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Project Description

Doctoral Subject: Civil Engineering with a focus on Bridge and Steel Construction

The Division of Bridge Engineering at KTH is launching a research project in collaboration with the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), focusing on developing new guidelines for soil–steel composite bridges (steel pipe arches and steel arch bridges) with larger spans.

Soil–steel composite bridges are currently among the most cost-effective and sustainable bridge types and are very common in Sweden. However, their span is limited to approximately 15 meters. This is because the current Swedish design guidelines, which are based on empirical formulas, cannot be applied to larger spans.

The goal of the project is to develop design recommendations and calculation models for soil–steel composite bridges with spans exceeding 15 meters. This will be achieved through a combination of experimental studies on both new and existing bridges and advanced numerical modeling using the finite element method. Two issues of particular significance are fatigue capacity and the analysis of ultimate limit states.

As a doctoral student, you will be part of our internationally leading research group and work in close collaboration with the Swedish Transport Administration and leading industrial partners specialized in soil–steel composite bridges.

Supervision: Jean-Marc Battini is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. The final decision is made upon admission.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to doctoral studies (Chapter 7, Section 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility:

• completed an advanced level degree, or
• fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at an advanced level, or
• acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way, within or outside the country.
• The candidate should hold a civil engineering degree or a Master's degree in civil engineering.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English proficiency equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

To succeed in your doctoral studies at KTH, you need to be goal-oriented and persistent in your work. In the selection of applicants, the ability to:

• independently drive their work forward,
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional attitude,
• analyze and work with complex issues, and
• have good knowledge and a strong interest in structural mechanics, finite element methods, numerical and experimental methods.

After meeting the eligibility requirements, great weight will be placed on personal qualities.

Target Degree: Licentiate Degree

Information on Admission and Employment

Only those admitted to doctoral studies may be employed as doctoral students. The total employment period may not exceed what corresponds to full-time doctoral education over four years. An employed doctoral student may, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within, for example, education and administration. A new employment as a doctoral student is valid for a maximum of one year; the employment may thereafter be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. For studies to be completed with a Licentiate degree, the total employment period may not exceed what corresponds to full-time doctoral education over two years.

As a doctoral student, you will receive KTH's employment benefits and have a monthly salary according to KTH's agreement for doctoral salaries. Read more about Doctoral Studies at KTH | KTH | Sweden.

Trade Union Representatives

Contact details for trade union representatives.

Doctoral Student Section (Student Union of the Royal Institute of Technology)

Contact details for the doctoral student section.

Application

You apply via KTH's recruitment system. As an applicant, you are primarily responsible for ensuring your application is complete when submitted.

The application should contain the following:

• Copies of degree certificates and transcripts from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified.
• CV with relevant professional experience and skills.
• Cover letter with a brief account of why you wish to pursue doctoral studies, your academic interests, and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Max 2 pages)
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please include an abstract and a web link to the full text.

The application must be received by KTH no later than the last day of the application period at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Other Information

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It may occur that an employment at KTH is classified in a security class. If this is the case for this specific employment, a security clearance check of the applicant will be conducted in accordance with the Security Protection Act (2018:585) with consent. In these cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant passes the security clearance check.

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