PhD Multiscale Multiphysics Modeling Of Instability&Fracture in Canvas Paintings

This position is part of the research project VANGOGH (Unravelling and predicting degradation of canvas paintings: a multiscale and multiphysics framework), which is funded by the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant). We are building a team of talented and enthusiastic researchers to work on this exciting multidisciplinary research program.

The context: Traditional canvas paintings represent an inestimable cultural legacy. At the same time, however, from an engineering perspective, canvas paintings are heterogeneous, multiscale systems subjected to complex loading conditions triggered by the interaction between multiple physical fields. This complicated scenario may result in different degradation mechanisms, including wrinkling of the painting surface, cracking, delamination, and paint flaking, which crucially affect the appearance, integrity, and longevity of the artwork.

The main objectives of the project are as follows: 

• The development of a multiscale hygro-thermo-mechanical constitutive model of paint and canvas materials based on the effective response of three-dimensional representative volume elements of the heterogeneous paint and canvas systems.
• The analysis of local, microstructural instability mechanisms  in the canvas material.
• The development of a multiscale framework for multiphysics instability of the canvas and cracking and delamination in the paint, focused on understanding the mutual interaction between the phenomena.

The successful candidate will work in the chair of Applied Mechanics, Department of the Built Environment. The chair of Applied Mechanics is responsible for education and research in the field of mechanics, working on multiscale, multi-physics and optimization problems related to the built environment. The chair is a member of the Graduate School of Engineering Mechanics, Netherlands. This graduate school offers PhD students an advanced training program in engineering mechanics, the core of which is a joint series of advanced graduate courses closely connected to state-of-the-art research themes.

The successful candidate will interact closely with other PhD students (numerical and experimental) who work on other aspects of the degradation response of cultural heritage materials.

The project is embedded within NICAS (Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art and Science) and received the support of important national and international museums and cultural heritage institutions (for instance, the Rijksmuseum NL).

Requirements:

• A talented, motivated and enthusiastic researcher. Analytical skills, initiative and creativity are highly desired.
• A MSc-degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computational Mechanics, Mathematical Engineering or equivalent.
• A strong background in mechanics of materials and multi-scale and multi-physics methods is highly desired.
• Interest to work in an interdisciplinary project that applies a mechanics mindset to the field of cultural heritage.
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English.

Salary Benefits:

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

38 hours per week

De Rondom 70