Application Instructions for PhD Vacancy
To apply for this position, please use the online application tool and ensure that you submit the following documents in a single PDF file:
1. Motivation Letter: A letter (maximum 1 A4 page) addressing your strengths and qualifications in relation to the project.
2. Complete Academic CV: A detailed CV including information about your education, current position, work experience (if any), employment gaps (if any), interests, extracurricular activities, international experiences, and projects demonstrating your programming/software skills, background knowledge relative to the project and level of expertise.
3. List of Publications: If applicable, provide a list of your publications (please do not include PDFs of the publications), including DOI's.
4. Copies of Diplomas: Include copies of your BSc and MSc degrees.
5. Transcript of Records: Provide transcripts for your BSc and MSc degrees. If you have not yet completed your master's degree, include your available credits and scores, as well as a list of courses you are taking in the upcoming semester.
6. English Summary of Master Thesis: A summary of your master thesis in English (maximum 1 A4 page, or 2 pages max when including a figure).
7. Proof of English Language Proficiency: Documentation demonstrating your proficiency in English.
8. Reference Contact Details: Contact information for one reference who can provide a recommendation letter upon request (please do not include the letters themselves).
Selection Process and Timeline:
9. Application Deadline: March 31, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
10. Shortlisting: Candidates will be shortlisted based on their submitted documents.
11. Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, which may be conducted online or in person.
12. Final Decision: Shortlisted candidates will be notified by early April. Non-successful candidates will be informed via email.
The transition to renewable energy sources is crucial for mitigating the climate change and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Offshore Wind Turbines (OWTs) play a significant role in this transition by harnessing the wind energy at sea. Currently, monopile foundations are the prevailing technology for the foundation of OWTs due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. However, monopiles face challenges such as susceptibility to corrosion, which necessitates protective measures and impacts the overall design. Furthermore, installation processes may affect marine life.
Other foundation types for OWTs include: gravity-based structures which rely on their large mass for stability but require significant seabed preparation; jacket foundations which are lattice structures suitable for deeper waters but are complex and costly; tripod foundations which offer good stability with reduced material usage but are also complex and costly; suction caissons which provide quick installation and minimal seabed disturbance but are limited to certain soil conditions; and floating foundations, which are suitable for very deep waters.
The proposed research project aims to explore the potential of a foundation design for OWTs, utilizing a pre-stressed reinforced concrete shaft, proposed by FUNDEX (https://www.fundex.nl/). The concrete provides sufficient corrosion protection for the reinforcement, even in a marine environment. The proposed foundation aims to enhance stability, reduce environmental impact, and offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional monopile foundations. The innovative design features a vertical pre-stressed reinforced concrete shaft drilled into the seabed, with the top extending above the high-water level. The outer annulus between the shaft and soil is grouted with high-strength grout to ensure better bonding with the soil. The inside of the shaft is then filled with sand up to or above the sea bottom level. In addition, a concrete seabed frame, segmented and divided by vertical V-shaped compartments, is placed horizontally around the shaft at the seabed for stability. These compartments are filled with rock material. Once the frame and seabed settle under the weight of the rock mass, the connection between the frame and shaft is fixed with high-strength concrete injected under high pressure. This design uses the mass of the rock-filled frame as a counterweight, significantly reducing horizontal displacement under bending forces and strongly minimizing the required embedded length of the shaft in the soil. The seabed frame also enhances the bearing behavior by increasing vertical soil pressure and provides protection against seabed scour. Additionally, the weight of the shaft and frame dampens vibrations from the rotor blades, reducing negative effects on marine life.
The doctoral project seeks to investigate the overall structural performance of the innovative foundation solution, incorporating both the Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and Serviceability Limit State (SLS) of the foundation, through comprehensive numerical analyses. This can be primarily achieved by using a combined approach of non-linear finite element analyses and finite element limit analysis to study the foundation's behavior under various loading conditions. The use of advanced constitutive models also allows to investigate the response of the foundation under the complex cyclic loading to which OWT foundations are subjected throughout their lifetime, due to repeated environmental loads arising from wind, waves and currents. On top of the development of advanced numerical models for this purpose, an engineering approach to the design of the innovative foundation solution is also intended to be developed. This could lie in the generation of pertinent simplified spring models that account for the interaction between the pre-stressed concrete shaft, the concrete seabed frame, and the surrounding soil.
To validate the theoretical findings, we plan to conduct lab-scale tests. Such tests could be performed at 1g soil box in the lab and can possibly be extended to centrifuge tests upon availability of access to research facilities. The envisioned tests will provide critical data to validate the numerical models and design procedures and assess the feasibility and reliability of the proposed foundation system. The systematic investigations as exemplified above, aim to generate a robust design methodology that can be adopted in engineering practice, providing a sustainable and efficient solution for the offshore wind energy sector. The project will assess the potential of this foundation to advance the field of offshore wind energy and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure, supporting the global transition to renewable energy sources to meet energy demands.
The PhD candidate will also have the opportunity, based on their performance and interests and contribution to the project, to steer part of the proposed research towards the emerging field of physics-informed machine learning. Our research group is advancing in this direction. Engaging in this cutting-edge research area will allow the candidate to contribute to innovative solutions at the intersection of machine learning and geotechnical engineering, further enhancing their academic and professional profile.
The Civil Engineering Department at KU Leuven and the engineering company FUNDEX Verstraeten BV is excited to announce an opening for a highly enthusiastic and motivated individual to pursue full-time doctoral studies in the field of Offshore Geotechnics. This opportunity is a collaboration between the Hydraulics & Geotechnics Section, led by Prof. Georgios Anogiatis, known as George Anoyatis, (Campus Bruges, Faculty of Engineering Technology) and the Structural Mechanics Section, led by Prof. Stijn François (Campus Arenberg - Leuven, Faculty of Engineering Science) at KU Leuven with the support of prof. Hadrien Rattez at the Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering (IMMC) Laboratory, UCLouvain (Louvain-la-Neuve). With reference to Offshore Geotechnics, the academic partners from KU Leuven and UCLouvain are actively engaged in cutting-edge research projects focusing on foundations for offshore wind turbines, suction caissons, (mono)pile installation and extraction techniques techniques. These projects combine theoretical developments with experimental approaches. Notably, we are part of a national collaborative research project titled "SAGE-SAND" that has established a testing site for monopile foundations in Zeebrugge, Belgium. More details about this project can be found on the project's webpage: https://bwk.kuleuven.be/projects/sage-sand. For more information about our sections, please visit our websites:KU Leuven, Hydraulics & Geotechnics Section Campus Bruges: https://iiw.kuleuven.be/onderzoek/kustwaterbouw-grondmechanica/coastal-geotechnicalKU Leuven, Structural Mechanics Section Campus Arenberg: https://bwk.kuleuven.be/bwmUCLouvain, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering: https://www.uclouvain.be/en/research-institutes/immcFUNDEX: https://www.fundex.nl/We look forward to welcoming a new member to our dynamic research team!
We offer a collaborative and internationally oriented research environment at KU Leuven, one of the world's leading universities (ranked among the top 100 globally). Founded in 1425, KU Leuven has been a center of learning for nearly six centuries and is Belgium’s highest-ranked university, as well as one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. KU Leuven provides a truly international experience, high-quality education, world-class research, and cutting-edge innovation, having topped Reuters' ranking of Europe's most innovative universities for four consecutive years.
A fully funded PhD scholarship is available, with the level of funding dependent on the candidate's experience and marital status. The successful candidate will be encouraged to present their research at international conferences and national events, with a strong emphasis on publishing high-quality journal articles. They will benefit from our robust international research and industrial network, which is actively involved in this project, and will be encouraged and supported to pursue scholarships, travel grants, and fellowships to further strengthen their academic CV and expand their network.
KU Leuven Campus Bruges, located in the magnificent medieval city of Bruges in West Flanders, offers a vibrant academic setting in close proximity to a network of companies. The campus features a newly established soil mechanics laboratory equipped with a state-of-the-art dynamic triaxial system to support both educational and research needs. As part of this project, the doctoral student will potentially conduct 1g tests at the advanced LEMSC laboratory at UCLouvain in Louvain-la-Neuve.
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) is a prestigious French-speaking research university located in Wallonia and it is one of the oldest and most esteemed universities in Europe. UCLouvain is recognized for its research excellence and is a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and the Coimbra Group. The university boasts a vibrant international student community, with over 30% of its students coming from outside Belgium.
FUNDEX is a leading provider of innovative foundation solutions, specializing in the design and installation of foundation piles. With a strong focus on quality and efficiency, FUNDEX offers a range of services including pile driving, soil improvement, and foundation testing. Their expertise and advanced technology ensure reliable and sustainable foundation solutions for various construction projects.
The successful candidate is expected to commence their position on September 1st, 2024, although an earlier start date can also be accommodated.