DC06: High-performance multi-phase, volume-coupled material point method for modelling submarine landslides – University of Twente – Enschede

We are seeking a full time PhD researcher with interests in granular physics, computer modelling and Machine Learning techniques to join University of Twente (Netherlands), and work on a novel high-performance multi-phase material point method for modelling submarine landslides .
This project is part of the EU funded Marie Curie Doctoral Network POSEIDON – Improve offshore infrastructure resilience against geohazards towards a changing climate (www.poseidon-dn.eu). The overarching objective of is to develop, solutions to improve the resilience of offshore infrastructures. POSEIDON will train 13 researchers within a collaborative multidisciplinary and inter-sectorial network involving 9 universities, 3 research institutes and 4 industrial partners across Europe.

Background and aim:

Submarine landslides involve the movement of saturated sediments down a slope, interacting with seawater and/or offshore infrastructure. During landslides, the bulk of the sediment material (usually considered as a porous medium), transits from solid-like to fluid-like, i.e., from stagnant to continuously flowing. In addition, the coupling between seawater and sediment is crucial in the landslide dynamics. Recent studies have shown that the material point method (MPM) can describe the movement of saturated sediment and the hydrodynamic coupling between soil skeleton and seawater, within a multiple-phase framework. Nevertheless, to accurately predict the dynamics of and dissipation within the sliding masses, the transition between solid and flowing states of sediments must be incorporated.

The doctoral candidate will implement constitutive models for saturated sediments in fluid- and solid-like states into an existing GPU-MPM code. The exchange of momentum, mass, and energy between these admissible states of saturated sediments will be achieved with overlapping subdomains where the transition can potentially take place. To further improve the computational efficiency, machine learning surrogates will be used to partially replace the expensive physics-based models to allow large-scale industrial applications. The project aims to provide more accurate, highly efficient, and physics-based predictions for submarine landslides in order to quantitively assess the risk of damages to offshore infrastructures (e.g., foundations anchors) and induced disasters (e.g., tsunamis).

Objectives:

i) Extend an existing MPM code from single-phase to multi-phase based on a volume-coupled formulation that incorporates mass, momentum, and energy exchange between slow- and fast-flowing sediments and water;

ii) Develop a reduced-order model of the multi-phase system using machine learning and integrate it into the volume-coupled numerical framework;

iii) Perform simulations of submarine landslides and assess their impact on offshore infrastructures;

iv) Calibrate model parameters using existing experimental data and compare the model predictions with experimental data obtained from laboratory flume experiments.

Expected Results: 

i) A novel volume-coupled formulation to consider the transport and coupling of multiple phases;

ii) An open-source, multi-phase GPU-based MPM code with clear documentation, tutorials, and examples for future users;

iii) Benchmark cases validated using experimental data from laboratory-scale physical tests.

Planned Secondment(s): 

Dr. Michele Larcher (Free University of Bolzano, 2 months): Perform a laboratory-scale experiment on slope collapse and its interaction with foundation anchors in the flume device; the movement of sediment transport underwater will be recorded and analysed to validate the multiphase MPM model for submarine landslides. DC06 will build his/her work on the experiments previously performed by DC03 in UNIBZ.

Dr. Xue Zhang (University of Liverpool, 3 months): Improve the parallelization of the MPM code; incorporate structural mechanics into the code, e.g., using the finite element method, towards assessing the impact of the slides on submarine infrastructures; comparison of PFEM-MPM methods performances.

Your profile

Obtained a MSc degree in a relevant field such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computational physics, applied mathematics, materials science, or related areas 

Experience with numerical methods for solving partial differential equations;

Previous experience with multi-phase materials and transport phenomena and/or deep neural network solvers will be advantageous; 

Sound programming skills in C/C++, Fortran, Python or equivalent; 

You are an excellent teammate, able to collaborate intensively with industrial and academic parties in regular meetings and work visits;

An appropriate qualification in the English Language together with excellent communication and organizational skills.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. Women are explicitly asked to apply for this position. This is part of the University of Twente’s strategy to increase the proportion of women among its faculty and to create a working environment that is diverse and inclusive and supportive of excellence in research and education.

Our offer

We offer you a very exciting position in an inspiring multidisciplinary environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda. 

We offer a full-time 4-year PhD-position, with excellent mentorship and a stimulating research environment. 

Collaborations with a dedicated, dynamic research team and external parties from several European countries involved in the POSEIDON project. 

The gross monthly salary will be ranging from € 2.770,00 (first year), increasing each year up to € 3.539,00 in the fourth year. Salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU). 

You will have a minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. 

A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis. 

We offer excellent fringe benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, a solid pension scheme, free access to sports facilities and a family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid). 

The University of Twente is situated on a green and lively campus with lots of facilities for sports and other activities.

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