PhD position - Characterization and analysis of the interlaminar failure of composite materials down to 20K

The Analysis and Advanced Materials for Structural Design (AMADE) research group from University of Girona is seeking for candidates to fulfil a PhD position in the field of materials’ engineering and/or mechanical engineering. The open position is within the frame of a project funded by the Horizon Europe program and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Daily evidence of the consequences of climate change is driving social and political demands on the transport industry to reduce its carbon footprint. A radical change is needed to reduce CO2 emissions. To this end, low-carbon propulsion technologies and fuels, such as liquid hydrogen, in combination with lightweight materials are being developed by the sector. The main challenge in using liquid hydrogen is that it must be stored and handled at low cryogenic temperatures (20K). Temperatures at which the material performance is not understood and the analysis methods have not been developed.

The PhD student will be involved in the design process of a liquid hydrogen tank made of composite materials. The work will be focused on the experimental characterisation and numerical modelling of the interlaminar failure of composite materials down to 20K. This involves the definition of test set-ups, analysis methods and the formulation of numerical models and its implementation into a Finite Element Code.