PDEng position for the development of a suitable laboratory testing method for LAT100 rubber abrasion measurements
Would you like to contribute to solve the microplastic pollution ? Are you passionate about rubber and its abrasive behavior? Then, this Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng) programme may be designed for you.
The PDEng is a 2-year post-master’s degree, technological designers programme. This programme at the University of Twente contains an educational part and a design project. For the project, you will work with an industrial partner. The educational programme will have an in-depth character with ample attention for professional development and will be partly tailored to the design project. Together with the external organisations, you will develop a high-level and creative solution for the given problem.
Target for the PDEng project:
You will design a suitable laboratory testing method for LAT100 rubber abrasion measurements. The final aim is to support the EU tire labeling for sustainability and contribute to the reduction of tire wear particles emissions.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The tire labeling regulation has been in place since 2012. The new version of tire label with more clarity came to effect on 1 May 2021, set out under regulation (EU) 2020/740 for wet, ice, snow grip, noise level, and rolling resistance for all tire types. Yet no criteria are available on the current tire label for tire wear. A standardized tire wear test, which fits the tire manufacturers' proving ground, has been a challenge to be established; as numerous factors influence the complex phenomenon of tire wear. As soon as at least one suitable testing method becomes available, the European Commission shall assess the introduction of parameters or information requirements for mileage and abrasion in the tire label. This is also expected to vastly benefit the reduction of Tire Wear Particles (TWP) emission, as one of the largest (unintentional) sources of microplastics.
Full-scale tire wear tests are sophisticated, time-consuming, and extremely costly. A reliable rubber abrasion test method in a laboratory environment is highly demanded to predict tire wear resistance cost-effectively. The Laboratory Abrasion tester (LAT100) is known by the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) tires with ISO 23233:2016 (Grosch standard for LAT100). The present standard could be a good basis to accredit LAT100 as a reliable device for tire labeling to predict tire wear in a laboratory environment. In the current PDEng project, a feasibility study should be carried out. The knowledge gap with the required design and method in-line with regulation is identified. Functional design requirements are defined to develop the concept and test designs to be assessed qualitatively. In case of successful results, the project will be continued with a follow-up project.
Information and application
If you have any further questions about this vacancy of the PDEng programme in Material Engineering, please contact Dr. Wilma Dierkes at w.k.dierkes@utwente.nl or Prof. Dr. Anke Blume at a.blume@utwente.nl.
Please submit your application until July 15th, 2022 by using the “Apply now” button. Applications should at least include:
- A cover letter
- A curriculum vitae including publications and references
- A list with grades of courses
General information about PDEng programmes you can find at :
About the organization
The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor's and Master's students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.
Want to know more
