Open PhD position | REFFRACTEUR Doctoral Network

We are recruiting a Doctoral Candidate for PhD14: Physics-informed digital twins for design, monitoring and optimal operation of steel ladle refractories.

This PhD will focus on building a physics-informed digital twin that converts operational data into real-time, uncertainty-aware forecasts of ladle lining temperature, wear, and remaining useful life. The project will combine harmonised industrial data, explainable machine learning, reduced-order models, FEM-based physics, and web-based dashboard tools for monitoring and predictive maintenance.

The position is part of REFFRACTEUR, a European Industrial Doctoral Network training researchers at the interface of materials science, process engineering, digitalisation, and sustainability.

Main locations:
Stahl-Holding-Saar, Völklingen, Germany — 18 months
University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal — 18 months

Profile: Materials Science, Engineering or similar background, strong analytical skills, interest in thermomechanical analysis, data-driven modelling, digital twins, and excellent English communication skills.

Apply by June 8th: buff.ly/oV0bZsc

Due to MSCA mobility rules, residents of Germany cannot apply for this specific position.

#PhDposition #DoctoralNetwork #MSCA #HorizonEurope #reffracteur #digitaltwin #machinelearning #PredictiveMaintenance #refractories #steelindustry #SustainableIndustry #universityofminho #shs ... See MoreSee Less

Open PhD position | REFFRACTEUR Doctoral Network

We are recruiting a Doctoral Candidate for PhD11: Thermo-hygral-mechanical modelling and optimisation of dry-out and early-age behaviour in castable refractory linings.

This position will focus on the development and validation of THM-FEM models for the dry-out of castable ladle linings, comparing natural and accelerated schedules. The research will combine numerical modelling with experimental campaigns using embedded and surface sensing to track moisture transport, temperature, internal stresses, pore-pressure damage, creep, and early-age microcracking.

The PhD will be carried out within the European Industrial Doctoral Network REFFRACTEUR, focused on digital frameworks for resilient and carbon-neutral industry.

Main locations:
University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal — 18 months
RHI Magnesita, Leoben, Austria — 18 months

Profile: Engineering or similar background, strong skills in constitutive modelling, multiphysics numerical modelling, programming, and excellent English communication skills.

Apply by June 8th: buff.ly/oV0bZsc

Due to MSCA mobility rules, residents of Portugal cannot apply for this specific position.

#ISISE #HMS #matich #sc #dice #PhDposition #DoctoralNetwork #MSCA #HorizonEurope #reffracteur #refractories #FEM #thermomechanicalmodelling #SustainableIndustry #universityofminho #rhimagnesita ... See MoreSee Less

📢 New paper published!

We are pleased to share our latest publication in Thin-Walled Structures:

“A Comprehensive Methodology for Defining Service Temperatures in Composite Structures under Environmental Conditions with Self-Shadowing Considerations”

This study proposes a methodology to define service temperature ranges and thermal gradients in FRP composite structures, considering realistic environmental conditions and self-shadowing effects.

Accurately assessing temperature distributions is essential to support the safe and reliable use of FRP-based structural systems under service conditions.

🔗 Read the paper here: buff.ly/yNqTn1t

Congratulations to all co-authors: Marco Abreu Filho, João Pereira, Jose Sena-Cruz, and Miguel Azenha.

#ISISE #SC #FRP #ThinWalledStructures #CompositeStructures #StructuralEngineering #CivilEngineering #Research #Innovation #TemperatureEffects ... See MoreSee Less

We are pleased to share our recent publication in Meccanica:

“Thermo-mechanical creep with a theta projection model under steep thermal gradients: a scaled pilot steel ladle validation”

This work presents a 3D meso-scale finite element model of a pilot steel ladle, explicitly considering the dry joints between refractory bricks and the thermo-mechanical creep behaviour of the working lining under high-temperature gradients.

The model was validated against experimental results from a scaled pilot ladle, including temperature measurements, shell strains, Digital Image Correlation data, and shell uplift. The study shows that the theta projection creep model provides smoother stress-relaxation predictions, better agreement with measured shell-strain evolution, and reduced mesh sensitivity when compared with the traditional Norton–Bailey law.

These results contribute to more reliable numerical tools for the assessment and design of refractory masonry linings in steel ladles and other high-temperature industrial structures.

Congratulations to all co-authors: Pratik N. Gajjar, Thaís R. L. Soares, João M. Pereira, Miguel Azenha, and Paulo B. Lourenço.

Read the paper here: buff.ly/QaBMFby

#RefractoryMasonry #SteelLadles #ThermoMechanicalModelling #Creep #FiniteElementAnalysis #StructuralEngineering #Meccanica #Research #ISISE #HMS #MATICH ... See MoreSee Less

📢 Seminar Announcement

We are pleased to invite you to the seminar “Digital Transformation in Firefighter Instructor Training: VR-Based Certification and Interactive Simulation Models”, delivered by Sedat ÇAT, Lecturer in the Civil Defence and Firefighting Program at Karabuk University.

📅 Date: Monday, May 18th
🕦 Time: 11:30 – 12:30
📍 Location: Meeting Room 1, Civil Engineering Department, University of Minho

The seminar will explore how Virtual Reality (VR) can transform fire and civil defence instructor training by creating controlled, repeatable, and realistic training environments. Key topics will include scenario-based learning, objective evaluation criteria, integration with international certification standards, and opportunities for university-industry collaboration.

Everyone interested in VR-based training, civil defence technologies, firefighter education, and digital transformation in safety training is warmly invited to attend.

#ISISE #HMS #RAMCI #VirtualReality #FirefighterTraining #CivilDefence #DigitalTransformation #ScenarioBasedLearning #Certification #UniversityIndustryCollaboration #Engineering #TrainingInnovation ... See MoreSee Less

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