School/Department School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing
Based at Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered
Contract type Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Period Until 31 March 2021
Salary £33,309 to £37,127 per annum
Apply by 10/11/2019

Role Description

Cranfield is an exclusively postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research fellowship, working on computational multi-physics modelling.

The project relates to the development of a comprehensive multi-physics database and software tools for a Landing Gear Shock Absorber (LGSA).

The project involves the generation of a detailed database that entails the construction of a numerical framework for solving the underlying physics of Landing Gear Shock Absorbers. The numerical framework is constituted of software for the pre-processing, solving and post-processing and optimisation of the Multiphysics solutions. The numerical framework is verified and validated, where the uncertainty and modelling errors are quantified, and the sources of uncertainty clearly identified. The Multiphysics solution data are compared and assessed again with experimental and/or other data provided by the consortium partners.

The main motivation of this project is two-fold: understand the conditions and physics phenomena occurring at different operating conditions of a landing gear shock absorber and building numerical models to predict these phenomena. Underlying physics are assumed within the classical /continuum realm e.g. steady/ transient-laminar /transition/ turbulent- incompressible/ compressible- multicomponent- multiphase- flow, heat transfer, chemical reaction, cavitation, structural deformation. The numerical approximation of governing equations describing the physical processes and systems at different LGSA operating conditions and parameters with varying degrees of spatial and temporal accuracy. Construct numerical multi-physics database to enable a more accurate, reliable, robust and faster design prototyping of LGSA.

The construction of the numerical framework and database is based on multi-fidelity approach, enabling an adaptable software for various landing gear design phases, depending upon the accuracy and computational cost. Robust numerical techniques are implemented to minimise uncertainty by thoroughly and consistently analysing the error sources. The key business case is to reduce iterations between CAE, CAD and CAM operations. State-of-the-art physics models and numerical schemes provide the required credibility and confidence in the numerical framework so expensive measurement activities can be minimised. The numerical framework is designed with portability and expandability at heart, a flexible tool fit for future endeavours.

You must hold a PhD (or close to completion) in computational fluid dynamics, computational physics, computational structural dynamics (or equivalent) and your primary degree must be 2:1 or better at BEng (Hons) level (or equivalent Masters). You will also have prior knowledge of commercial and/or open-source multi-physics solvers i.e. ansys workbench, fluent, starccm+, comsol, openFoam, su2 as well as mesh generation tools i.e. pointwise, icem-cfd, ansa and post processing matlab, paraview, tecplot, fieldview. The role will entail a good amount of programming in low- and high-level abstraction, so good knowledge and application of c++, fortran, scripting in bash and python would be required. You will be expected to develop in these areas as required to meet the needs of the research project.

You will undertake research to assist the Principal Investigator and project partners in the successful execution of the Innovate UK -funded project on Landing Gear Shock Absorber (LGSA). You will undertake independent and collaborative research and will be expected to write up your research for publication.

You will have a developing research profile with proven ability to publish high quality research output and will be able to contribute to the development of funding proposals. You will have demonstrable ability to write technical research papers and presentations. You are also required to be an excellent communicator with strong communication and interpersonal skills.

For an informal discussion, please contact Dr Antonios Antoniadis, Lecturer in Computational Engineering Science, on +44 (0)1234 75 4691 or (E); a.f.antoniadis@cranfield.ac.uk  

At Cranfield, we value Diversity and Inclusion, and aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together harmoniously with dignity and respect and realise their full potential. We actively consider flexible working options such as part-time, compressed or flexible hours and/or an element of homeworking, and commit to exploring the possibilities for each role.