2 PHD positions: Hybrid modelling for sustainable steel manufacturing and processing

The Challenge

Increasing the proportion of recycled materials (scrap) in steel production is a key step towards reducing its environmental footprint. To maintain high product quality standards for steels with higher scrap content, it is needed to drastically improve the predictive capability and calculation speed of steel processing models. This challenge is pursued by combining powerful physics-based modelling with machine learning techniques, creating new and efficient hybrid models for process design and control.

These PhD positions are part of a large national research project about "Data Enhanced Physical models to reduce Materials use". The projects will be performed in close collaboration with industry and with researchers from other Dutch universities, to increase the impact of the work. Each PhD project will focus on one of the components of the modelling framework, being:

1. Inline hybrid modelling in cold rolling and forming

The objective of this PhD project is to develop highly accurate hybrid models that can be used to relate indirect process measurements in metal forming processes (e.g. process forces or intermediate product geometry) to the material, product, and process properties. Key challenges in this respect are the limited accuracy of physics-based models, incomplete production data, uncertain fluctuations in process conditions and requirements for fast models. A new type of process model must be developed, by exploiting the strength of physics-based simulation models and of real-time production data.

2. Inline probabilistic state estimation and model correction

In this PhD project, fast and accurate procedures will be developed to simultaneously estimate process conditions and apply hybrid model correction. The developed procedures must be applicable in real-time during production. The methods must be formulated within a probabilistic framework, to account for process statistics, process correlations and model uncertainty in the estimation procedure.

For both projects, we are looking for PhD candidates with proven critical thinking skills. Besides an inquisitive mindset, relevant experience in mechanics, numerical methods or machine learning is highly beneficial.

You will report your research during bi-weekly meetings of our research group and frequent meetings with industrial and academic partners. You are encouraged to interact significantly with the project partners and present your results at international scientific conferences and publish them in academic journals. Furthermore, you will be encouraged to tutor MSc students who do their final assignment on sub-projects pertaining to your research project.

• an MSc. degree in Computational mechanics, Computational materials science, Mechanical engineering, Applied physics, Data science or a related field with excellent grades.
• special interest in modelling of production processes.
• a background in nonlinear solid mechanics, computational methods, material science and/or data science.
• strong programming skills.
• a high degree of responsibility and independence.
• strong communication skills for effective academic and industrial collaboration.
• proficiency in English is required, both spoken and written (IELTS minimum score 6.5 or TOEFL-iBT minimum score 90).

• a dynamic and international environment, combining the benefits of academic research with a topic of high industrial relevance;
• excellent working conditions in an exciting scientific environment, and a green and lively campus;
• a fulltime 4 year PhD position;
• excellent mentorship and facilities;
• a professional and personal development program within Graduate School Twente;
• a starting salary of € 2.541 in the first year and a salary of € 3.247 in the fourth year gross per month;
• a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• minimum of 29 holidays per year in case of fulltime employment;
• full status as an employee at the University of Twente, including pension and health care benefits.

The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor's and Master's students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.

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