Research Associate in Computational Mechanics

The postholder will undertake an ambitious computational mechanics research programme in support of the recently awarded ERC Advanced Grant “A high-fidelity isogeometric simulation methodology for fracture in porous media” (664734, PoroFrac). The project aims at developing a robust simulation methodology for fracture in heterogeneous, (partially) fluid-saturated porous media, both for existing faults and for propagating cracks. The main duties and responsibilities of this post include: Developing an efficient, reliability-based computational approach to non-linear, discrete, cohesive crack propagation in fluid-saturated porous media, taking into account variations in the geometry, and benchmarked in terms of accuracy using Monte Carlo. The method should be developed for various discretization methods, including isogeometric analysis, and the possibility to extend the method to smeared methods like the phase-field approach to fracture should be explored as well.

Together with the Supervisor, you will coach a PhD student working on this topic. You will also: work together with the Research Associates and PhD students working on pillars 1 and 2 in order to align the stochastic models with the sub-grid models for fluid flow in cracks developed in pillar 1 and the spline-based discretization technology developed in pillar 3; disseminate the research findings through journal publications, contributions to books and presentations; and attend national and international conferences and workshops to present the research results to external audiences.

It is essential that the postholder has a good PhD in computational mechanics (or equivalent) and experience in putting models in working software, along with excellent communication skills, ability to develop creative approaches and methods and to analyse and solve problems. Experience with object-oriented programming and advanced discretization techniques is desirable, as well as experience of a range of project management approaches.

This post is fixed term for a period of three years.