PhD Position Understanding Sediment Dynamics for Equilibrium-Based Dredging Strategies in Ports
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Employer: Delft University of Technology |
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Job location: Delft Netherlands |
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Apply before: 01 Nov 2021 |
Summary
The main objective of this research is to develop new knowledge on conditioning for port maintenance dredging in the Seaport Emden, Germany. Field and laboratory studies will be conducted aiming at keeping the sediment properties below the nautical criteria for nautical bottom applications. In-situ analysis of key sediment characteristics (density, rheological properties, bathymetry, turbidity, organic matter reactivity, oxygen saturation, etc.) will be conducted in order to optimize the maintenance efficiency and to relate the effect of the maintenance to the short-term and long-term changes in the system.
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Maintenance dredging of sediment deposits can be highly expensive and inefficient. Port operators seek tailor-made solutions to reduce the costs and at the same time guarantee safe navigation. Over the last decades, a number of strategies for port maintenance have been tested by port and governmental authorities. Conditioning the sediment is a possible solution for port maintenance. The goal of conditioning the sediment is to reduce its strength in order to create navigable conditions (fluid mud layers) while keeping the sediment in place, for example by re-circulation of the sediment. If the transport of fluid mud (out of a port towards the river or the sea) equals the import of suspended mud by exchange flows, a dynamic equilibrium is achieved without residual import, making conventional dredging and relocation unnecessary.
The main objective of this research is to develop new knowledge on conditioning for port maintenance dredging in the Seaport Emden, Germany. Field and laboratory studies will be conducted aiming at keeping the sediment properties below the nautical criteria for nautical bottom applications. In-situ analysis of key sediment characteristics (density, rheological properties, bathymetry, turbidity, organic matter reactivity, oxygen saturation, etc.) will be conducted in order to optimize the maintenance efficiency and to relate the effect of the maintenance to the short-term and long-term changes in the system.
The second objective of the study is to reproduce the abovementioned dredging methods in the laboratory and study the effect of the methods on the sediment properties. Particularly, the impact of sediment conditioning on rheology, structural recovery, settling, consolidation, mineral composition, oxygen saturation, redox potential, pH and stability of organic matter will be studied.
This research will develop knowledge for designing circular strategies in ports. Furthermore it will collect evidence to what extent current strategies comply with circularity principles. The developed framework will be serving as a decision making tool facilitating the analysis of the sediment maintenance strategy and required maintenance depth.
Requirements
A thorough background in sediment and soil characterization is essential, as the candidate is foreseen to be involved in field and laboratory studies.
In addition, the applicants should have the following:
Master of Science (MSc) diploma in Hydraulic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Phyiscs, Soil Sciences or any other related field
Ability to translate fundamental knowledge to new maintenance strategies and policies
Motivation for applied research and experimental work
Aptitude to function both in a team and independently
Ability to collaborate within an interdisciplinary team
Willingness to cooperate with both scientific and industrial partners
Knowledge of rheology or soil mechanics will be a plus
During the PhD trajectory English is very important. So if your mother language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of English proficiency from either TOEFL (minimum total score of 100) or IELTS (minimum total score of 7.0). Proof of English language proficiency certificates older than two years are not accepted.
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