PhD in Mechanics and Advanced Engineering Sciences (DIMSAI)

Academic Year 2021/2022 PON Scholarships Call
Subject area Engineering Studies
Cycle 37
Coordinator Prof. Marco Carricato
Language English, Italian
Duration 3 years
Positions 5 positions. More information in the PhD Programme Table.
Application deadline Oct 20, 2021 at 11:59 PM (Expired)
Enrolment period From Nov 05, 2021 to Nov 12, 2021
Doctoral programme start date Jan 01, 2022
Operating centre
Bologna and Forlì
Main Department
Department of Industrial Engineering - DIN
Curricula
  1. Engineering and Industrial Design, Machine Construction, Metallurgy, and Manufacturing Technologies
  2. Fluid Machinery, Energy Systems, Mechanics of Machines, and Industrial Mechanical Plants
  3. Thermal Physics, HVAC Systems, Acoustics, Nuclear Technologies and Industrial Applications of Plasmas
Research topics

Curriculum 1: Engineering and Industrial Design, Machine Construction, Metallurgy, and Manufacturing Technologies

The curriculum pursues the education of researchers and high-qualified engineers, operating in the fields of Mechanical Engineering and able to address issues related to design and research activities in disciplines such as:

  • Tribological behavior of metallic materials, with and without surface modifications
  • Metallurgical features of metallic components produced by innovative process, such as additive manufacturing
  • Mechanical design and structures
  • Microstructure and mechanical properties of advanced metals and metal matrix composites
  • Experimental stress analysis, characterization and development of constitutive models
  • Design methods and tools in industrial engineering
  • Mechanical technologies and materials.

 

Curriculum 2: Fluid Machinery, Energy Systems, Mechanics of Machines, and Industrial Mechanical Plants
The curriculum includes different subjects, ranging from internal combustion engines to industrial mechanical plants. For the cultural fields Internal Combustion Engines, Fluid Machinery, Energy Conversion Systems the curriculum studies fluid machinery and energy conversion systems, addressing thermodynamic, fluid dynamic, energetic, ecological and technological issues by means of modeling, control and testing. In particular, the main research areas are:

  • Modeling, control and testing of internal combustion engines and hybrid vehicles
  • Fluid dynamics simulation of internal combustion engines and fluid machinery
  • Numerical and experimental analysis in the field of gas turbines, combined cycles, steam engines, prime movers, and integrated systems for the processing and storage of energy from renewable and non-renewable sources.

 

For the cultural fields Mechanics of Machines and Industrial Mechanical Plants the curriculum comprises scientific and operative issues concerning the analysis, design and management of devices, machines, processes and industrial plants, through the adoption of a systemic approach and of methodologies drawn from theoretical, applied and experimental mechanics, industrial plants and production. The main research areas are:

  • Automation, robotics and mechatronics
  • Biomechanics
  • Vehicles, transport and lifting systems
  • Dynamics and machine vibrations
  • Monitoring, diagnostics and prognostics of mechanical systems
  • Industrial plants and production systems
  • Maintenance and industrial safety
  • Instrumentation
  • Logistics and operations.

 

Curriculum 3: Thermal Physics, HVAC Systems, Acoustics, Nuclear Technologies and Industrial Applications of Plasmas

  • Heat transfer and convection theory
  • Thermal analysis of porous media
  • Thermal and fluid-dynamic aspects of single-phase and two-phase flows in conventional devices and microdevices (microfluidics)
  • Applied thermal engineering and HVAC systems
  • Heat exchangers and heat recovery systems
  • Renewable energy for HVAC (heat pumps, solar plants)
  • Environmental acoustics, building acoustics, architectural acoustics, sound absorbing materials and systems, noise control techniques, digital processing of acoustic signals and lightning
  • Energy efficient buildings
  • Design of nuclear plants
  • Radioprotection
  • Risk analysis and safety
  • Modelling of neutron, charged particle and photon transport
  • Applications of nuclear technologies to medicine, industry and cultural heritage
  • Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of two-phase flow
  • Development and validation of advanced computing platforms
  • Thermo-hydraulics of advanced nuclear reactors
  • Reliability and risk analysis at the system level
  • Calculation of thermodynamic and transport properties of plasmas
  • Physical modelling and design oriented simulation of plasma assisted processes
  • Diagnostics of plasma sources and processes
  • Biomedical applications of cold atmospheric plasmas and plasma medicine.
Job opportunities and potential areas of employment
The PhD candidates involved in the DIMSAI PhD programme are eligible, at the end of their PhD period, for high-profile job positions, both in academic institutions and companies. The areas and types of job placement are extremely varied. These include: R&D positions in industry and academia; highly qualified staff of research centers; energy managers for public and private companies; designers and researchers in the R&D areas of companies active in the mechanical, aerospace, civil, nuclear, plasma-engineering sectors; energy manager for public and private companies; component designer of mechanical and conditioning systems; professional engineer in the field of fluid dynamics, heating engineering, civil engineering, acoustics, energetics, automation, mechanical design, materials, manufacturing and industrial processes, biomechanics, transport systems, energy conversion systems, aeronautics, robotics, fluid machinery, radiation protection, safety and design of industrial facilities, and protection of intellectual property; energy consultant and expert in energy management.
Admission Board

Surname Name University Role email
Corti Enrico Università di Bologna Member
Gamberi Mauro Università di Bologna Member
Vertechy Rocco Università di Bologna Member
Manservisi Sandro Università di Bologna Member
Naldi Claudia Università di Bologna Member
Ravaglioli Vittorio Università di Bologna Substitute
Bortolini Marco Università di Bologna Substitute
Sancisi Nicola Università di Bologna Substitute
Scardovelli Ruben Università di Bologna Substitute
Biserni Cesare Università di Bologna Substitute
Learning outcomes
The PhD programme is developed according a detailed programme defined by the Academic Board, and is structured in three curricula:
- Engineering and Industrial Design, Machine Construction, Metallurgy, and Manufacturing Technologies
- Fluid Machinery, Energy Systems, Mechanics of Machines, and Industrial Mechanical Plants
- Thermal Physics, HVAC Systems, Acoustics, Nuclear Technologies, and Industrial Applications of Plasmas
The PhD programme provides a training programme with academic and professional purposes. It develops the candidate's ability to carry out research and projects with an independent, systematic and in-depth approach, through a training programme of advanced studies, consisting in courses, seminars, and the preparation of a PhD thesis, under the supervision of one or more supervisors. The candidate must also show that he/she can support, present and discuss his/her work in a clear and effective way, in Italian and English.
Activities to be carried out by Doctoral candidates
Research programmes encompass experimental and numerical/modelling activities within the scientific sectors that characterize the Doctoral programme. Those activities are carried out in collaboration with other research groups, national and international companies, with the objective of training highly professional figures, who could directly enter the industrial or academic sector. Furthermore, Doctoral candidates, depending on the specific needs of their curriculum, will attend seminars to enhance the ability of using major database of international literature and related to issues concerning data processing (use of commercial software, management and analysis of databases, ...), and will participate in international conferences and workshops, where they will also present the results of their activities.
Research training activities compliant with the Doctoral programme's learning outcomes
The research-oriented educational activity includes:
- development of a research proposal within the topic of the selected curriculum
- capacity building of independent scientific investigation attitude, by carrying out theoretical and experimental activities under the guidance of researchers with proven experience in the field
- participation in seminars and specific training courses
- preparation and publication of technical and scientific papers in English
- presentation of research results in international meetings
- training period abroad of at least 3 months
- possibility of teaching and tutoring experiences to support university courses.
Internationalization features
The research activities of PhD candidates are often performed in collaboration with international research centres and companies, with the request to spend a research and training period abroad with the involved institutions. On the basis of scientific collaborations existing with European and international institutions, the participation of foreign candidates is also encouraged, through the dissemination of the PhD Call for Applications, and the benefits provided by our University (Institute of Advanced Studies, etc.) to foreign applicants. In particular, dissemination is enhanced through specific information provided in DIMSAI website. Distribution of information (brochures) is also planned during international conferences and events. Furthermore, for specific curricula, PhD candidates will be involved in Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) in the frame of actions funded and supported by the European Union. Other elements of internationalization are provided during PhD applicants' selection, since applicants can be interviewed in English, also by remote telco technology for applicants living abroad. The participation of foreign teachers and representatives of European industries in educational activities is encouraged. Finally, the PhD programme welcomes the issuance of co-tutelle agreements.
Expected research results and products
The fundamental contribution deals with innovative and original research in the PhD candidate research field. These results will be disseminated through publications, patents and participation in international conferences. Doctoral candidates will produce a PhD thesis as a final result, preferably in English, showing the innovative results achieved during the PhD period. Another desirable outcome is the organization of thematic sessions and seminars on the specific research area, and on the innovative results that have been achieved by the PhD candidates.
Doctoral programme Academic Board
Name Surname University/Institution Qualification
Antonio Barletta Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Michele Bianchi Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Cesare Biserni Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Lisa Branchini Università di Bologna Ricercatore a tempo determinato
Marco Carricato Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Michele Celli Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Lorella Ceschini Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Andrea De Pascale Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Lorenzo Donati Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Leonardo Frizziero Università di Bologna Ricercatore a tempo determinato
Mauro Gamberi Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Matteo Gherardi Università di Bologna Ricercatore a tempo determinato
Sandro Manservisi Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Riccardo Manzini Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Gian Luca Morini Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Marco Pellegrini Università di Bologna Ricercatore a tempo determinato
Marco Sumini Università di Bologna Professore Associato Confermato
Marco Troncossi Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Rocco Vertechy Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Andrea Zucchelli Università di Bologna Professore Associato