Postdoctoral Researcher – Acoustic Emission Analysis

For the Researchgroup Condition Monitoring at the Chair "Hybrid Materials" with the Professorship "Mechanical Engineering" at the University of Augsburg, we are looking for a Scientific Associate (m/f/d) - Post-Doc with a focus on Acoustic Emission Analysis.

Our research mainly involves the use of sensor data for process monitoring and structural health monitoring. An important method for this is acoustic emission analysis, which should fall under your responsibility. Your research should enable the development of new concepts for the manufacturing, approval, and monitoring of pressure vessels in the field of hydrogen driven mobility. This gives you the opportunity to contribute to achieving climate and sustainability goals. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to independently explore new research fields and topics.

If you are interested in this position, please contact us by phone or email or send your application directly to the contact persons.

Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) – Model-based non-destructive testing of foundry cores

We are looking for a Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) – Model-based non-destructive testing of foundry cores to join the team at the assistant Professorship Data-driven Materials processing at the University of Augsburg.

Sand cores are used in foundry technology to form non-removable geometries. In large-scale production, cores are increasingly produced with innovative inorganic substances due to lower environmentally harmful emissions. At present, however, there is still no process suitable for series production to detect and localize defects in the cores.

Your research mainly involves combining virtual models and experimental data. To this end, you will set up a test stand for non-destructive testing of the sand cores. With the help of a simulation model, the measurement data can be evaluated and defects in the core can be localized.

If you are interested in joining our team, please contact us by phone or email.

Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) – Process monitoring for intelligent manufacturing processes

We are looking for a Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) – Process monitoring for intelligent manufacturing processes to join the team of Mechanical Engineering in the research group Condition Monitoring at the University of Augsburg.

Your research mainly involves the use of sensor data for process monitoring of a complex production chain. The focus of your work is mainly on monitoring innovative injection molding processes. Therefore, you will use various sensor technologies for example acoustic sensors or transducers. In addition to the sensory data acquisition, you will also ensure that the data is further processed in the diagnosis and prognosis systems developed by you, including AI-based systems. Your research will not remain a theoretical concept, but will be implemented directly in the university's own research factory of the AI Production Network or within the framework of an interdisciplinary Bavarian research network. In this way, you can make your contribution to digitalization and resource efficiency in production.

If you are interested in this position, please contact us by phone or email or send your application directly to the contact persons.

Design for Recycling: Manufacturing and mechanical characterization of fiber-metal-laminates with activable interfaces

The study aims to optimize the design and fabrication of carbon fiber reinforced (CFRP) epoxy-based – aluminium laminates featuring a thermoplastic interlayer. Two manufacturing routes are considered. Firstly, an in-situ manufacturing is carried  out, combining the three different materials via hot-pressing. Secondly, an ex-situ approach aims to consolidate the prepreg material in a first step and combine it with aluminium and thermoplastic foil subsequently. The effects of the   adapted design and fabrication on the mechanical performance are investigated by digital image correlation and acoustic emission measurements integrated in edge shear testing.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Design for Recycling: Manufacturing and mechanical characterization of fiber-metal-laminates with activable interfaces

Investigation of the Rheological Properties of Thermoplastics using Laser-Structured Shear Plates

The main goal of this work is to investigate how different surface structuring of the shear plate affects the rheological properties of a thermoplastic. A comparison of the viscosity and viscoelastic properties of the polymer with and without  structuring will be examined. Additionally, the change in rheological parameters will be analyzed based on shear and frequency dependence. The insights gained are intended to contribute to the optimization of the manufacturing process and the  improvement of the mechanical properties of the sandwich composites.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Investigation of the Rheological Properties of Thermoplastics using Laser-Structured Shear Plates

Experimental Studies on Acoustic Emission Sensor Verification

This master's thesis project aims to investigate the feasibility of predicting the calibration responses of AE sensors using a simpler setup involving a Laser Doppler Vibrometer. The goal is to create a predictive model that can assess the quality of sensors based on a more accessible and cost-effective verification procedure.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Experimental Studies on Acoustic Emission Sensor Verification

Designing and developing a smart sensor for process and condition monitoring

For real-time monitoring, which is a central topic in the working group “condition monitoring” and is already being implemented through the use of ultrasonic sensor, a smart sensor is now to be developed. For this purpose, this work aims to form a basis by enhancing a commercially available sensor of lower frequency with a microcontroller / single-board computer in such way, that it is able to collect, process and forward the data to a central computer via a suitable communication interface. The comparison of the developed sensor with a corresponding commercial system should round off the work.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Designing and developing a smart sensor for process and condition monitoring

Recycling of silicate foundry sands and binders

This thesis aims at developing a process that takes advantage of the solubility of the sodium silicate binder to wash it at elevated temperatures after the casting process, using only water without additional chemicals. The washing process  produces wastewater containing dissolved foundry binder and other impurities. The second goal is to recycle this water so it can be processed into a binder and does not have to be disposed of, thereby closing the material cycle for both binder  and sand.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Recycling of silicate foundry sands and binders

Development of a glass mold for observing molten metal

This thesis aims at developing a test mold that allows the mold filling to be observed through glass panels. This is recorded by  cameras and used to validate foundry simulations. Therefore, the most challenging casting geometries possible are  to be implemented, which push the existing simulation models to their limits.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Development of a glass mold for observing molten metal

Simulation of Friction Stir Welding

The aim of the work is to set up a finite element model in Abaqus that calculates the temperature and the formation of residual stresses during friction stir welding.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Simulation of Friction Stir Welding

Design for Recycling: Manufacturing and mechanical characterization of fiber-metal-laminates with activable interfaces

The study aims to optimize the design and fabrication of carbon fiber reinforced (CFRP) epoxy-based – aluminium laminates featuring a thermoplastic interlayer. Two manufacturing routes are considered. Firstly, an in-situ manufacturing is carried  out, combining the three different materials via hot-pressing. Secondly, an ex-situ approach aims to consolidate the prepreg material in a first step and combine it with aluminium and thermoplastic foil subsequently. The effects of the   adapted design and fabrication on the mechanical performance are investigated by digital image correlation and acoustic emission measurements integrated in edge shear testing.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Design for Recycling: Manufacturing and mechanical characterization of fiber-metal-laminates with activable interfaces

Investigation of the Rheological Properties of Thermoplastics using Laser-Structured Shear Plates

The main goal of this work is to investigate how different surface structuring of the shear plate affects the rheological properties of a thermoplastic. A comparison of the viscosity and viscoelastic properties of the polymer with and without  structuring will be examined. Additionally, the change in rheological parameters will be analyzed based on shear and frequency dependence. The insights gained are intended to contribute to the optimization of the manufacturing process and the  improvement of the mechanical properties of the sandwich composites.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Investigation of the Rheological Properties of Thermoplastics using Laser-Structured Shear Plates

Fabrication, analysis and characterization of metal-polymer filaments for FDM 3D printing

The objective is to use additive manufacturing to find a high-performance alternative to SMC coil cores in electric motors. To this end, a thermoplastic that meets the requirements must be found. This will then be used to  produce the ferrite thermoplastic filament, which will subsequently be characterized and tested for its process suitability.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Fabrication, analysis and characterization of metal-polymer filaments for FDM 3D printing

Recycling of silicate foundry sands and binders

This thesis aims at developing a process that takes advantage of the solubility of the sodium silicate binder to wash it at elevated temperatures after the casting process, using only water without additional chemicals. The washing process  produces wastewater containing dissolved foundry binder and other impurities. The second goal is to recycle this water so it can be processed into a binder and does not have to be disposed of, thereby closing the material cycle for both binder  and sand.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Recycling of silicate foundry sands and binders

Development of a glass mold for observing molten metal

This thesis aims at developing a test mold that allows the mold filling to be observed through glass panels. This is recorded by  cameras and used to validate foundry simulations. Therefore, the most challenging casting geometries possible are  to be implemented, which push the existing simulation models to their limits.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Development of a glass mold for observing molten metal

Simulation of Friction Stir Welding

The aim of the work is to set up a finite element model in Abaqus that calculates the temperature and the formation of residual stresses during friction stir welding.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Simulation of Friction Stir Welding

Economic assistant job for start-up project "sensAI"

In the sensAI research project, a concept for non-destructive material characterization is being developed and tested. This system is intended to play a key role in quality assurance in the processing of recycled plastics. We are looking for economic assistants for this project. In the area of business administration, we need support with market and competition studies, among other things. This will be used to develop strategies for market entry, marketing and other business management topics.

More information can be found in the hyperlinked pdf:

Economic assistant job for start-up project "sensAI"