Research Associate in Non-destructive Evaluation and Fracture Mechanics

Based in world-leading research teams in the Solid Mechanics Research Group (SMRG) and Ultrasonic and NDT (UNDT) group within the School of Civil, Aerospace, and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol, this is an exciting opportunity to carry out experimental research on non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and fracture mechanics testing in the context of structural integrity research. This new position has become available as the result of a new EPSRC-funded project, DEsign and Engineering Critical Assessments (NDECA), led by UoB Principal Investigator, Dr Nicolas Larrosa.

You will carry out experimental research on fracture mechanics and NDE methods in the context of the structural integrity of structural steels in applications such as nuclear fission plant and offshore wind turbines. You will be responsible for planning and delivering experiments at well-equipped laboratory facilities in Bristol; you will also collaborate closely with colleagues at TWI in Cambridge and in the UK-wide Research Centre in NDE (RCNDE). You will also spend some time carrying out neutron and X-ray experiments at large-scale multi-user facilities in the UK and internationally.

You will be expected to demonstrate research leadership across a portfolio of projects in the field of NDE and fracture mechanics testing in the context of structural integrity. You will collaborate closely with a wide range of internal and external colleagues in order to define, plan, deliver and report on a variety of research projects. You will report and communicate your research outputs in journal papers, conferences and at workshops and meetings with academic organisations and industrial project partners.

You will have a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science (or closely related discipline) and show significant evidence of having developed and then delivered high-quality research projects in an academic and/or industrial context. You will have an excellent record of relevant publications in academic journals, with a focus on areas such as NDE inspection techniques, modelling or development and/or experience on relevant structural integrity topics such as fracture, fatigue, mechanical testing, assessment of welded joints. Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable:

• Materials imaging and characterisation techniques (X-CT, SEM, TEM, EBSD).
• Development of J-R curves by means of elastic-plastic fracture mechanics testing procedures.
• Digital Image Correlation.
• Finite element analysis.
• Experience in using large scale national facilities (e.g. Neutron and synchrotron X-ray experiments).
• Research experience pertaining to structural integrity assessment codes e.g., API 579, BS 7910, R6, RSE-M.

This position is being offered on a full time, Open-ended contract with funding up to 31st March 2021 in the first instance; extension to a total duration of up to 30 months may be possible in the future.

It is anticipated that interviews will take place in December 2018 or January 2019.

Informal enquiries can be made to: Dr Nicolas Larrosa, Lecturer in Structural Integrity, Nicolas.larrosa@bristol.ac.uk

 

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