PhD Candidate in Numerical Modelling of Tool Wear and Failure Mechanisms in Friction Stir Welding Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numèrics en l'Enginyeria in Spain

PhD opportunity at CIMNE in Barcelona, Spain

The Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numèrics en l'Enginyeria (CIMNE) is recruiting a PhD candidate for its Research and Technical Development (RTD) Group on Solid and Fluid Simulation for Industrial Processes. The project focuses on numerical modelling of tool wear and failure mechanisms in friction stir welding (FSW), with an emphasis on advanced computational methods for predicting wear, damage evolution, crack initiation, crack propagation, tool lifetime, and failure in tools used for FSW of advanced steel pipelines.

The research is embedded in two collaborative projects: the Spanish national project DT-FSW (Digital Twin for High-Performance Components Production via Friction Stir Welding Process) and the European RFCS project ORBISTIR (Cost-effective and sustainable girth welding of steel pipelines for operation in extreme conditions). The work is therefore highly relevant for digital twins, structural integrity, manufacturing processes, and sustainable industrial welding technologies.

Planned research activities include developing thermo-mechanical finite element models for FSW tools, studying wear and damage mechanisms under severe loading, modelling crack initiation and propagation using fracture mechanics approaches, calibrating and validating models with experimental data, and creating predictive methods for tool lifetime assessment and failure prediction. The role also includes applying machine learning methods for tool health monitoring and prognosis, alongside publishing results in scientific journals, presenting at conferences, and completing a PhD thesis.

Eligibility and profile: applicants should hold a master's degree or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computational Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Materials Engineering, or a related field, and be eligible for admission to a PhD programme. A strong background in computational mechanics, solid mechanics, numerical methods, and the finite element method is required, together with programming skills in Python and Fortran and good written and spoken English. Additional experience in fracture mechanics, damage mechanics, finite element software development, machine learning, high-performance computing, or prior publications will be valued.

Employment and funding: the post is a full-time position based in Barcelona, Spain, with a gross salary of 25,079.88 €, a 40-hour working week, and a contract linked to scientific and/or technical activities for 12 months. The position is project-funded within PID2023-147968OB-I00, with support from MICIU/AEI and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Union.

Deadline: applications close on 15 September 2026 at 12:00 (Europe/Madrid). Priority may be given to applicants affiliated with CIMNE consortium entities, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), and the Government of Catalonia, provided they meet the requirements.

How to apply: submit your application via the CIMNE research students website and follow the documentation instructions in the call. Shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide scanned supporting documents and may be invited to selection tests and/or interviews.

Institution: CIMNE, Barcelona, Spain.