PhD Subject

The advancement of additive manufacturing techniques has significantly expanded the design space for mechanical and elastic metamaterials, enabling the construction of complex architected structures with hierarchical building. This has opened new avenues for creating artificial and bio-inspired materials, known as metamaterials, with special mechanical properties, such as high recoverability under compression and super-elastic tensile behavior. In the field of piezoelectric materials, architected metamaterials have gained considerable attention due to their ability to exhibit enhanced and customizable electromechanical properties through careful design of the internal structure and arrangement of piezoelectric elements at the micro/nanoscale. These advancements pave the way for a new generation of piezoelectric devices with improved electro-mechanical capabilities for sensors, energy harvesters, and transducers.

The objective of this doctoral project is to develop a design framework for sustainable active three-dimensional piezoelectric metamaterials aimed at manipulating acoustic and elastic waves in higher dimensions. First, the construction of these piezoelectric metamaterials will begin by establishing an engineering design strategy based on 3D strut-based unit cells, each equipped with precisely designed electric displacement maps. These unit cells will be tessellated in 3D to create the metamaterial with tailored piezoelectric anisotropy, enabling a customizable piezoelectric coefficient tensor. Secondly, in terms of the metamaterial’s elasto-dynamic behavior, the project aims to gain a thorough understanding of the dynamic behavior of the piezoelectric lattice. This will involve characterizing the elastic wave dispersion through the calculation of the band structure. Subsequently, the focus will shift to developing tools to explore Willis coupling and electro-momentum coupling phenomena, and their influence on wave propagation in these architected metamaterials. Finally, we will target specific functionalities such as defect or impact sensing, directional wave detection, energy harvesting, and exploring non-Hermitian behavior.

Work context

We are seeking for a brilliant PhD student to start a research project on elastic architected metamaterials and metasurfaces both on fundamental and applied aspects. Our group in the Institut Jean Lamour (IJL), Institution belonging to the University of Lorraine and CNRS, develops since many years different research topics related to acoustic/elastic metamaterials and metasurfaces.

Skills

To lead this project with its different aspects, we are seeking for a brilliant candidate who has a strong background in at least two of the following fields: mechanical engineering, physical acoustics, wave physics, applied physics, applied mechanics, acoustics, … He/she should have very good English writing and communication skills.

Constraints and risks

The position you are applying for is located in a sector relating to the protection of scientific and technical potential. It therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival be authorized by the competent authority of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

About Institut Jean Lamour

The Institut Jean Lamour (IJL) is a joint research unit (UMR 7198) of CNRS and Université de Lorraine. Focused on materials and processes science and engineering, it covers: materials, physics, acoustics, plasmas, nanomaterials and electronics. It regroups 183 researchers/lecturers, 91 engineers/technicians/administrative staff, 150 doctoral students and 25 post-doctoral fellows.

Partnerships exist with 150 companies and our research groups collaborate with more than 30 countries throughout the world. Its exceptional instrumental platforms are spread over 4 sites; the main one is located on ARTEM campus in Nancy.

The project will be carried out within the “Metametarials and Phononics” group whose subjects range from acoustic/elastic metamaterials, metasurfaces and phononics to topological and non-Hermitian metamaterials.

Application

The application should include:

CV, motivation letter, M1/M2 (Master) marks and ID copy.

Funding category: Autre financement public

ISITE

PHD title: Doctorat de Physique

PHD Country: France