{"id":837,"date":"2025-10-21T09:09:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T09:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/?p=837"},"modified":"2025-10-21T09:09:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T09:09:27","slug":"phd-in-experimental-exploration-using-3d-printed-metagrains-shear-compression-devices-and-in-situ-imaging-at-imt-mines-ales-in-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/?p=837","title":{"rendered":"PhD in Experimental exploration using 3D-printed metagrains, shear\/compression devices, and in-situ imaging at IMT Mines Al\u00e8s in France"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The PhD, hosted at IMT Mines Al\u00e8s, will experimentally investigate the same physical mechanisms using 3D-printed or molded meta-grains and custom-designed shear and compression apparatuses. Building on the shapes and configurations identified in PhD 1, the doctoral candidate will design and perform experiments to measure the macroscopic cohesion and friction angle of dense meta-granular packings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PhD will begin with a bibliographic review and training period focused on experimental methods, image correlation, and granular physics. The candidate will then design and assemble a versatile testing apparatus\u2014based on Couette or compression geometries\u2014that enables controlled deformation of meta-grain assemblies while measuring the corresponding stresses. The setup will be compatible with in-situ X-ray tomography, allowing full 3D observation of the internal structure during deformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In parallel, the candidate will fabricate meta-grains<\/strong> via Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)<\/strong> or molding<\/strong>, testing various geometric configurations derived from the numerical database produced in PhD 1. GPU-accelerated Digital Volume Correlation (DVC)<\/strong> will be used to extract 3D displacement fields and contact kinematics within the bulk of the samples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final experimental campaign<\/strong> will aim to determine the same macroscopic quantities\u2014cohesion (c)<\/strong> and friction angle (\u03d5)<\/strong>\u2014as in PhD 1 and to validate the numerical predictions<\/strong> through direct comparison. This experimental database will thus provide a crucial validation of geometric cohesion mechanisms<\/strong> in real materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the experimental program, the candidate will carry out a complementary numerical study<\/strong> using simplified DEM simulations<\/strong> (in collaboration with PhD 1) to compare the measured stress\u2013strain responses with the numerical results. This cross-validation<\/strong> will help identify the key geometrical and mechanical factors governing geometric cohesion and will ensure a strong coupling between the two PhD projects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candidate Profile<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Applicants should hold a Master\u2019s degree<\/strong> in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or Civil Engineering<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience in experimental mechanics<\/strong>, 3D printing<\/strong>, and image-based measurements<\/strong> (DIC\/DVC, tomography) will be appreciated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both candidates should be curious, autonomous, and motivated<\/strong> by interdisciplinary research<\/strong> bridging granular physics, materials science, physics, and civil engineering<\/strong>.
Proficiency in English<\/strong> is required; knowledge of French<\/strong> will be considered an asset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Practical Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Duration:<\/strong> 3 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Starting date:<\/strong> 2026 (flexible)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Funding:<\/strong> Fully funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR)<\/strong> under project Exo2GeCo<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Locations:<\/strong> Montpellier (LMGC) \/ Al\u00e8s (IMT Mines Al\u00e8s)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Research Axis and Hosting Team:<\/strong> The project will be conducted within the Milieux Divis\u00e9s<\/strong> research axis of the Laboratoire de M\u00e9canique et G\u00e9nie Civil (LMGC)<\/strong>.
    Supervising and collaborating team:\n
      \n
    • LMGC \/ Universit\u00e9 de Montpellier<\/em>: Emilien Az\u00e9ma (PR), Mathieu Renouf (CR), Jonathan Bar\u00e9s (IR), R\u00e9my Mozul (IR)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • LMGC \/ IMT Mines Al\u00e8s<\/em>: Arnaud Regazzi (Ass. Pr), Patrick Ienny (Pr), Sylvain Buonomo (IR)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • International Collaboration:<\/strong> Conducted in partnership with the Universidad de los Andes<\/strong> (Bogot\u00e1, Colombia), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, with Prof. Nicol\u00e1s Estrada<\/strong>.
      Short research stays at Los Andes University will be possible during the PhD program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      Application Procedure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Applicants should send a single PDF file<\/strong> including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • A detailed CV<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • A motivation letter<\/strong> indicating the preferred PhD position (or both)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Academic transcripts<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Contact details of two referees<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Applications and inquiries should be sent to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • emilien.azema@umontpellier.fr<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • arnaud.regazzi@mines-ales.fr<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          The PhD, hosted at IMT Mines Al\u00e8s, will experimentally investigate the same physical mechanisms using 3D-printed or molded<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[12,11,8],"class_list":["post-837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-scholarship","tag-civil-engineering","tag-geotechnical-engineering","tag-phd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=837"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":839,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837\/revisions\/839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}