The Fault Analysis Group
of the UCD School of Geological Sciences, University College Dublin, invites
applications for a PhD-project entitled " Discrete Element Method
(DEM) modelling of the kinematic evolution of submarine
landslides".
Project
outline:
Large-scale gravitational
collapse is a common mass wasting process in the evolution of the Earth’s
continental margins, including the European Atlantic margin where numerous
large-scale submarine failures have been recognized from the southwest coast of
Ireland to northern
Norway. This project will involve two principal
elements: (i) kinematic analysis of submarine landslides from high quality
datasets and (ii) mechanical modelling of landslides using Discrete Element
Method (DEM) approaches. Analysis of the geometry and kinematic evolution of
landslides from multibeam, seismic and well data will utilise the full range of
structural geological tools for 3-D subsurface datasets. Quantitative definition
of the evolution of a selection of submarine landslides will provide a basis for
constructing conceptual models of landslide kinematics and a backdrop to
Discrete Element Method (DEM) modelling of the emplacement behaviour of
large-scale offshore landslide complexes.
DEM simulates the deformation, faulting and fragmentation of rock masses,
and is widely used in the mining and geotechnical industries: its application to
the geosciences is on the increase. Combining the structural analysis of natural
submarine landslides with both 2D and 3D DEM modelling approaches, this project
will investigate the significance of key geometric and mechanical variables on
the initiation, evolution and final architecture of submarine landslides
including: [i] the inter-relationship between slope stability and the
orientation of geological layering; [ii] the impact of erosion and
oversteepening adjacent to potential emergent slide surfaces, [iii] mechanical
properties and anisotropies of the slide body, [iv] frictional properties of
potential slide interfaces, including the effects of pore fluid over-pressure
and dynamic friction.
Supervisors: John Walsh
(UCD), Mike Long (UCD), Martin Schöpfer (UCD), Koen Verbruggen (Geological
Survey of Ireland).
Qualifications:
Minimum requirements are
an upper-second class Bachelor degree or an MSc degree in an appropriate science
or engineering discipline.
Terms:
The PhD position is for 4
years and must start no later than 1st February 2012. The research is part of
the Earth and Natural Science PhD Programme (www.ucd.ie/earth/graduatetraining/phdprogrammeinearthandnaturalsciences/),
funded by the Irish National Development Plan. The programme will include
training modules in generic and discipline-related skills. The studentship includes EU fees and a
tax-free annual stipend of €16,000: non-EU applicants will be charged additional
fees of c. €6,000 per annum that are not covered by the funding
programme.
Further information and
application:
Further details can be
obtained by emailing John Walsh ([log in to unmask]). The application deadline is
21 December
2011 and the application (using project code MOD9) must be made through:
www.ucd.ie/earth/graduatetraining/phdprogrammeinearthandnaturalsciences/applyingforaphdposition/.
For further information
about Geological Sciences at University College Dublin, please visit the
websites of the Fault Analysis Group (www.fault-analysis-group.ucd.ie) and the
School of
Geological Sciences (www.ucd.ie/geology).