PhD Position Inspection Shallow Subsurface with Shear Waves Delft • TU Delft

In the Netherlands, there is a need for measurement techniques that allow for the inspection of the foundations of houses and hydraulic structures. This demand plays an important role in the many old bridges, locks, and weirs, which are mostly built using wooden constructions and where the foundations are often partially below the waterline and anchored in the soil. For the safety and future-proofing of these structures, it is important to inspect them for, among other things, wood rot. To carry out this inspection effectively, there is a demand for non-destructive inspection techniques that can perform this inspection underwater and in shallow soil.

The aim of the project is to develop an imaging technique to perform this inspection. We want to achieve this using an acoustic technique called 'Shear-Wave Imaging.' This technique is highly sensitive to variations in the stiffness and elasticity of the substrate, and by measuring these waves at the surface, we can determine the strength properties of the shallow substrate. The same technique can also be used for inspecting the wooden structures on which the hydraulic engineering works in the Netherlands are built.

To improve the imaging technique, a numerical model will be developed for modelling the shear waves. Afterwards, an inversion algorithm will be worked on that should allow for creating an image of the shallow subsurface and the embedded foundations using measurements of the scattered field. Finally, actual measurements will be carried out to experimentally validate the research. The research is partly funded by the Dutch government and will be conducted by TU Delft in collaboration with the Delphi Consortium within TU Delft and external partners Fugro and Deltares. 

You will be part of the section Applied Geophysics & Petrophysics in the Department of Geosciences & Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences, TU Delft. Additional expertise and co-supervision will be provided by academic partners at the Faculty of Applied Sciences as well as from industrial partners via the Delphi consortium. During regular meetings you will have many opportunities to network and connect with fellow PhD candidates and other researchers in Delft and beyond. Our department promotes a diverse working environment as well as healthy, family-friendly working hours. We strongly encourage and support all PhD candidates to publish their research in peer-reviewed journals and to actively participate in scientific conferences and workshops. These experiences will pave the way for diverse career paths in research institutes, governmental agencies, industry, (environmental, medical, or construction) consultancy, or academia.

Being creative and independent, you enjoy working on a mix of theoretical and practicalproblems and are confident to master the challenges of managing and executing a complex research project.

You also have:

• a MSc in a relevant field, such as physics, geophysics, applied mathematics or similar,

• interest in mathematics, wave propagation phenomena and imaging methods,

• experience in scientific programming (preferably in Python),

• capacity to organize and carrying out relevant laboratory or field experiments,

• good writing, communication and presentation skills.

Experience and advanced knowledge in one or more of the fields below is considered an advantage:

• seismic theory and methods, ultrasound methods, scattering theory, signal processing, modelling elastic wave propagation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration. 

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management. 

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