PhD/PostDoc position at University of Twente (NL): Hierarchical multi-scale modeling

The scientific goal of the project is to develop a multi-scale computational method that uses a single hierarchical data-structure as basis – involving also multiple fields. Starting from mesoscopic structures (particles or domains) a grid is constructed on a hierarchical, tree-based data structure. The hierarchical approach allows for micro-macro transition, coupling of different fields, and coarsening or refinement – where possible or needed, respectively. Algorithms and methods from various disciplines like graph-theory, computational fluid mechanics, molecular dynamics, astrophysics, etc., have to be combined. A single algorithm with a single data-structure will be implemented to deal with particle and continuum problems at multiple scales simultaneously. The technical research challenges to be attacked involve:
• Dynamic (moving) unstructured grids and their refinement
• Hierarchical data structures for coarsening and micro-macro methods
• Coupling of various techniques and fields across the scales
The scientific challenge is to understand systems with strongly different particle sizes with gas-, fluid-, and solid-like behavior at the same time. This involves multi-physics, micro-systems, (moving) interfaces and multi-field problems in general. More specific, such systems occur in grinding/comminution, agglomeration/redispersion, and transport of particulate systems – before and during processing of pharmaceutical powders or modern, high-performance materials (ceramics, metals, plastics, etc.).
The multi-scale model will have a broad range of applications in chemical, mechanical, and civil engineering, where particles co-exist with thermal, electromagnetic and hydrodynamic fields. The industrial partners will use the implemented new method(s) in consulting business, in commercial software and in industrial applications that involve strongly inhomogeneous fields and multiple phases on multiple scales.

PhD and PostDoc position
One PhD position and one PostDoc position will be available within the framework of this project (at the Multi Scale Mechanics group of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Universiteit Twente: www.msm.ctw.utwente.nl). The project is financed by the Dutch Technology Foundation STW (www.stw.nl) and will be carried out in close collaboration with industrial partners. Detailed information can be obtained from prof. S. Luding (S.Luding@utwente.nl)

Contact
Multi Scale Mechanics,
MSM, TS, CTW, UTwente
Ref.(Application STW-MUST)
PO Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)53 489 42 12
Secr.: +31 (0)53 489 44 28
e-mail: s.luding@utwente.nl
Website: www.msm.ctw.utwente.nl

Location
The position is situated at the University of Twente, in the faculty of Engineering Technology, CTW, which has been established in 2001 as a merger of Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering. The faculty has approximately 320 employees including about 50 PhD students and there are about 1500 bachelor- and masterstudents, which participate in interdisciplinary research projects and programmes. The new group of Prof. Luding, Multi Scale Mechanics, deals with granular and particle systems, micro-fluidics, self-healing, sound-propagation using mostly numerical and theoretical methods. Experiments are performed in collaboration with many groups worldwide.