe PhD student. There are various forms of financial aid for activities of support to the teachingpractice. The PhD student is encouraged to take part in these activities, within the limits allowedby the regulations.

Computer availability: 1st year: individual use 2nd year: individual use 3rd year: individual use

Desk availability: 1st year: individual use 2nd year: individual use 3rd year: individual use

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Research Field: DESIGN OF MULTILAYER PROTECTIONS FOR LOW AND HIGH VELOCITY

IMPACT





The research aims to develop design methodologies withanalytical and numerical models of multilayer protections(metallic, composite, ceramic) for low and high velocityimpacts. In particular this work required to develop amethod that allows the optimization of the protections,maintaining the maximum protective effect reducingweights and thicknesses. The models developed will bevalidated and compared with the results of experimentalimpact of multilayer protections in different configurations.

The possible range of application is onaeronautical/helicopter components (blades for instance),light personal protections, multilayer shields for vehicles,but also automotive in order to increase safety inpresence of batteries and/or fuel cells.


The topic to be developed requires significant analyticalcompetence, and knowledge of advanced numericalmodels, in presence of strong non-linearity, damage lawsdefinition, simulation of failure conditions.

Educational objectives We provide doctoral candidates with high-level scientifictraining, fostering and refining research and problem

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solving abilities by focusing on both theoretical andexperimental skills. A PhD in Mechanical Engineering willbe able to layout, draft and carry on original research, byleading a research group or working in a team.

Job opportunities


List of 5 Universities, Companies, Agencies and/orNational or International Institutions that are cooperatingin the research:

- SINTEF (Norway)- Air Force Institute of Technology (Poland)- AIRBUS/EADS research center (France, Germany)- Columbia University (USA)- MIT (USA)




Contacts

Supervision of this research topic: Marco Giglio, Andrea [email protected]@polimi.it

For further information: http://www.mecc.polimi.it/en/research/research-lines/machine-and-vehicle-design/


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Research Field: DESIGN OF PASSIVE IMPACT MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR METALLIC

AND COMPOSITE STRUCTURES





Impact monitoring systems should be capable to diagnoseimpact occurrence, thus estimating the location and theenergy associated with the impact, possibly indicating theexpected level of damage. The aim of the project is thedefinition of a methodology for the design of reliableimpact monitoring systems, taking advantage fromnumerical models.

The definition of a methodology for the optimization of thesensor network for real-time impact diagnosis on metallicand composite structures will be the final target of theproject, as well as its experimental verification andvalidation on coupon specimens and real vehiclecomponents.

The research output will be directed to both military andcivil applications, mainly in the aerospace field, howeverranging from the helicopter to the UAVs and the airplaneapplications.


The study of impact phenomenon is the starting objectiveof the project, to be obtained via a proper comparison ofanalytical, numerical and experimental data.Different sensor technologies will be employed to sensethe mechanical waves transmitted across the structure

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and generated after impact, among which piezoelectrictransducers and fiber Bragg grating strain gauges.

Educational objectives

We provide doctoral candidates with high-level scientifictraining, fostering and refining research and problemsolving abilities by focusing on both theoretical andexperimental skills. A PhD in Mechanical Engineering willbe able to layout, draft and carry on original research, byleading a research group or working in a team.

Job opportunities


List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and/or Nationalor International Institutions that are cooperating in theresearch:

- INTA (Spain)- Sheffield University (United Kingdom)




Contacts

Supervision of this research topic: Marco Giglio, Claudio [email protected]@polimi.it


For general information:2 / 3

[email protected]









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Research Field: LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION





One of the todays dominant topics of automotiveengineering is lightweight design. Reducing the mass ofvehicles allows reducing substantially vehicle emissions.Lightweight design requires proper skills in the followingareas: materials (conventional or unconventional),junctions (permanent or removable), reliability and loadspectra computation, manufacturing technologies,mechatronics, non-linear dynamics (crash), topologyoptimization, complex system optimization (parametricoptimization), additionally, a specific competence onautomotive sub-systems is required.


The PhD researcher will acquire the basic skills byattending special courses (MSc / PhD) on vehicles andstructures. The activity will focus on both theoretical andpractical issues referring to the design and testing oflightweight systems. Possible applications are: wheels(intelligent and non-intelligent), tires, brakes, suspensions(arms and bushings), driveline, vehicle body, safetyrestraint systems, car seats, interiors.

Educational objectivesWe provide doctoral candidates with high-level scientifictraining, fostering and refining research and problemsolving abilities by focusing on both theoretical and

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experimental skills. A PhD in Mechanical Engineering willbe able to layout, draft and carry on original research, byleading a research group or working in a team.

Job opportunities





Contacts

Supervision of this research topic: Gianpiero Mastinu, Massimiliano [email protected]@polimi.it








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Research Field: MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF MATERIALS UNDER EXTREME

CONDITIONS





The research aims to identify best models and orframework (constitutive law, fracture criteria,) fordescribing materials behavior under extreme loadingcondition like large plasticity, strain rate, damage,temperature, low triaxility, high pressure, crackpropagation, and in general terms non usual conditions ina multiphysics environment. Models should beinvestigated both from physical and phenomenologicalapproach in order to build and/or modify constitutive lawable to replicate the phenomena in a numericalenvironment. Starting from the state of the art in materialmodeling and calibration the research activity shouldfocus in the capability of the actual and/or proposedmodels to describe such extreme loading cases withemphasis in the transferability properties. Models andparameters should be calibrated and verified on simplespecimens but their performances should be assessedalso in more complex components thus verified in differentscenario in order to exploit the proposed methodologyalso in the structural assessment of critical components.The possible range of application is onaeronautical/helicopter and automotive components.

Methods and techniques that will bedeveloped and used to carry out the The topic to be developed requires significant experience

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research

both in experimental tests and advanced numericalmodeling with competence in use of scientific languages(FORTRAN, C, PYTON).


We provide doctoral candidates with high-level scientifictraining, fostering and refining research and problemsolving abilities by focusing on both theoretical andexperimental skills. A PhD in Mechanical Engineering willbe able to layout, draft and carry on original research, byleading a research group or working in a team.

Job opportunities



- SINTEF (Norway)- AIRBUS/EADS research center (France, Germany)- Columbia University (USA)- MIT (USA)




Contacts

Supervision of this research topic: Marco Giglio, Andrea [email protected]@polimi.it

For further information: http://www.mecc.polimi.it/en/research/research-lines/machine-and-2 / 3

vehicle-design/










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Research Field: NEW METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF

RAILWAY AXLES





The research aims to improve the structural integrity andthe reliability of railway axles. In particular, differentapproaches will be studied and analyzed includingmechanical and chemical surface treatments, optimizationof non-destructive testing, better understanding of somedamage mechanisms like fretting fatigue. All theseactivities will be faced analytically, numerically andexperimentally considering both small-scale and full-scalespecimens.The possible range of application is the railway field forboth freight and passenger transports. The topic to bedeveloped requires significant competences on fracturemechanics, NDT and metallurgy.


All these activities will be faced analytically, numericallyand experimentally considering both small-scale and full-scale specimens.


We provide doctoral candidates with high-level scientifictraining, fostering and refining research and problemsolving abilities by focusing on both theoretical andexperimental skills. A PhD in Mechanical Engineering willbe able to layout, draft and carry on original research, by

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leading a research group or working in a team.

Job opportunities



BAM (Germany) Fraunhofer IZFP (Germany) FlameSpray (Italy) Lucchini RS (Italy)




Contacts

Supervision of this research topic: Stefano [email protected]






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phd in mechanical engineering - 30th cycle · fatigue strength of mechanical components. ......

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