Internal: Postdoc in Safety Assessment and Strengthening Technology of Existing Concrete Bridges

Job description

A large proportion of the existing concrete bridges in the Netherlands were built in the 1960s and 1970s and were not designed for today's heavy traffic demands. Significant increases in traffic loads, evolving standards, and natural degradation mean that much of this infrastructure no longer meets modern safety and structural requirements. Given the high traffic density of the Dutch highway network and the massive scale of the necessary renewal program, extending the service life of these structures is essential. Developing sustainable, cost-efficient assessment and strengthening methods is a critical alternative to conventional demolition and replacement.

To this end, it is vital to establish accurate assessment procedures based on modern design and assessment standards. For structures that do not fulfill current safety requirements, targeted structural strengthening offers a significantly more sustainable solution.

In this research project, you will focus on conducting desktop studies covering two main areas:

1. Align the next-generation Eurocode framework to safety assessment practices with the engineering practice in the Netherlands, and apply modifications and/or refinements of Rijkswaterstaat guidelines based on Eurocode.
2. Evaluate technical solutions for the structural strengthening of concrete bridges based on Dutch bridge design.

Your role as a Postdoc

Your work will involve:

• Developing modifications and refinement of guidelines based on the theoretical background of the next-generation Eurocode for Dutch concrete bridge assessment.
• Integrating these modifications into updates for the RBK (Richtlijnen Beoordeling Kunstwerken), the official guideline for assessing existing civil structures developed by Rijkswaterstaat.
• Conducting comprehensive literature reviews on relevant structural strengthening techniques, including the underlying safety philosophies tailored to typical Dutch concrete bridges.
• Conducting interviews and consultations with industry and market parties to assess commercial needs and gather available practical experience regarding bridge strengthening.
• Organizing international workshops with global experts in the field of strengthening technology to evaluate strengthening technologies to the current state of the art.
• Identifying future research challenges and strategic directions for strengthening technology based on your literature reviews, stakeholder consultations, and workshop findings.

You will join the Concrete Structures section within the Department of Engineering Structures at TU Delft. In this role, you will work closely with key industrial partners, primarily Rijkswaterstaat and TNO. This position offers an exceptional opportunity to collaborate broadly with both the international research community and the Dutch construction industry. Through project-embedded workshops, you will gain excellent professional exposure and high-level networking opportunities.

The Department of Engineering Structures focuses on the development of resilient, smart and sustainable structures and infrastructures. Research themes include assessment methods for structures, replacement and renovation of civil infrastructure, and the development of new materials and maintenance techniques. Its Macro Mechanics Laboratory facilities support full-scale testing, monitoring and modelling of structures to facilitate implementation of innovations.

Job requirements

You are a motivated researcher with a Ph.D. degree and a solid academic foundation in structural concrete, specifically focusing on the assessment of existing concrete structures. You have a keen interest in exploring and adopting new technologies, backed by a strong theoretical understanding of the field.

A central part of your role will involve engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders, including asset owners, contractors, researchers, and technology developers. Leveraging your excellent communication skills and deep theoretical knowledge, you can translate insights gathered from these diverse parties into well-defined, actionable research plans that address real-world engineering challenges.

Requirements:

• A Ph.D. degree in Concrete Structures, Civil Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• A solid background and strong interest in at least one of the following areas:

• Assessment of existing concrete structures (with or without deterioration).
• Structural strengthening of existing concrete structures.
• Design or advanced modeling of concrete structures.

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively in a dynamic environment alongside diverse stakeholders.

TU Delft

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference. 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

• Duration of contract is 1.5 year. Temporary.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.