1 PhD position in Turbulence Model Error for CFD | Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Aerospace Engineering

The faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world's largest faculties devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. In the Netherlands it is the only research and education institute directly related to the aerospace engineering sector. It covers the whole spectrum of aerospace engineering subjects. In aeronautics, the faculty covers subjects ranging from aerodynamics and flight propulsion to structures and materials and from control and simulation to air transport and operations. In astronautics, topics include astrodynamics, space missions and space systems engineering. The faculty has around 2,500 BSc and MSc students, 214 PhD candidates and 27 professors supported by scientific staff. The faculty's mission is to be the best Aerospace Engineering faculty in the world, inspiring and educating students through modern education techniques and enabling staff to perform ambitious research of the highest quality for the future of aerospace. The working atmosphere at the faculty is friendly, open-minded and dedicated.

The Aerodynamics Section is responsible for education and research in aerodynamics, with attention paid to both the fundamental aspects of aerodynamics and its application to aerospace vehicles. The section has an experimental and a computational side. The former has a number of outstanding wind tunnel facilities (low and high speed), the latter are leaders in uncertainty quantification, data assimilation, fluid-structure interaction, and LES among other numerical techniques.

Job description

Complex turbulent flow simulations in aerodynamics rely on Reynolds-Averaged approaches: equations are derived for the mean flow field, and the effect of turbulent fluctuations is taken into account with so-called turbulence closure models. In spite of long-term, worldwide research into better models, the accuracy of even the best remains strongly problem-dependent. Along with only a couple of pioneering groups in the world, we take a different approach: we try to build accurate stochastic error estimates for existing models - allowing them to be used in industry with confidence despite their shortcomings. Using highly accurate experimental data and the framework of Bayesian statistics, we will modify the models with stochastic terms in a variety of ways, and then identify these terms with Bayesian updating. The challenge is to build error estimates that work well across large classes of flow problems. The work lies at the rich interface of numerical simulation (essentially predictive) and statistics (data-driven), an increasingly active area. The skills learned will have applicability in a huge range of scientific and industrial problems.

The position will be co-supervised by Prof. Paola Cinnella (ParisTech/University of Bari), and the candidate will have the opportunity for an extended stay in Italy or France. Additionally, the vacancy is connected to the European project UMRIDA (Uncertainty Management for Robust Industrial Design in Aerospace), which is a collaborative European project - providing additional opportunities for international association.

Requirements

The candidate should have an MSc degree in an area relevant to the subject, e.g. numerical analysis, statistics, or applied physics, with a specialisation in fluid dynamics or CFD preferable. A combination of good mathematical/analytical skills and proven experience with research in numerics is required. Having only been a user of CFD codes is NOT sufficient.

Conditions of employment

TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home (with a contract of two years or longer), and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package (the 'IKA'). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Please visit www.phd.tudelft.nl for more information.

Information and application

For general information about the application procedure, you may contact Marjan Halverhout, Αυτή η διεύθυνση Email προστατεύεται από τους αυτοματισμούς αποστολέων ανεπιθύμητων μηνυμάτων. Χρειάζεται να ενεργοποιήσετε τη JavaScript για να μπορέσετε να τη δείτε..

To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV, educational record, names of references, and a letter of application by 1 January 2014 to Richard Dwight.

When applying for this position, please refer to vacancy number LR13-21.