1 PhD Scholarship in High Speed Rail Vibration in UK | Heriot-Watt University

An explosion in high speed rail investment has facilitated exponential increases in train speeds with a Japanese train recently setting a new world record of 581 km/h. These technological advances are moving train velocities into the same realm as those encountered by commercial planes such as the Boeing 737 (750 km/h). These increased train speeds mean that high speed rail is superseding air travel in many parts of the world.

Despite this, a challenge with high speed rail is that when trains approach the velocity of surface waves in the soil, large vibrations are generated similar to those of a ‘sonic boom’ caused by super-sonic jets passing the sound barrier. These vibrations are a growing problem and can have negative implications (in a similar way to an earthquake) on the track and on buildings close to the line.

Therefore there is a rapidly increasing need to predict these vibrations before a new line is constructed. Thus, this fully funded PhD is based upon developing approaches to simulate high speed rail vibrations both quickly and accurately. It is open to holders of numerically related degrees (e.g. mathematics, engineering (all disciplines), physics), with a first or upper second class honours (or non-UK equivalent).

Application deadline 28th February 2014

PhD project start date 1st October 2014

Eligibility All (EU, International…etc)

Funding Fully funded (fees and stipend)

Primary supervisor Dr D.P. Connolly (Heriot-Watt University, UK)

Secondary supervisor Prof. Omar Laghrouche (Heriot-Watt University, UK)