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PhD Opportunity in Sustainable Textiles

The UPWEARS project aims to develop digital tools for sustainable textile processes and products, focusing on recyclable smart clothing to reduce environmental impact. A PhD candidate will work on creating a numerical framework for zero-defect e-textiles, utilizing finite element computations and multi-scale modeling. The position is fully funded by the EU and requires a strong background in numerical modeling and engineering process simulation.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
11 views2 pages

PhD Opportunity in Sustainable Textiles

The UPWEARS project aims to develop digital tools for sustainable textile processes and products, focusing on recyclable smart clothing to reduce environmental impact. A PhD candidate will work on creating a numerical framework for zero-defect e-textiles, utilizing finite element computations and multi-scale modeling. The position is fully funded by the EU and requires a strong background in numerical modeling and engineering process simulation.
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UPWEARS WP4

PhD thesis proposal:


Development of digital tools for sustainable textile process & products
1. Background
The clothing industry is a major contributor to environmental pollution due to issues like
dyes, microplastics, poor recycling, and the transportation impacts. In response to this,
the European project UPWEARS, which involves 15 international partners, aims to
produce prototypes of recyclable smart clothing with limited environmental impact.
One of the primary goal of UPWEARS is to develop digital framework for predicting
sustainable European e-textile process outcome and product performance. This objective
involves biosourced matrices and composites evaluation, finite element (FE)
computations, topology optimisation, and additive manufacturing process simulation.

The PhD candidate will work in close collaboration with RISE.

FE-based structural analysis tool for textile & composites will be used to numerically
simulate the multi-scale and multi-physics nature of the textiles and their composites.
These models will guide product design to achieve zero-defect products. Different
constitutive models will be developed based on structural mechanics, transfer, thermal,
and electric conductivity physics for fibre, yarn, textile, and composites to bridge the gap
between the micro- and meso-scale and meso- and macro-scale performance modelling.
The complexity of the models may enforce some level of simplification where
homogenised models will be considered as alternatives if computational efficiency would
be challenged. This activity requires different sets of data to be collected from the multi-
scale characterisation tests planned from several partners such as SCION, CITEVE, UBS,
SOLEIL, and UBFC.

2. Main missions
The main objectives are:
— Developing a numerical framework to reach zero-defect products according to
performance and durability criteria;
— Implementing multi-scale and multi-physics finite element computations to predict the
performance of e-textiles at different length scales;
— Gaining a deeper understanding of the variability effect of biosourced martials in the
behaviour of e-textiles and composites to maximise their performance;
— Optimising large-scale AM of recovered polymers from e-textiles using process
simulation with respect to energy consumption and part quality. Such optimisation will
involve sequential thermal-stress analyses;
— Participating in the consortium meetings, dissemination activities (scientific
publications, workshops, science or public fairs, first-hand demonstrators,), and
communications towards partners, scientific community, and stakeholders.

3. Environment
By joining INRAE, the PhD candidate will benefit from excellent working conditions
facilitated by the Institute’s outstanding premises and facilities, cutting-edge

1
technological equipment, and robust social support system, including, health initiatives
and opportunities for sports and cultural activities.
The PhD project will be conducted within the multidisciplinary Plant cell wall and
polymer (PVPP) team at INRAE-BIA, comprising 15 permanent scientists and technicians.
INRAE BIA provides access to all the necessary equipment and methodologies for the
study, supported by high performance computation facility. Additionally, long-term visits
to RISE in Gothenburg are planned to enhance the research capabilities of the project.

4. Candidate background
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to work in an international
environment with partners in Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, UK and New Zeeland.
The candidate would preferably possess a strong background in numerical modelling
and/or engineering process simulation with an additional expertise in
material/mechanical science being advantageous.

In addition, knowledge of textiles, natural fibres and testing techniques dedicated to


mechanical, thermal, transfer analysis, as well as large instruments will be much
appreciated.

Potential Supervisors: Sofiane Guessasma (INRAE), Mohammad Rouhi (RISE), Erik


Marklund (RISE)

Duration: 36 months starting from October 2024

Funding: EU Fully funded position available for qualified candidate.

Common questions

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The PhD candidate will benefit from excellent working conditions, including access to cutting-edge technological equipment and a robust social support system at INRAE. The project is conducted within a multidisciplinary team, providing the candidate with a comprehensive research environment. Access to INRAE’s high-performance computation facilities and the opportunity for long-term visits to RISE in Gothenburg enhance the candidate’s research capabilities. Additionally, working with international partners across several countries provides valuable exposure and professional networking opportunities .

The PhD candidate will experience collaborative opportunities with international partners including institutions in Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, the UK, and New Zealand. The candidate will engage in consortium meetings, dissemination activities, and first-hand demonstrators. These collaborative contexts provide rich opportunities for cross-cultural learning and professional development, allowing for shared expertise in sustainable textile innovation and networking with global peers in the field .

The PhD candidate will contribute by developing a numerical framework to ensure zero-defect products according to performance and durability criteria, implementing multi-scale and multi-physics finite element computations to predict e-textile performance, and optimizing large-scale additive manufacturing processes for recovered polymers. The candidate will also enhance understanding of biosourced materials' variability effects in e-textiles and engage in dissemination activities such as publications, workshops, and consortium meetings .

Multi-scale and multi-physics finite element computations are key for accurately predicting the performance of e-textiles at various length scales in the UPWEARS project. These computations enable the modeling of structural mechanics, heat transfer, and electric conductivity of textiles, facilitating the integration of micro- to macro-scale insights. This is critical for designing textiles that are both sustainable and efficient, as it allows for detailed performance evaluation and optimization of manufacturing processes, directly contributing to achieving zero-defect, high-performance textile products .

The UPWEARS project seeks to optimize additive manufacturing processes by focusing on the large-scale use of recovered polymers from e-textiles. The optimization involves simulations that include sequential thermal-stress analyses aimed at reducing energy consumption while improving the quality of manufactured parts. This approach not only enhances the efficiency of production but also aligns with sustainability goals by minimizing resource use and waste, therefore, greatly contributing to the sustainable production of textiles .

Digital simulation plays a crucial role in UPWEARS by providing a numerical framework to simulate the multi-scale and multi-physics nature of textiles and composites. Finite element-based structural analysis is vital to these simulations, as it allows for bridging the gap between different scales of performance modeling. This technology helps in predicting textile performance and is instrumental in optimizing large-scale additive manufacturing of recovered polymers, focusing on both energy efficiency and part quality. Through these simulations, UPWEARS targets the achievement of zero-defect products and enhances the overall sustainability of the textile production process .

Biosourced matrices and composites in the UPWEARS project are crucial for evaluating the variability effects on the performance of e-textiles and composites. This evaluation helps maximize textile performance by understanding how different biosourced materials behave under various conditions. The research involves collecting and analyzing multi-scale characterization data from several partners, which shapes the digital frameworks and models used for simulating and optimizing textile production processes. These insights aid in designing sustainable textiles that meet performance standards efficiently .

The UPWEARS PhD position prefers candidates with strong backgrounds in numerical modeling and engineering process simulation, complemented by knowledge in material/mechanical science. Expertise in textiles, natural fibres, testing techniques, including mechanical, thermal, and transfer analysis, is also significant. These skills are crucial because the project involves complex simulations and modeling to predict textile performance and optimize manufacturing processes. Such expertise ensures the candidate can effectively contribute to developing sustainable textiles and advancing the project's research goals .

UPWEARS plans to handle the complexities in modeling e-textiles and composites by employing constitutive models based on structural mechanics, thermal, and electric conductivity physics. To address the challenges of computational efficiency, homogenized models may be used as alternatives. These approaches allow for detailed, yet manageable simulations that bridge micro- to meso- and meso- to macro-scale performance modeling. By incorporating multi-scale and multi-physics finite element computations, the project ensures precise predictions of textile performance while managing the inherent complexity of such simulations .

UPWEARS aims to address environmental pollution in the clothing industry by developing prototypes of recyclable smart clothing with limited environmental impact. The project involves creating a digital framework for predicting sustainable e-textile processes and product performance. Techniques such as biosourced matrices evaluation, finite element computations, topology optimisation, and additive manufacturing process simulation are utilized to guide product design towards achieving zero-defect products. Additionally, the initiative involves collecting data from multi-scale characterisation tests from several partners to enhance the sustainability and recyclability of textiles .

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