Ph.D Position Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

May 16, 2008

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NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology – Department of Materials Science and EngineeringPh.D position in the area Steel for Arctic Applications

A PhD research fellowship is available at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in the area Steel for Arctic Applications. The fellowship is financed by Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The candidate who receives the fellowship is expected to fulfil the requirements for a PhD degree at NTNU during the period of the grant.

The Norwegian government has pointed out the North region as one of the most important strategic areas for development in the coming years. The present PhD project is organized under a larger institutional strategic program (ISP) that is established to follow up this national strategy, focusing on petroleum production and related activities in the North. Steel alloys are by far the most commonly used metals in oil and gas production installations, and in cold environments, many low-alloy steels become brittle. The aim of the PhD project is to achieve knowledge on mechanisms and microstructures that affect the ductile-to-brittle transition of steels for arctic applications.

The transition temperature of structural materials is the temperature at which there occurs a sudden drop in the failure energy caused by a change of fracture mechanism from void coalescence to cleavage. Even though the change of fracture properties at low temperatures has been known for more than a century, some of the fundamentals controlling the transformation temperature have not yet been adequately explained. Parameters that affect this transition are e.g. the chemical composition of the steel, its microstructure (grain size, phase composition, morphology of pearlite/ cementite, slag particles like MnS, etc.), crystallographic texture, aging, cold deformation, surface notches, geometrical conditions, loading history, and the occurrence of deformation twinning (nucleating cleavage) prior to final fracture. Moreover, welding introduces new chemical compositions (filler metal) and changes in microstructure (HAZ). Due to these complex relations there is a lack of standards and specifications for structural installations at arctic temperatures. There is a need for a deeper understanding of the factors that influence the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature to (i) provide background knowledge for steel development, (ii) for making standards and specifications for oil and gas installations under arctic conditions (e.g. welding procedures), and (iii) for avoiding brittle fracture due to extreme ice interactions (cold deformation introduced by ice loadings may enhance the risk for subsequent brittle fracture through an increase in the brittle-to-ductile temperature). The PhD work will focus on the effect of microstructure and changes in microstructure introduced by welding (and possibly by cold deformation) on the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature. The experimental work will be based on steels that have been developed for application at low temperatures, e.g. acicular ferritic steels that have a low transition temperature due to their small grain size, but also typical ship plate steels. Steels with varying composition, thermomechanical history and microstructure will be included in the investigation, and changes in their microstructure will be introduced by weld simulation (and perhaps by cold deformation). Fracture toughness will be measured both by traditional Charpy-V testing and by more localized methods as short bar fracture toughness measurements. Related work is already in progress at NTNU and SINTEF in a large KMB project on Arctic Steels, and the candidate will become a member of this environment, which is internationally recognized.

We seek a candidate with

* an MSc or equivalent degree in materials science , physics or chemistry.
* Previous experience with steels and electronoptical techniques, especially transmission electron microscopy, is desirable.
* The candidate may be asked to perform part of her/his research outside of Norway, at laboratories specializing in one or more areas on interest for the project.

For further information, contact:
Professor Jan Ketil Solberg, tel: +47 73592051, e-mail: jan.solberg@material.ntnu.no

Information on the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NTNU can be found at www.material.ntnu.no

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering has an active and successful graduate student programme. The close links with the academic and technical staff within related units at NTNU offers excellent possibilities for interdisciplinary research.

NTNU’s PhD-rules require a master degree or equivalent with at least 5 years of studies and an average grade of A or B within a scale of A-E for passing grades (A best). Candidates from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a Diploma Supplement or a similar document, which describes in detail the study and grade system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree.

The salary for the position is set at level 43, NOK 325.600 a year (before tax) in the Norwegian state salary scale. Two per cent of the salary will be deducted at source as a mandatory premium to the Norwegian State Pension Fund.

The fellowship is for a period of four years, including 25 % teaching duties.

NTNU’s objective is to increase the number of females in scientific positions. Female applicants are therefore encouraged to apply.

The appointment of the Ph.D. fellow will be made according to Norwegian guidelines for universities and university colleges, and to the general regulations for university employees in Norway. Applicants are obliged to engage on an organized Ph.D. training program, and appointment requires approval of the applicant’s plan for a Ph.D. study. The Fellow and the University must sign a mutual contract regarding the period of appointment and the obligations of the Ph.D. fellow.

The application should submit the following documents:

* CV (Resume) including research experience and publications, education, experience, certificates, transcripts and references.
* Information, publications and all other scientific material that the applicant wants to be considered can also be enclosed.

Applications are to be sent electronically with the reference number NT 32/08.

Preferably, we want the attachments in one file.

Publications and other scientific materials must be sent by ordinary mail to:

the Norwegian University of Science and Technology Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology NO-7491 Trondheim Norway.

The file number for the position NT-32/08 is to be clearly stated on the application. These papers will only be returned on inquiry.

The application deadline is 30.05.2008.

Scholarship Tags: Norway, Norwegian, NTNU, PhD, Position, Science, Technology, University