Applications are invited for a 3-year postdoc position starting in March 2015, within the field of modeling of dynamic interaction between structural and machine components at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The position is funded through the Innovation Fund Denmark – Research, Technology & Growth. 

Responsibilities and tasks
With the research activities linked to the project we aim at significantly improving the safety, reliability and operational lifetime of the 3500 switches and crossings (S&Cs) in the Danish railway network. The project is a close cooperation between the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the Danish rail infrastructure provider Rail Net Denmark and four affiliated European partners with significant expertise within this field. An inter-disciplinary scientific effort is employed to obtain enhanced rail transport reliability and regularity simultaneously with significant savings in S&Cs maintenance costs. The project results will make maintenance based on intelligent fault prediction tools, instead of the presently used regular planned inspections, and it will provide sophisticated tools to prevent hidden faults from developing to failure in the future. The project will install state-of the-art sensor technology in selected S&Cs and correlate dynamic parameters during train passage with static geometry data from conventional measurement vehicles. Monitoring of the dynamic responses will provide diagnosis of patterns that indicate when components or ballast begin to deviate from fully functional conditions. Modelling of dynamics will identify root causes to signs of degradation. Damage assessment of components identified by anomalous readings will be done by metallurgical examinations. Data and results will be processed by a holistic model that can produce Maintenance Performance Indicators (MPI) for the S&C condition.

Application procedure:
To apply, please read the full job advertisement at www.career.dtu.dk

Application deadline: 20 February 2015

DTU Mechanical Engineering covers the fundamental engineering disciplines within Solid mechanics, Fluid mechanics, Coastal and Maritime Engineering, Energy systems and energy conversion, Materials and Surface Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering design and Product development. The department has a scientific staff of about 100 persons, 110 PhD students and a technical/administrative support staff of more than 85 persons. 

DTU is a technical university providing internationally leading research, education, innovation and public service. Our staff of 5,700 advance science and technology to create innovative solutions that meet the demands of society; and our 10,000 students are being educated to address the technological challenges of the future. DTU is an independent academic university collaborating globally with business, industry, government, and public agencies.