Organisation/Company: Université de Lorraine - GeoRessources Department
Research Field: Engineering » Civil engineering
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
Positions: Postdoc Positions
Country: France
Application Deadline: 7 Jan 2025 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris)
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 35
Offer Starting Date: 1 Mar 2025
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme
Reference Number: 101157400 – RFCS-2023
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description Title of the project: Study of the consequences of ground movements on structures and infrastructures – numerical soil-structure interaction analysis
Keywords: Soil-Structure Interaction, Sinkhole, Numerical modelling, Reliability Analysis
Project context: This postdoctoral position is offered as part of the European SIRIMA project (Sinkhole Hazard and Risk Management in Post-Mining Areas), funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS-2023). The SIRIMA project aims to enhance knowledge and expertise regarding uncontrolled ground movements, particularly sinkholes in post-mining areas, and to reduce the associated risks. These sinkholes pose a real threat to buildings, technical infrastructure, roads and other utility facilities, while also endangering public safety, causing anxiety and stress.
The SIRIMA project partners include the Central Mining Institute (GIG, Poland), INERIS (France), BRGM (France), DMT-LB (Germany), SRK S.A. (Poland), the Institute of Rock Mechanics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland), Subterra Ingenieria (Spain), Université de Lorraine (France), and GEODERIS (France).
In a risk management approach, it is essential to assess and map the level of risk of structures exposed to ground movements related to mining activities, in order to distinguish those with an acceptable level of risk from those requiring a reinforced monitoring and mitigation of their vulnerability.
The study of consequences of ground movements on structures and infrastructures (buildings, buried pipelines, etc.) requires considering the phenomena of soil-structure interaction. These phenomena have been studied using different approaches: numerical, analytical and physical models. However, existing studies are faced with the difficulty of taking into account numerous uncertainties related to models and measurements which nevertheless have major effects on the final results. This makes it difficult to apply existing results and methods to real situations as an operational and engineering assessment approach. Thus, the consideration of uncertainties in the study of the vulnerability of structures affected by ground movements will constitute one of the originalities and scientific contributions of the project.
This project aims to study the interaction between structures and ground movements, in order to improve risk prevention and reduce the associated consequences. The research will be based on numerical modelling coupled with numerous observations of ground movements (mainly sinkholes) conducted in different European basins. More specifically, we are interested in the study of soil-structure interaction phenomena which consider the rigidity of the ground and that of the structure (buildings and buried pipelines) to better assess the movements transmitted to the structure and their consequences (malfunctions or damage). The idea is to end up with a simple but valid model allowing to study many configurations, to carry out sensitivity studies and to evaluate the influence of uncertainties on the results. The results will be valued by means of the development of fragility curves which constitute an operational approach to assess damages in a context of uncertainty.
Main tasks of the project:
Numerical modelling (8 months)
Development of metamodels (2 months)
Exploitation of results (5 months)
Writing and editing scientific articles (4 months)
Participation in national and international conferences as well as SIRIMA meetings (1 month)
Preparing the project report (4 months)
Required education level: PhD in civil-geotechnical engineering
Research field: Civil Engineering, Geotechnics, Soil-Structure Interaction Analysis
Type of contract: Temporary, full time (35 hours a week), with a gross salary of 2400€ to 2800€ per month, depending on experience and qualifications of the candidate.
Start date of the project: March/April 2025
Duration: 1 year, with the possibility of extension for a second year
Deadline for submitting your online application: January 6th, 2025
Sources of funding: European SIRIMA project, funded by RFCS-2023 (Project 101157400)
Required languages: English (Advanced), French (Intermediate)
Eligibility criteria: As our laboratory is classified as a "sensitive laboratory with reinforced protection", the final recruitment of the selected candidate will be subject to the acceptance of his/her administrative file by the Security and Defense Project Manager.
Selection process: The required documents for the online application include an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV), one or two recommendation letters, and the abstract of your PhD thesis. An interview of selected candidates will be organized during January-February 2025.
Work Location(s) Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: GeoRessources-Ecole des Mines de Nancy
Country: France
State/Province: Nancy
Postal Code: 54042
Street: 92 Rue du Sergent Blandan, BP 14234, 54042 Nancy
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