Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering

The successful candidate will join the Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering Group. The Group is one of the largest research groups within the department. It currently includes eleven members of academic staff: Professors Alan Cocks, David Hills, David Nowell, Alexander Korsunsky, Nik Petrinic, John Huber, Clive Siviour, Roger Reed, Antoine Jerusalem, Jin Chong Tan and Felix Hofmann. Professor Cocks holds the Professorship of Materials Engineering and acts as head of the group. The group contains the Rolls-Royce UTC in Solid Mechanics under the Directorship of Professor Hills. The total turnover of the group is in excess of £2m per annum. Our research activities are supported by seven technicians, an administrator and a computing support officer. In addition, there are about forty research students, research assistants, post-doctoral assistants and academic visitors, most of whom have a typical association of three to four years.

The group conducts research across a wide range of areas within Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering. We have extensive laboratory facilities in the centre of Oxford and in Begbroke on the outskirts of the city for testing materials and components across a range of environmental conditions and strain-rates. A major theme of our research is to develop an in-depth understanding of the processing and performance of engineering materials by integrating experiment, theory and computational modelling. Much of our research is relevant to the long-term needs of industry and we have particularly strong links with the aerospace, automotive, defence, energy and marine sectors.

Overview of the role
The successful candidate will contribute to research on the micromechanical and computational modelling of the creep failure of dissimilar metal welds under constant and cyclic (thermo-mechanical) loading. He/she will evaluate existing data published in the scientific literature and provided by MHI and map out the range of dominance of different failure mechanisms. He/she will also conduct detailed metallographic studies to evaluate the influence of local chemistry and microstructure on the observed response. This information will be used to guide the development of new micromechanical models of the different observed failure mechanisms.
The successful candidate will also be responsible for communicating results to the sponsor in a timely manner and producing six monthly reports.

Responsibilities/duties

Specific duties:

• Evaluation of experimental data on the failure of dissimilar welded joints under constant loading (with an emphasis on P91/P22 joints with Inconel buttering). Identify the range of stress/ temperature and triaxiality of applied stress field over which each mechanism dominates. Develop maps, which identify range of dominance of each mechanism. Identify gaps on maps where more data is needed. 
• Conduct ESEM and EBSD studies of failed components provided by sponsors. Evaluate metallographic information of the failure process and determine the dependence on local microstructure and chemistry.
• Examine the degree to which models currently being developed at Oxford can be extended to model the different mechanisms of failure. 　
• Construct new models of interface failure. Construct cohesive zone models that capture the details of the damage development process and the influence of local structure. Develop a USER Element for the cohesive zone model and combine with the commercial finite element code ABAQUS. Evaluate the predictive capability of the model and identify new tests for the critical evaluation of the model. 
• Calibrate the above models against available data and examine the degree to which they model the response captured by the experimental maps. 
• Evaluate experimental data for the failure of dissimilar welds under cyclic thermo-mechanical loading. Map out range of dominance of each mechanism and compare with maps for monotonic loading. Identify gaps in data and how these can be filled. 
• Evaluate the range of potential failure mechanisms under cyclic loading. Determine if any new mechanisms emerge. Explore how mechanistic models for monotonic loading can be extended to cyclic loading situations. 
• Conduct detailed analysis of interface failure. Modify cohesive zone model for cyclic loading conditions and examine the predictive capability. 
• Conduct regular video conferences with sponsor to discuss progress.
• Write 6 monthly reports for sponsor.

Additional duties:

• Manage own academic research and administrative activities. This involves small scale project management, to co-ordinate multiple aspects of work to meet deadlines
• Collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles and present papers and posters at conferences, workshops or seminars
• Act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group on scientific protocols and experimental techniques
• Represent the research group at external meetings/seminars, either with other members of the group or alone
• The PDRA may have the opportunity to teach (this includes lecturing, demonstrating, small-group teaching, tutoring of undergraduates and graduate students and supervision of masters projects in collaboration with principal investigators). Permission must be sought in advance for each opportunity and the total must not exceed 4 hours a week.

If you consider that you meet the selection criteria, click on the "Apply Through Website" button and follow the on-screen instructions to register as a user. You will then be required to complete a number of screens with your application details, relating to your skills and experience. When prompted, please provide details of two referees and indicate whether we can contact them at this stage. You will also be required to upload a CV and supporting statement which explains how you meet the selection criteria for the post. 

The supporting statement should explain your relevant experience which may have been gained in employment, education, or you may have taken time away from these activities in order to raise a family, care for a dependant, or travel for example.  Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you demonstrate that that you meet the selection criteria outlined above and we are happy to consider evidence of transferable skills or experience which you may have gained outside the context of paid employment or education.

Please save all uploaded documents to show your name and the document type. 

All applications must be received by midday on the closing date stated in the online advertisement.

Should you experience any difficulties using the online application system, please email recruitment.support@admin.ox.ac.uk                                    

Essential

• Hold a PhD/DPhil (or close to completion) in an area relevant to the research topic, or have equivalent experience.
• Experience of modelling creep deformation and/or failure.
• Experience in micromechanical modelling.
• Experience in the development of computational models of material and/or component behaviour.
• Experience in the use of the finite element method.
• Ability to manage own research and associated activities
• Previous experience of contributing to publications/presentations
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research results, and represent the research group at meetings

Desirable

• Experience of characterising materials using SEM and EBSD.
• Experience of writing user routines for commercial finite element programmes such as ABAQUS.
• Experience of collaborating to develop research articles for publication

Apply here: https://www.recruit.ox.ac.uk/pls/hrisliverecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.display_form