This project focuses on an accelerated life study of tidal turbine blades. This collaborative research project is between the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway (www.nuigalway.ie) and a leading company that designs, manufactures and installs tidal energy systems. The project will be conducted by researchers in the Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI) research centre (www.marei.ie). The specific goal of the main project that the successful candidate will be involved in is to develop and implement testing techniques for ocean energy structures by collaborating with leading industrial partners.
College of Engineering & Informatics: Funded PhD Scholarship
Project Title: Accelerated life study of tidal turbine blades
Supervisor: Dr Jamie Goggins, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering; Prof Sean Leen, Chair of Mechanical Engineering
Duration: Funded for 4 years (Structured PhD), full-time.
The proposed project comprises laboratory-scale research of tidal turbine blades. A leading tidal turbine developer and researchers in MaREI will collaborate closely in the research and development of a new international testing standard for tidal turbine blades, which would be developed with IEC and other standards institutes. As no such standard currently exists, and verification testing is essential prior to full commercialisation of tidal turbines, working together we can put Ireland at the forefront of design, development, manufacture and testing of tidal energy devices.
The PhD candidate’s primary task will be designing and analysing of test techniques for applications in fatigue testing of composite ocean energy structures. The successful candidate will join the project team that comprises of a Principal Investigator, three collaborative academic staff members (civil engineering, mechanical engineering), two research engineers, postdoctoral researcher, two technical staff members and 2 PhD students. The Researcher will also liaise with other researchers in the Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI) Centre (www.marei.ie), both at NUIG and at the relevant MaREI partner institutions (UCC, UL and UCD).
As well as the roles described above, the PhD candidate is expected to contribute towards the discipline of civil engineering at NUI Galway as, for example, teaching assistants, as well as being actively involved in outreach activities of the group. PhD candidates are expected to disseminate their research findings at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals, as well as mainstream and social media.
Stipend: €18,000 per annum & fees for 4 years.
Requirements:
Minimum requirements
Honours Bachelor’s degree (2.1 minimum) in civil engineering, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aeronautical engineering, material science, or a related discipline;
Excellent technical writing skills;
Excellent communication skills;
Ability to work well within a team. Desired qualities
Expertise in laboratory testing to international standards;
3+ years industry based experience;
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;
Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications;
Experience of data management and data analysis;
Research experience in micromechanical and damage modelling of composite materials
Experience in experimental techniques in measuring damage at fibre, matrix and interface levels;
Experience in, or knowledge of the following topics: modelling and experimental investigation of composite damage; mechanical characterisation of composite materials.
Experience in numerical simulation (i.e. FE, CFD);
Knowledge of statistical methods; Expected start date: September 2015
How to apply: Please send a letter of introduction and a current CV, indicating your research experience and including the names of two referees to Dr Jamie Goggins via email to Jamie.Goggins@nuigalway.ie. Please ensure to put, in subject line of e-mail application, the reference: MaREI PhD
Last date – 28th June 2015
Further information is available:
Civil Engineering at National University of Ireland,
Galway: http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/
Marine Renewable Energy Ireland: http://www.marei.ie/
National University of Ireland, Galway: http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/who-we-are/
Living in Ireland: http://www.livinginireland.ie/
Moving to Ireland: http://www.euraxess.ie/
For informal discussion, please contact:
Dr. Jamie Goggins, Senior Lecturer, Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway. Tel: +353-91-492609; E-mail: jamie.goggins@nuigalway.ie
This position is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) through the MaREI centre.