Studentship at Courtauld Institute of Art

PhD Project Studentship
or Post-Doctoral Position
Courtauld Institute of Art
Department of Conservation and Technology
The topic is "the Adhesive Bond and Transfer of Tension in the
Structural Reinforcement of Canvas Paintings Using ESPI".
At present there is not a closing date

The core of the research project requires experimental development
of  an existing Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI)
system to gain a detailed understanding of the load transfer in
multi-layer heterogeneous woven composites at material boundaries
and discontinuities.

The project aims to assess the method and materials used in the
structural reinforcement and repair of woven composite materials
used in canvas painting conservation. The physical characterisation
of the reinforcing materials and adhesives will be carried out using
ESPI in conjunction with mechanical testing, of both materials and
realistic model reinforcements.

ESPI will be used to quantify the strain concentrations by mapping
the deformations across the interface between the composite and the
reinforcement on both faces. The exact form of the strain map in the
region of the interface is determined by the ESPI interferogram
calculations and interpolation; this will be investigated as an
integral part of the research. During tensioning of the composites
through-thickness contraction occurs, as well as a degree of
out-of-plane deformation because of bending moments. These
deformations cannot be quantified with the present experimental
set-up and development of the existing instrumentation will form
part of the research.

The student will be based in the Conservation and Technology
Department of the Courtauld Institute
<URL:http://www.courtauld.ac.uk/> and will also work closely with
the scientific departments of Tate and the National Gallery, London.

Applicants should have a first degree in a science based subject
(ideally with experience in applied optics) and an interest in
paintings conservation.

    Start date provisionally Dec 2003. PhD duration 3 years. Grant
    (Spine Point 1) UKP11,000/yr + fees

or

    Post Doc approximately 12 to 18 months depending on age and
    experience. Starting salary approximately UKP22,000

For further details and an application form contact

    Dr Christina Young
    Conservation and Technology Dept.
    Courtauld Institute of Art
    christina.young [at] courtauld__ac__uk

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:41
                 Distributed: Monday, November 3, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-17-41-007
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