Denmark : Phd Fellow in Reliability-based design of wind turbine foundations-computational modelling

At the Faculties of Engineering, Science and Medicine, Department of Civil Engineering a position as Ph.D. fellow (position no. 562/06-6-10004) is open for appointment from 1.6.2010.

Job description:
“Reliability-based design of wind turbine foundations – computational modelling”

The PhD stipend is available within the general study programme “Civil Engineering”

The stipend is affiliated with the research project “Reliability-based analysis applied for reduction of cost of energy for offshore wind turbines” which is co-financed by the Danish Council for Strategic Research, the Faculties of Engineering, Science and Medicine, AAU; the Wind Energy Department, Risø DTU, National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy; Vestas Wiind Systems A/S; and finally DONG A/S.
The expenses related to foundations constitute about 1/3 of the total budget for an offshore wind farm and a great part of this relatively high cost is due to the current design practice. When wind turbines are to be installed offshore, geotechnical field measurements are carried out at the location of each turbine, usually as cone penetration tests (CPT) and/or borehole tests. Based on the measured soil properties, the characteristic strength and deformation parameters are determined, typically as 5th percentile values. The application of partial safety factors then provides the design values, and a deterministic design of each foundation is performed, modelling the soil as a locally homogeneous material within each detected soil layer. Large statistical uncertainties are related to this methodology and the overall reliability of the foundations is unknown. Firstly, the design of each individual foundation is based on scarce data – even if several tests are carried out for a wind park. Secondly, soil is a heterogeneous material, even within a single layer. Hence, the utilisation of a locally homogeneous model of the soil in each layer leads to an erroneous prediction of the bearing capacity and the settlements, qualitatively as well as quantitatively.
In order to reduce the statistical and model uncertainties related to the design of wind turbine foundations, stochastic fields must be utilised to model the spatial distribution of the soil parameters. So far, the strength and deformation properties have been treated separately in stochastic models of a single foundation structure. However, limited research has been carried out regarding the spatial co-variation of soil parameters over a large field. Here, inspiration from models developed for the description of soil layers subjected to earthquake loading can be used. Employing Bayesian statistics, the number of field tests may be reduced to a minimum in order to obtain the necessary overall reliability. Using the computational model to plan further tests and the results from new field investigations to improve the model may reduce the overall costs as well as the uncertainty. The formulation of such computational models is the focus of the present research project which will be carried out in close collaboration with a related project on geotechnical site assessment.
Applicants for the PhD position should hold a Masters Degree in preferably Civil or Geotechnical Engineering with a strong background in computational geomechanics and probabilistic engineering. A good command of oral and written English is also required.

Qualification requirements:
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Masters degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of the Faculties of Engineering, Science and Medicine, in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 18 of January 14, 2008 on the PhD Programme at the Universities. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed every six months. It is a prerequisite for continuation of salary payment that the previous progress is approved at the time of the evaluation.

The qualifications of the applicant will be assessed by an assessment committee. On the basis of the recommendation of the assessment committee, the Dean of the Faculties of Engineering, Science and Medicine will make a decision for allocating the stipend.

Appointment and salary acc. to the Ministry of Finance Circular of January 11, 2006 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the Ministry of Finance Circular of June 13, 2007 on the employment structure at Danish Universities.

For further information about stipends and salary contact Ms. Heidi Cramer, The Faculties of Engineering, Science and Medicine, email: hcr@adm.aau.dk, phone: +45 9940 7582.

The PhD application form can be downloaded from the following address:
http://www.phd.ins.aau.dk/get-a-phd/3591832

The faculty has a research school, The Doctoral School of Engineering, Science and Medicine: http://www.phd.ins.aau.dk and a Network for all PhD students: http://pau.aau.dk

You may obtain further information from Associate Professor Lars Andersen, phone: +45 9940 8455, email: la@civil.aau.dk or Professor Lars Bo Ibsen, phone: +45 9940 8458, email: lbi@civil.aau.dk concerning the technical aspects of the stipend.

Application marked with the PhD stipend No. 562/06-6-10004, should include in four copies: the PhD application form, the Masters diploma including grades, publications, Curriculum Vitae, proposal for a PhD study plan and any other material, as well as a list of submitted material. Due to legal constraints electronic applications will not be accepted. The application must arrive at Aalborg University with the morning post by the 26.3.2010.

Application is to be forwarded to :

Aalborg Universitet
De Ingeniør-, Natur- og Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakulteter
Niels Jernes Vej 10
DK-9220 Aalborg Øst 

Further Information

Application Deadline : 26 March 2010

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Posted on 2010-02-15 10:14:11

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