Fully funded PhD Studentship in CFD Modelling of Flow in Sew

Fully funded PhD Studentship in CFD Modelling of Flow in Sewer Structures

Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, UK



Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD project studentship available in the Centre for Water Systems at the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Exeter, United Kingdom.



Research area, methods and objectives. You will work on modelling of three-dimensional flow through structures in storm sewer systems such as inlets/gullies and manholes, in which a very complex pressurized/free-surface flows may occur during flood events. Your task will be to set-up and perform CFD simulations that will aim at replicating a range of conditions that will have been studied experimentally in the laboratory. You will be using the established software tools, though you may be required to do some programming to enable handling of boundary conditions and processing of results. The objective of this research is to improve understanding of interactions between the flow in buried pipes and surface flood flows. Ultimate goal is to enable more reliable definition of specific parameters in coupled 1D/1D and 1D/2D urban flooding simulation models.



Project. This research is being undertaken as part of the UK Flood Risk Management Research Consortium Phase Two (FRMRC2, www.floodrisk.org.uk/) and in close collaboration with the University of Sheffield, where the experimental part of the study will be conducted. The project partly builds on the existing experience but at the same time is original and unique.



Source of funding. This project is funded by the UK EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), EA (Environment Agency) and DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).



Qualifications and skills. You will have (or study towards) a first class or upper second class honours degree and/or Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Environmental Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Science. Equivalent overseas applications are acceptable. Ideally you will have some experience in computational hydraulics and CFD modelling. Willingness to learn new things and the ability to work as a member of team are essential. Knowledge on sewer systems modelling, programming skills and industrial experience would be advantageous but are not requisite. If your first language is not English you will be required to provide evidence of competence in the English language through minimum IELTS or TOEFL scores.



Eligibility. This studentship is open only to UK and other EU nationals.



Funding amount and duration. The studentship is available for a period of three years from 1 October 2008 at a rate which covers UK/EU fees (£3,500 p.a.), non-taxable subsistence of £12,940 (cca 16,500 Euro) p.a. (that will be increased in years 2 and 3) and budget for IT equipment, books, software and travelling to conferences and project meetings.



Application method and closing date. Deadline for applications is 11 May 2008. Applicants should E-mail curriculum vitae with contact details (name, position, telephone number and E-mail address) of two referees along with covering letter to s.djordjevic@ex.ac.uk. Interviews will be held in mid-May.



Contact details. If you wish to learn more about the project, for informal enquires please contact Dr Slobodan Djordjevic on +44 (0)1392 262079 or E-mail s.djordjevic@ex.ac.uk.



About CWS, SECaM, University of Exeter. The Centre for Water Systems (www.ex.ac.uk/cws), which is led by Professors Dragan Savic and David Butler, has a complement of 25-30 personnel at any one time (8 full-time academic staff and a number of research fellows, assistants, students and support staff) making this the largest UK group in the field of water systems engineering and one of the largest worldwide. The School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics (www.secam.ex.ac.uk/) is situated on a 245 acre parkland campus site housed in Harrison Building with comprehensive laboratories, computing facilities and workshops. It offers an interdisciplinary environment where students can study all major branches of engineering, computing and mathematics. The School is internationally recognised for its research in a wide range of subjects, and has active MSc and PhD programmes. The University of Exeter (www.exeter.ac.uk/) is a leading UK university with 14,000 students and research income of £34m a year. Exeter has been named 2007/08 University of the Year by the Times Higher Education Supplement.





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Slobodan Djordjevic
Senior Lecturer
University of Exeter

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
North Park Road
Exeter EX4 4QF
United Kingdom
phone: +44 (0)1392 262079
mobile: +44 (0)7817 544184
fax: +44 (0)1392 217965
e-mail: s.djordjevic@exeter.ac.uk
web: http://www.ex.ac.uk/cws/