PhD Position SHM of Aged FRP in the MSCA Doctoral Network ASSESS - at Politecnico di Bari, Italy

PhD Vacancy for a Doctoral Candidate (DC3) in SHM of aged FRP wind turbine blades for damage assessment and lifetime prediction in the MSCA Doctoral Network ASSESS - at Politecnico di Bari, Italy

Job description
The aim of this PhD is to analyse the effects of material ageing in fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites and investigate new ultrasonic structural health monitoring (SHM) methodologies based on sparse arrays of piezo-electric (PZT) transducers for damage diagnosis and prognosis. Three are the objectives of this PhD research: (1) the design and manufacturing of FRP laminated panels with sparse arrays of PZTs either surface mounted or embedded into the lay-up using materials typically adopted for the manufacturing of composite wind turbine blades. (2) The development of mechanical (fatigue), thermal and moisture tests of CFRP samples to accelerate laminate ageing and their optical fractography tests to analyse the effects of ageing and damage generation. (3) The development of ultrasonic guided wave-based algorithms for the assessment and prognosis of damage caused by ageing using machine learning methods and sparse arrays of PZT transducers. Damage imaging results will be validated against traditional non-destructive evaluation methods. Two secondments have been planned to support research activities during the PhD. This PhD is part of the ASSESS project, you can read more about this here.

Research Fields:

Ultrasonic guided-wave propagation, composite materials, non-destructive testing

Secondments:

University of Patras (Patras, Greece)

Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (Bremerhaven, Germany)

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct research as outlined in the project’s objectives under the supervision of Prof Francesco Ciampa.
• Engage in secondments as part of the project’s training activities.
• Contribute to academic publications, project reports, and other dissemination activities.
• Participate in structured training programs and network-wide events organized by the consortium.
• Collaborate with international partners and other Doctoral Candidates within the network.

Principal Supervisor:

Prof Francesco Ciampa (Politecnico di Bari), Prof John S. Sakellariou (University of Patras), Prof Umberto Galietti (Politecnico di Bari).

Requirements
Eligibility Criteria

• A second-level degree (Master) or equivalent foreign qualification in aerospace / mechanical / civil engineering, applied mathematics or physics with excellent experimental skills
• Not in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.
• Recruited applicants can be of any nationality and must undertake trans-national mobility (i.e., move from one country to another) when taking up the appointment. In particular, at the time of selection, the recruited applicant for this position must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. You will be asked to enclose evidence to prove this. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.-

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of acoustic/ultrasonic wave propagation, composite materials, non-destructive testing and signal processing is required.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Optional Skills:

• Experience in mechanical testing and software programming (e.g., MATLAB, Fortran, Python, LabView) is an advantage.
• English Requirement: High level of proficiency in English (will be tested at interview).

Academic Host:
Politecnico di Bari, Italy

The Polytechnic University of Bari (Politecnico di Bari) was established on 7th August 1990, and it is the youngest among Italian Polytechnic Universities. Research activities will be carried out at the Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management (DMMM). The DMMM is one of 180 Departments selected by the Italian ‘Ministry of University and Research’ as “Department of Excellence”. This initiative gives recognition to the DMMM of the high quality of their research. The DMMM has world-leading interdisciplinary research in numerical finite element modelling, acoustic-ultrasonic testing and non-destructive evaluation techniques, with fifteen members of the academic staff carrying out research in ultrasound, thermography, composites, FE simulations and manufacturing of sensing systems, which are all relevant to the ASSESS project. Furthermore, the Polytechnic University of Bari is a lead member of the Italian “Aerospace Technological Cluster”, which will enable the DC to broaden collaborations with major stakeholders and end-users from the aerospace and wind energy industries.

http://www.en.poliba.it/

Conditions of employment
Salary:

The successful candidate will receive a competitive and attractive academic remuneration package in accordance with MSCA regulations for doctoral candidates. The researcher will be employed under a contract that includes social security coverage and pension rights.

The financial package includes the following*:

• Monthly living allowance: €3,400/month, adjusted by applying the country correction coefficient for the country of recruitment (Italy). The coefficients are outlined in Table 1 of MSCA Work Programme 2023-24 version adopted on 6 December 2022 (European Commission Decision C(2022) 7550 (https://adaptmet.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FINAL-PUBLISHED_6Dec2022_-wp-2-msca-actions_horizon-2023-2024_en.pdf)
• Monthly mobility allowance: €600/month.
• Monthly family allowance (if applicable, depending on family situation): €660/month.
• The living allowance above represents the total EU contribution to the researcher’s salary costs. The estimated gross salary is approximately €3,311.60 per month (only considering the living allowance), inclusive of both employee and employer tax contributions. The net salary will be calculated by deducting these contributions and any other applicable national taxes (e.g., income tax) from the gross amount.

Other Benefits:

The doctoral candidate will also benefit from comprehensive training within the ASSESS network, including participation in at least six specialized Training Events organized by the MSCA-ASSESS network. Additional opportunities include secondments to partner laboratories, a range of advanced training courses (including transferable skills development), and active engagement in workshops and international conferences, providing a well-rounded and enriching research experience.

Expected Start Date: Q2 2025

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Prof Francesco Ciampa, via francesco.ciampa@poliba.it.

Project Description:

The Horizon Europe MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE ACTION Doctoral Network (DN) ASSESS (Automated online monitoring of Smart compoSitE StructureS - Grant Agreement Number 101168031) offers 12 exciting PhD positions to develop next-generation smart composites for strategic European industries such as aviation, space, and wind energy.

Composite materials with embedded sensors and nanomaterials hold the potential for real-time structural health monitoring. However, industrial adoption is hindered by challenges in sensor integration, automated data analysis, standardization, and operator training. ASSESS bridges the gap between research and industry by advancing the design, manufacturing, and testing of Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites.

As part of a multidisciplinary consortium of 9 beneficiaries and 13 Associated Partners, you will engage in pioneering research on:

• Smart composites and cutting-edge sensing technologies
• Advanced simulations and AI-driven data analysis
• Digital twins and Industry 4.0 innovations

Through collaborative projects, international secondments, and specialized training, you'll contribute to safer, lighter, and more efficient composite components, reducing CO₂ emissions, enhancing wind energy production, and supporting Europe's green transition.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 28 February 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Detailed CV, including information on the candidate’s proficiency in English
• Motivational letter (1 page), describing why the position fits the applicant
• Contact information of 2 references
• Copy of Master’s degree diploma
• Copies of any other relevant certifications listed within CV

Selection Criteria: Candidates will be evaluated based on their academic background, research experience, and alignment with the project’s objectives. The selection process will be open, transparent, merit-based, impartial, and equitable.

Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a structured interview with predefined questions and a scoring system.

You can address your application to Prof Francesco Ciampa.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

40 hours per week

Mekelweg 5