PhD Position in Smart Sensing and Monitoring of Railway Embankment

Contribute to the revolution of railway embankment monitoring.

This PhD position focuses on smart sensing and monitoring of railway embankments.

Job description

Railway embankments form the foundation of the railway system and play a critical role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and resilience of rail transport. As these assets age and are exposed to increasing traffic loads and environmental effects, efficient methods for monitoring their condition become essential. Traditional inspection approaches can be costly, time-consuming, and limited in spatial and temporal coverage. This PhD project addresses these challenges by developing innovative methods to assess railway embankment health through the integration of multiple monitoring technologies, enabling more frequent, scalable, and data-driven asset management.

The project will investigate the integration of Axle Box Acceleration (ABA), Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV), and Track Geometry (TG) data to enable indirect and frequent assessments of railway embankment conditions. Using measurement data collected by the CTO monitoring train in the Netherlands, the research will examine the relationships between LDV measurements and existing indicators of track quality derived from ABA and TG data, aiming to establish robust indicators of embankment condition.

To support the interpretation of monitoring data, a physics-based train–track–embankment interaction model will be developed using finite element (FE) and/or multibody dynamics (MBD) approaches. The model will be used to investigate the mechanisms governing vibration responses measured by LDV and to improve the understanding of how embankment condition influences train-induced dynamic behaviour.

Transfer functions linking LDV, ABA, TG, and wayside sensor measurements to embankment responses will be derived and validated using field data. These relationships will provide a framework for translating routinely collected monitoring data into actionable information about embankment health and performance.

As part of the project, you will collaborate closely with railway industry partners, participate in discussions, and receive feedback on the development and implementation of your research. Limited teaching responsibilities are also included in the position.

As a PhD candidate, you will join the Railway Engineering Section within the Department of Engineering Structures at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of TU Delft. You will work closely with ProRail, the Dutch railway infrastructure manager, supporting the testing, validation, and practical implementation of your research outcomes. The supervisory team consists of Prof. Zili Li and Prof. Rolf Dollevoet.

Job requirements

We are looking for an excellent candidate with the following qualifications, knowledge and skills:

• A master's degree in Civil, Geotechnical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics/Mechanics, Computer Science or related areas.
• Demonstrated competences in one or more of these categories: railway/structural engineering, structural dynamics, vibration measurement and analysis, structural health monitoring, data science or related fields.
• Programming skills in one or more scientific computing environments, such as Python, MATLAB, or similar.
• Experience with numerical modelling and simulation, preferably using finite element (FE) and/or multibody dynamics (MBD) approaches.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with academic researchers and industry partners.
• Excellent command of English, both verbal and in writing.
• If your native language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0).

TU Delft

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference. At TU Delft (Delft University of Technology), you will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional within an international community of professionals and students.

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences is committed to outstanding international research and education in civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Its research is conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions and addresses societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months is followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years, assuming performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

This is an EU funded project, named Europe’s Rail Flagship Project 3 - Holistic and Integrated Asset Management for Europe’s RAIL System (Phase 2), within program HORIZON-JU-ER.