homogenization | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans

Postdoctoral for project MANTLE RHEOLOGY, France: Micromechanical modeling

The post-doc will be involved in the micromechanical modeling at the polycrystal scale. The aim is to integrate into the polycrystal model slip-system resistances inferred from experimental data, ab initio calculations, and Dislocation Dynamics (DDD). The used polycrystal model will be based on mean-field homogenization methods (self-consistent scheme associated with the “Second-Order” linearization procedure of Ponte Castañeda), although numerical computations from full-field methods could be also performed if necessary. Micromechanical modeling of such material is a challenging task since all mineral phases comprising the upper mantle exhibit an extreme viscoplastic anisotropy at the grain scale, with three or less known independent slip systems. There are many effects to be investigated, important for
both geophysical and material sciences issues, e.g.: strain partition and texture development in multiphase minerals, the rheology of partially melted polycrystals, the introduction of diffusion based mechanisms (such as dislocation climb), etc.
Fellowship Application Deadline: January 2011
Further Fellowship Information and Application