PhD Position – Fatigue Performance of Sustainable Structural Steels

About the role

This PhD project focuses on the fatigue performance and weldability of next‑generation sustainable structural steels produced through greener routes such as hydrogen‑based direct reduced iron, electric arc furnaces and increased scrap use. The research aims to enable safe application of these steels in fatigue‑critical infrastructure and to reduce technical uncertainties in the transition to a circular steel industry.

Key responsibilities

• Investigate how greener production routes and varying scrap content affect fatigue behaviour of sustainable structural steels.
• Assess weldability of these steels and evaluate the performance of welded joints.
• Combine experimental testing with advanced numerical modelling of base material and welded connections.
• Evaluate whether existing fatigue design methods for conventional steels remain applicable to the new sustainable steels.

Required profile

• MSc degree in Civil/Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science or a related discipline.
• Background in structural performance of steel; knowledge of fatigue and welding is an advantage.
• Strong interest in combining experimental work in a structural laboratory with numerical and analytical approaches.

Required skills

What we offer

• Participation in the Grow with Green Steel (Groeien met Groen Staal) programme.
• Collaboration within a multidisciplinary consortium of leading universities, research institutes and industrial partners.
• Opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge research supporting sustainable and circular steel applications.