In the Fracture Mechanics/Lightweight Materials and Structures Group of the Institute for Building Materials (IfB) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zürich):

is available in the field of EXPERIMENTAL MICROMECHANICS OF CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS.

The goal of this SNF-funded project is to study slow (subcritical) cracking in cementitious materials (hardened cement paste, mortar and concrete) inside the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM). The project involves the development of a loading stage for the ESEM, in-situ measurement of slow crack velocities under a wide range of environmental conditions, and digital image correlation of the in-situ experiments to characterize processes in the crack-tip region.

The candidate should hold a MSc degree in one of the following fields: material science, experimental physics or geo-physics, applied mechanics or civil engineering, with a keen interest in developing and conducting advanced and high-precision laboratory experiments.

We offer excellent working conditions and a SEM-Laboratory at the Institute for Building Materials with state-of-the-art equipment (a FEI Quanta 200-3D FIB/SEM Dual Beam and a FEI Quanta 600 ESEM). Our staff is international and the working languages are English and German.

The starting date is open to discussion, but preferable at very short notice. For further information please contact: Dr. Jan Bisschop (tel. +41.446337135 or jbisschop@ethz.ch). Applications including CV and the names of two referees can be sent by mail or email to Prof. Dr. Jan van Mier (jvanmier@ethz.ch), ETH-Zürich, IfB, Schafmattstrasse 6, HIF, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.