PhD 11 - Thermo‑hygral‑mechanical modelling and optimisation of dry‑out and early‑age behaviour in castable refractory linings
A 36‑months PhD starting in October 2026 and supervised between UMINHO (Portugal) and RHIM‑Leoben (Austria).
Objectives
PhD11 will develop and validate a thermo‑hygro‑mechanical finite element modelling framework for the dry‑out of castable ladle linings, comparing natural and accelerated drying schedules. The project will instrument laboratory specimens, a biaxial press and a pilot ladle to monitor moisture transport, temperature and internal stress. It will model damage caused by pore pressure, early‑age creep and microcracking, and assess how these phenomena influence later corrosion and degradation.
Expected Results
The project will deliver validated dry‑out models, instrumented experimental datasets and guidance on the trade‑off between energy consumption, process duration and durability. It will also compare the dry‑out behaviour of castable and brick lining concepts under equivalent conditions.
Applicant Profile
Master’s level in Engineering or a similar field. Candidates should have a strong understanding of constitutive modelling and numerical skills in multiphysics environments. A solid background in programming in object‑oriented languages such as Python is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.
Supervisors Contact Details
UMINHO
Dr. João M. Pereira – jpereira@civil.uminho.pt
Dr. Miguel Azenha – miguel.azenha@civil.uminho.pt
RHIM
Dr. Ulrich Marrschall – ulrich.marschall@rhimagnesita.com
Dr. Aidong Hou – aidong.hou@rhimagnesita.com
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