PhD Automatic Creation of MUlti-fidelity Models for Physics-based Aircraft Performance Analysis

PhD Automatic Creation of MUlti-fidelity Models for Physics-based Aircraft Performance Analysis

How do you automatically create tailor-made aircraft models? Here is your opportunity to push the boundaries of physics-based modeling automation, dynamic simulation, and flight performance analysis

Job description

This PhD position is part of the Dutch Aviation Systems Analysis Lab (DASAL project, a flagship collaboration between TU Delft and Royal NLR, funded through the Dutch national growth fund under the ‘Luchtvaart in Transitie’ programme.

DASAL serves as a living lab for developing integrated models and simulations to support innovation throughout the Dutch aviation sector and public policy. Within this unique ecosystem, you will join a diverse and interdisciplinary team of PhD candidates and postdocs from across the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, collaborating closely with experts at NLR and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to analyse the complex interactions between sustainability, economics, and societal impact in aviation.

To support the aircraft design process at different stages, it is essential to be able to carry out flight mechanics and performance analyses coherently across different fidelity levels. Depending on the type of desired output, digital flight mechanics models should be tailored to quantify metrics such as flying qualities, fuel/energy consumption, trim attitude, control authority, hinge moments, .... As a part of larger Multidisciplinary Design Analysis and Optimization (MDAO) workflows, these models should be created and executed automatically and, in the case of unconventional aircraft configurations, they should be physics-based.

We are looking for a PhD candidate to develop a Flight Mechanics meta-model that enables the automatic and robust creation of tailor-made aircraft performance and dynamics models. This meta-model will be based on multi-body cyber-physical networks, as implemented in MATLAB/Simscape or Modelica, and will include:

• A library of physics-based aircraft components and sub-systems following the Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) paradigm.
• A Knowledge-Based Engineering (KBE) framework to automate Flight Mechanics model creation and simulation.

The PhD Candidate will be based at the Flight Performance and Propulsion group of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. They will actively contribute to the activities of the DASAL project to support the creation of a Dutch Aviation System Analysis Laboratory, by working independently in a supportive and multi-disciplinary work environment.

The daily supervisor is Dr.Carmine Varriale. Other people involved with the Flight Performance and Propulsion group are Dr. Francesco Orefice and Dr. Gianfranco La Rocca.

The PhD Candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with, and contribute to, other research and development activities within TU Delft (such as the DASAL Project “Machine Learning Enabled Aircraft Performance Modeling for Air Transport Research”) and the Netherland Aerospace Research Center (NLR).

Requirements

• MSc Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering with specialization for aeronautics
• Proven experience with modelling in the Simulink environment, preferably using Simscape (or equivalent, such as Modelica)
• Proven experience with Object Oriented Programming, preferably in MATLAB
• Solid background in flight performance analysis and optimization using point-mass models
• Solid background in flight dynamics simulation using rigid-body models
• Passion for model design, design automation, graph-based models, and optimization methods
• Proactive attitude, inclination for taking ownership and initiative, ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and diverse team, strong written and oral communication in English

TU Delft

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!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 270 PhD candidates and close to 3000 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond.

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. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 in the fourth year. 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.

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

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr.Carmine Varriale, via C.Varriale@tudelft.nl.