ARC-ITTC PhD Scholarship for Rail Infrastructure at QUT
QUT is offering a tax-free $31,828 p.a. PhD scholarship, undertaking training with our industry partners for one-year equivalent period.
Summary about this job
Mechanical Engineering
Company: Queensland University of Technology (QUT )
Location: Brisbane
Work type: Full Time
Salary: $31,828 tax exempt
Phone: +61-3-6393-9950
Fax: +61-2-5927-5189
E-mail: n\a
Site: n\a
Detail information about job ARC-ITTC PhD Scholarship for Rail Infrastructure at QUT. Terms and conditions vacancy
- Undertake research in a prestigious centre funded by the ARC
- Gain experience in rail industry during your research skill development
- Be a member of a leading research team in rail track infrastructure
The Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ARC-ITTC) for Rail Track Infrastructure (https://railresearch.org.au/) is established with the partnership of 12 industries and eight Australian universities. The centre offers Industry Collaboration Research Higher Degree (IC-HDR) scholarships, and IC-Post Doctoral fellowships.
Students and fellows will work closely with industry partners on a topic that is of relevant to the industry. Therefore, on completion of their doctoral thesis or fellowship, the candidate will be ready to transform industry processes, and make design and maintenance technologies of the Australian Rail Track Infrastructure, internationally competitive.
The project
QUT, as a partner of the ARC-ITTC for Rail Track Infrastructure, will work with the Australian Centre for Rail Innovations (ACRI) and Queensland Rail (QR) on “Mitigating Severity of Longitudinal Interaction of the Rail–Track–Bridge System in Transition Zones for Safer Trains” project. This project addresses the severity of the unsymmetric thermal expansion/contraction of the rail track in the bridge transition zone.
When subject to braking/traction torque induced longitudinal forces, the track in these zones exhibit vulnerability to lateral buckling or rail fracture. Such events can lead to derailment on bridges, which is generally highly catastrophic. International best practice therefore, requires intense and frequent monitoring. Currently only manual inspection methods are available, which are highly expensive and error-prone.
This research therefore, seeks to examine the fundamentals of the complex interaction between the rail–track–bridge system, subject to sustained extreme temperature and braking/traction torque by passing trains.
The project requires skills in developing complex numerical models and involvement in field experiments. Therefore, the applicants should have exposure to at least three of the following theories/methods:
- Multi Body Dynamic (MBD) Simulation Methods
- Nonlinear Finite Element Modelling Methods
- Field Experimentation of rail track structures and/or bridges
- Geometric Nonlinearity (Buckling) Modelling
- Fracture Mechanics
- Thermal Stress Analysis
Application
To apply for this project, you should have:
- A Master degree in civil/structural or mechanical engineering with a sound undergraduate qualification in civil or mechanical engineering.
- IELTS score 6.5 overall and no band less than 6.0 (or any one of the other equivalent International English Test listed in: https://www.qut.edu.au/research/study-with-us/how-to-apply)
- Strong self-motivation to carry out PhD research.
While not mandatory, it will be deemed highly desirable to have experience with publication records as a lead author in high-impact journals.
Please submit your expression of interest to [email protected]
Your application must include:
- a cover letter
- an up-do-date CV (with publication list)
- full academic transcript(s)
- a draft of research proposal (2-3 pages; 1.5 line spacing)
- names of two academic referees (phone number and email
Applications close at 5pm (AEST), 15 August 2018.
Applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted by telephone.