PhD PROGRAMME IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

DIPARTIMENTO DI MECCANICA

- Dynamics and vibration of mechanical systems and vehicles - Machine and vehicle design - Manufacturing and Production Systems - Methods and tools for Product design - Measurements and Experimental Techniques - Materials

Dipartimento di Meccanica Department of Mechanical Engineering

Table of contents
1. PhD School of Politecnico di Milano 2. PhD in Mechanical Engineering 3. Admission procedure 4. PhD Programme activities 5. Employment opportunities after awarding the PhD degree 6. Short presentation of the Department of Mechanical Engineering 7. PhD theses awarded in year 2010

1.

PhD School of Politecnico di Milano

The PhD School of Politecnico di Milano coordinates 25 Doctoral Degree Programmes in the areas of Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design. The Doctoral Programmes aim to develop professional competences capable to carry out high level research in design, manufacturing and service companies, public bodies and universities. The Doctoral Programmes train a selected number of highly qualified graduates, endowed with solid foundations and keen intellectual curiosity, who have the opportunity to acquire a highly qualified professional expertise in specific scientific, technological, social and economic fields. The PhD graduates are skilled in carrying out research projects and are also capable of developing new knowledge on scientific frontiers, which can be immediately applied in professional activities. About 1000 PhD students are currently enrolled in the PhD School of Politecnico di Milano, which testifies the quality of the Degree Programmes and promotes scientific cross fertilization among them.

2.

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

The Doctoral Programme in Mechanical Engineering is coordinated by the Dipartimento di Meccanica Department of Mechanical Engineering. It enrols slightly less than 10% of the total number of PhD students of the PhD School of Politecnico di Milano. In figures, it enrols an average number of 25 students every year, many of them supported by scholarships from public institutions and private companies. Each student is assigned a tutor, who is a member of the Doctoral Board, and a research supervisor, who is a professor of the Faculty. Educational activities consist of selected courses. Advanced courses (taught in English) dedicated to doctoral students and senior graduate students bring the attendants to the frontiers of knowledge in those research sectors where the Department of Mechanical Engineering excels and is most active. Dedicated courses on relevant topics are organized yearly by various national and international schools, and offered to our PhD students. All lecturers are prominent at international level in their respective field of expertise. The PhD students can carry out their study and research activities within the following major research areas. Dynamics and vibration of mechanical systems and vehicles This research area includes mechatronics and robotics, rotordynamics, wind engineering, road vehicle dynamics, and railway dynamics. All these topics address general and specific issues concerning dynamics and vibrations of mechanical systems and vehicles. New research topics are directed towards the development of more reliable and more environmentally friendly structures. In addition, research on mechatronics and robotics is being applied in several fields, ranging from MEMS to bio-medical applications. For what concerns vehicles, the research will focus on the integration of mechatronics and diagnostics into vehicle systems. Machine and vehicle design This research area addresses advanced design methods and fitness for purpose of mechanical components. Advanced design methods refer to the definition of multiaxial low and high cycle fatigue life prediction criteria, and the assessment of structural integrity of cracked elements, the prediction of fatigue life criteria of advanced materials as polymer matrix composite materials (short and long fibres), the definition of approaches to predict the influence of shot peening on fatigue strength of mechanical components. Gears, pressure vessels and helicopter components are also investigated. New research trends are devoted to the exploitation of modern techniques for NDT control in all phases related to design and structural integrity assessment. In particular, US phased array equipment combined with the application of methods for simulating US scans will improve knowledge regarding POD of inspections and their impact upon design and assessment. For what concerns the research on vehicles, advanced techniques, such as optimal design of structures and structural integration of vehicle mechatronics is being focused on active safety, passive safety and environmental friendly vehicles, with broad attention being paid to issues concerning greener, safer and smarter vehicles. The optimal design and the testing of vehicle systems (active and passive safety) create a synergy between the theoretical and the experimental research. Manufacturing and Production Systems This research field gives relevance to the problem of optimal transformation of raw materials into final products addressing all the issues related with the introduction, usage, and evolution of technologies and production systems during the entire product life cycle. Ph.D. activities can specifically focus on one of the following research fields:

- Manufacturing Processes; - Manufacturing Systems and Quality. Future researches Current research activities in Manufacturing Processes focus on the design, optimization and control of innovative solutions for challenging manufacturing problems (e.g., micromachining, active fiber laser processing, precision waterjet machining, metal foams in lightweight machine tool structures). In this area, new solutions are further developed, to enhance conventional machining processes in order to improve their energy efficiency. In the area of Manufacturing Systems, future research trends address the conception and management of flexible, reconfigurable and robust manufacturing systems that co-evolve with products and processes to cope with highly turbulent production environments. Research trends in the Quality area concern the design and management of standard and multi-sensor metrology systems and the development of new tools to implement sensor fusion in process monitoring and optimize the quality of complex-shape products. Methods and tools for Product Design This research area is organized in two main research lines. The first one concerns PLM-Product Lifecycle Management that includes process modelling, engineering knowledge management, product innovation methods, systematic innovation principles and methods, topology optimization systems, and data/process interoperability. The second research line concerns Virtual Prototyping that includes virtual models for functional and ergonomics validation of products, haptic interfaces and interaction, emotional engineering, Reverse Engineering, and physicsbased modelling and simulation. Future research topic concerns the integration of systematic innovation methodologies with virtual prototyping of new concept design. Measurements and Experimental Techniques The research area addresses the development and qualification of new measurements techniques as well as the customisation and application of well-known measurement principles in innovative fields. The research activities on Measurements and Experimental Techniques focus on the design, development and metrological characterisation of measurement systems and procedures, the implementation of innovative techniques in sound/vibrations, structural health monitoring, vision, space and rehabilitation measurements. Recently, the research activities are mainly directed towards structural health monitoring and new measurement techniques with special emphasis on fiber optic sensors and vision-based measurements. Materials This research area is focused on the study of production process and characterization of materials for structural, mechanical and functional applications. Excellent research outcomes have been obtained both on fundamental research topics (e.g. nanostructured materials, foamed alloys, chemical phenomena in liquid melts, microstructural design, etc.) and on applied research (e.g. failure and damage analysis, texture analysis, high temperature behaviour, coatings for advanced applications, etc.). The current research topics of particular interest are: steelmaking and metallurgical processes, advanced materials, and bulk heat treatments and surface modification. Recently, the research activities have focused on the innovative processing and properties of ultrafine grained materials, and on the investigation of high temperature mechanical behaviour and damage of special alloys.

Year 2010 call: facts and figures

92 applications to the competition consisting of: 72 foreign candidates 20 Italian candidates (including 2 candidates for PhD Executive positions) 21 available scholarships including: Scholarships funded by the Italian Government: 8 Scholarships funded by a special project of the Italian Government for young researchers: 3 Scholarships funded by the Department of Mechanical Engineering: 6 Scholarships funded by companies: 4 Outcome of the selection: 35 admitted PhD students 25 enrolled students (5 foreign students)

The PhD students enrolled in the Programme in year 2010 (XXVI cycle) are 25, including 5 foreign students. They start the courses on January 1st, 2011. The research areas addressed by the students are distributed as follows:

3.

Admission procedure

The Doctoral Programme in Mechanical Engineering offers a fixed number of positions every year. The admission is dependant on a selection, based on an evaluation of skills and inclination to research. Applicants can be of any age or citizenship. A large number of students admitted to the PhD programme is supported by scholarships. An open call of positions is published once a year by the PhD School of Politecnico di Milano. The call for the PhD in Mechanical Engineering for year 2011 offers positions in the six research areas listed hereafter: Dynamics and vibration of mechanical systems and vehicles Machine and vehicle design Manufacturing and production systems Methods and tools for product design Measurements and experimental techniques Materials

Basic requirements
The basic requirements are the following: Five years education at University level Knowledge of the English language at B2-level or higher Strong motivation

Scheduling of open call (year 2011)

March 2011 - Official opening of the application procedure, with public announcement of the terms and conditions for admission and of the available scholarships on the National Gazette (and on the internet web site: http://www.polimi.it/dottorato). May 2011 - (exact date to be defined). Deadline for submission of applications. Within the deadline the applicants have to fill in and submit the online application form. Also those applicants who have not graduated at the time of the application but that expect to graduate by the end of December 2011 can submit the application at this time. If selected, their admission to the PhD programme is conditioned by successful graduation by December 2011. end of July 2011 - Completion of the evaluation of the applications received and publication of the results. September 2011 - First deadline for enrolment. 1st October 2011 Official beginning of the courses (first group). 1st January 2012 Official beginning of the courses (second group). The composition of the first and second group is decided by the Doctoral School in accordance with the PhD candidates, and is also subject to the date of graduation.

Doctoral positions in partnership with companies: Executive PhD Program

In order to promote the interaction and integration between academia and industry, the Doctoral School of the Politecnico di Milano can stipulate specific agreements in partnership with external institutions in order to admit company employees as students of the Programme (namely Executive PhD).

Scholarships
A considerable number of students admitted to the PhD programme is supported by scholarships. Scholarships are granted from the Italian Ministry of University and Research, directly from Politecnico di Milano, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and from companies. An envisaged minimum number of 10 scholarships will be available for year 2011 call.

Benefits
The admitted PhD students will receive substantial benefits in addition to the scholarship. An accommodation grant is provided to foreign students for the first year of their stay in Milan.

4.

PhD Programme activities

The students of the PhD Programme in Mechanical Engineering are required to gain 180 credits, which are split as follows: 120 credits related to the doctoral thesis, 40 credits related to the so-called basic courses (Foundations), and 20 credits related to the so-called electives. In addition, introductory courses are offered to students lacking necessary background for advanced studies.

Educational activity
Introductory courses
Introductory courses provide the necessary background for advanced studies in the field of Mechanical Engineering. These courses are assigned only to students who need to complete their background knowledge by attending graduate courses.

Foundations
Foundations are core courses that present, examine and discuss the major theories and methods at the basis of the scientific research in the domain of Mechanical Engineering (a total of 40 credits have to be gained by the end of the second year).

Electives
Electives include seminars, conferences and workshops. These kinds of activities allow the students to develop in-depth knowledge in the specific field of research of the doctoral dissertation.

Development of the Doctoral Dissertation

During the first year the students will choose a main subject for their research, which will be carried out under the guidance of the supervisor. This subject, called the major, will be developed in the doctoral thesis. The research activities carried out have the goal to develop new knowledge on a topic of industrial, social and economic significance, with a high level of scientific and technologic excellence. The Doctoral dissertation should document a solid knowledge in the chosen area, present original contributions, and demonstrate appropriate ability in the individual work and in the presentation of the results. During the development of the thesis work, students are encouraged to get in touch with external laboratories and arrange visits, in order to extend their own scientific, methodological, and cultural frontiers. In addition, it is highly recommended that students participate at national and international conferences, in order to learn how to promote their own research, and to get new stimuli from other researchers. Meeting people and fostering professional relations are important aspects for the students future career.

5.

Employment opportunities after awarding the PhD degree

From our statistics, we can state that about 80% of PhD students enrolled at the Department of Mechanical Engineering find a position within one month after awarding the PhD degree. The doctorate fellows, employed in Italy, earn a net monthly wage up to 4.000 Euro after 2-3 years from awarding their PhD degree.

6.

Short presentation of the Department of Mechanical Engineering

The vision behind the development of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is that top-level research in mechanical engineering is based on an excellence of experimental skills, modern laboratories, specialized equipment and the input of a number of short-term researchers (PhD students, post-docs, temporary researchers). All of these factors, supported by an excellent performance in competitive funding, makes the Department one of the biggest departments in Mechanical Engineering in the European context, boasting a critical mass and competencies in different research topics, as listed in Section 2. The permanent staff, consisting of 94 people, is working on research and R&D projects together with PhD students and temporary research assistants, who are hired for the specific projects. Administrative and technical services are assured by a service staff of 18 people. The vital core of research at the Department is its laboratories. In fact, the Department boasts some of the most unique set-ups in Europe equipped with all the necessary state-of-the-art equipment in different research areas. The Department has always aimed at guaranteeing the excellence of its laboratories, in which it has continued to invest heavily through the subsidization of funds raised through research contracts. The quality of the research work is demonstrated by the broad network of partnerships including the best international research labs, which makes the Department of Mechanical Engineering one of the fundamental players in the worldwide scenario of scientific and technological innovation. For more information: http://www.mecc.polimi.it

7.

PhD theses awarded in year 2010

A list of PhD theses awarded in year 2010 is reported hereafter, in order to give an idea of the broad research areas of the PhD Programme in Mechanical Engineering: Modelling in the time domain of non linear aerodynamic forces on bride decks Dynamics of vertical axis tidal current turbines with freely hinged blades: numerical and experimental analysis The truck mounted concrete boom pump system: an active control applied to reduce the boom vibration Advances in optimal design of mechanical systems with application to the road vehicles active safety Evaluation of methods for pressure distribution measurement Theoretical and experimental assessment of active safety and comfort of road vehicles Influence of profile modifications on transmission error and noise of spur gears Mechanical design of a FTIR for Mars Innovative prototypal realisation of a plug-in hybrid electrical vehicle: energy control strategies for improving overall efficiency Fem approach to spur and helical gears: effects of micro geometries and misalignments on gear mesh characteristics. Multiaxial fatigue in the presence of defects.