The work is to be performed a part of a DFG project carried out in cooperation with the Fraunhofer-Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM (Freiburg) and two further scientific groups. The candidate for the actual position should develop an analytical fatigue crack growth model taking account of time-dependent stress fields resulting from the fluid-structure interaction, environmental effects promoting accelerated crack propagation, and crack closure effects due to plastic deformations at the crack tip. For validating the crack growth model, a series of fatigue crack growth tests are to be conducted both in air and in hydraulic oil, using specimens with different crack geometries.

• University degree (Master) of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a similar field
• Strong skills in stress and strain analyses for elastic and elastic-plastic materials
• Basic knowledge of fracture mechanics and profound experience in the finite-element method
• Very high level of written and spoken German, as well a high level of written and spoken English.