Two PhD Studentships Modelling and Simulation for Behavioural Digital Aircraft

Starting date:  as soon as possible

Two PhD studentships are available in the Advanced Engineering Design Group, Department of Aerospace Engineering at Cranfield University.

This is a unique opportunity to participate in a major European aeronautical project, CRESCENDO. The aim of the project is to develop the foundations of the Behavioural Digital Aircraft (BDA) paradigm. In an analogy to CAD, which is the lingua franca of engineering today, BDA is expected to become the backbone of the simulation domain covering the entire development lifecycle, from conceptual deign phase to test and verification.  The project consortium, led by Airbus and Rolls-Royce, includes over 50 partners – all recognized names in the aerospace and IT industries.

Cranfield University plays a significant part in two work packages, advancing modelling concepts, architecture and process integration for BDA at early design stage. In this context the successful candidate will be researching modelling and simulation concepts leading to an integrated multidisciplinary design computation and simulation environment that will enable a better design of aircraft or family of aircraft.

The candidates should have a good honours or equivalent degree from a reputable British/EU university in aeronautical/mechanical engineering or computer science (preferably with maths/physics), combined with the ability to work in a team and to deliver to a deadline.

Good knowledge and experience of one or more of the following subjects is essential: air-vehicle design, multidisciplinary design and optimisation, flight dynamics and control, multibody dynamics (aeroelasticity), information modelling, stochastic modelling. Good computing skills, ideally in C#, are essential. Knowledge of Simulink (SimMechanics) would be advantageous.

The PhD candidates will be encouraged to further develop their analytical and computational skills, work closely with the team members, and submit the results of work for publication in the academic literature. An original contribution to knowledge in the field is expected. After three years study the successful candidate will be well-prepared for a rewarding industrial or academic career.

CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY

Cranfield is the largest academic centre for postgraduate studies in science and technology in Western Europe.  Focused on developing applied research to meet the demands of industry, Cranfield is ranked among the very best and attracts far more industrial funding than its peers.

SPONSORSHIP

The studentship, depending on qualification and experience, includes the tuition fees for EU students only (approx. £4K p.a.) plus a maintenance bursary of up to £12.5K p.a., for three years.

APPLICATION

Details on how to apply can be found at: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/students/applications/index.jsp

For further information about the studentship please contact Prof. Marin D. Guenov at:  m.d.guenov@cranfield.ac.uk;  Tel: 01234 754612