The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway is hosting the new Research Based Innovation Centre Sustainable Arctic Coastal and Marine Technology. The centre is financed by the Research Council of Norway and the industry. Up to 7 PhD positions are available within the centre at NTNU and at the University Centre on Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Norway. Professor Sveinung Lset is leading the centre in close collaboration with UNIS and SINTEF. The research is divided into six Work Packages:
- WP 1 - Collection and analysis of field data and properties
- WP 2 - Material modelling
- WP 3 - Fixed structures in ice
- WP 4 - Floating structures in ice
- WP 5 - Ice management and design philosophy
- WP 6 - Coastal Technology.
The following positions are available:
PhD 1. Properties of tides, sea currents and waves in the Arctic seas (WP 1).
The announced position assumes field investigation of surface wave propagation and tides in ice infested waters. Measurements will be performed in Svalbard fjords and in the Barents Sea over ice and ice free seasons with standard equipment for the measurements of water velocities profiles, CTD characteristics and surface waves. Special attention will be focused on the measurements of sediment transport in shallow waters covered by ice, around quays and underwater pipelines.
PhD 2. Physical-mechanical properties and extent of coastal permafrost (WP 1).
The extent and state of coastal permafrost will be measured at selected sites at Svalbard and NW Russia, and samples taken for advanced laboratory testing and determination of physical-mechanical properties. In situ measurements will be a major part of the study. The position includes development of testing methods and equipment, both in laboratory and field, to achieve results suitable to determinate properties of frozen soils, both for traditional geotechnical use and as input to models developed in WP2. Field activity will be carried out in both Svalbard and North West Russia.
PhD 3. Constitutive models for frozen soils (WP 2).
Temperature and time effects (creep) are of major concern in frozen soils. Sophisticated analyses of frozen soil-structure interaction problems therefore require at least a time dependent thermo-mechanically coupled material model. Ideally a fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanically (THM) model for frozen soil is employed. Such a model is to be developed within this PhD research. Development shall be based on available anisotropic viscoplastic soft soil models and fully thermo-hydro-mechanically coupled frameworks originally aimed at higher temperature regimes.
PhDs 4 and 5. Constitutive models for ice rubble, both numerical (FEM) and experimental investigations (WP 2).
Ice ridges often give the design ice action on Marine Arctic structures and ships. The lower, unconsolidated parts the ridges is called rubble and material models for ice rubble is necessary for the use of numerical tools to predict ice action on structures. The development of material models requires both the development of experimental procedures to provide input data, and the development of numerical material model with the use of advance finite element models. The material model should include visco-plastic features, so that the loading rate dependence can be modelled.
PhD 6. Field observations and numerical nodelling of drift of sea ice and icebergs (WP 2).
Precise and fast estimates of icebergs and ice ridges masses and shapes are very important for the development of ice management around offshore structures and pipelines in the Barents Sea and Kara Sea. Moreover local monitoring of ice drift in Svalbard fjords and estimates of ice forces on Svalbard quays will provide highly needed knowledge for the planning of coastal infrastructure in Svalbard. The PhD study should lead to development of modern methods for 3D mapping of ice features in the ocean (icebergs, ice ridges, floes) and monitoring of their motions from onboard ships and from land.
PhD 7. Modeling of erosion rates and erosion mechanisms in coastal permafrost (WP6).
The PhD-study involves quantification of some of the physical processes behind Arctic coastal erosion and includes monitoring of erosion rates, the extent of coastal permafrost, sea and ice conditions at selected coastal locations and structures in Svalbard and NW Russia.
The data will be used for modelling of potential site-specific permafrost degradation in the coastal zone due to present and future climatic conditions and sea/ice actions on shorelines. Development of models will be a part of the research. A number of test fields both in Svalbard and North West Russia will be established with the purpose to collect high quality data to study erosion rates and erosion mechanisms in coastal permafrost.
7 PhD positions available within Arctic Technology at NTNU and UNIS
