Position at University of Southampton

Senior Research Assistant
School of Engineering Sciences/Textile Conservation Centre

In-situ Monitoring of Tapestry Degradation using Strain-based
Engineering Techniques

Salary: 24,161 - 25,633

Are you interested in applying your engineering knowledge to the
conservation of cultural heritage?  Historic tapestries can be
heavy, and damage may be caused not only because of their
vulnerability to the environment but also through the stress imposed
by their own weight. While some damage resulting from long-term
display is inevitable, effective monitoring would allow detection
before it becomes both disfiguring and costly to rectify. The effect
of mechanical strain on tapestries hanging on display, and how this
may be monitored and quantified, has not been thoroughly
investigated.

This project brings together researchers within the School of
Engineering Sciences (SES) and the Textile Conservation Centre (TCC)
at the University of Southampton and forms part of a three year
study, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
SES is a top 5* rated research school with an international
reputation, while the TCC is an internationally recognized centre of
excellence in conservation studies.  The project aims to establish a
non-destructive testing methodology for measuring the strain and/or
monitoring damage in tapestries hanging under their own weight and
when supported by backing fabrics, focusing on how to quantify the
rate of degradation for a given hanging configuration and how to
determine the variables that affect the rate of degradation. The
experimental work will apply a whole-field non-destructive technique
to identify damaged regions; this will be used in conjunction with
strain measurements taken from optical fibre sensors. The focus of
the work will be the successful integration of the two techniques.

The suitable applicant will hold a degree in Engineering or Physics
and ideally a Ph.D. in a related area (or should be close to
completion of their Ph.D.) and ideally he/she will have experience
of experimental work and a good understanding of mechanics.  The
post is available for a period of 3 years from October 2006.

If you would like to discuss any details of the project informally,
please contact

    Dr Janice Barton
    Fluid Structure Interactions Research Group
    School of Engineering Sciences
    University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ
    +44 23 8059 6522
    Fax: +44 23 8059 3299
    janice [at] ship__soton__ac__uk

For an application form and further particulars see
<URL:http://www.jobs.soton.ac.uk>

or contact

    recruit [at] soton__ac__uk
    +44 23 8059 2750
    (minicom: +44 23 8059 5955).

Completed applications should be returned no later than 25 August
2006.

Frances Lennard
Lecturer, Programme Leader MA Textile Conservation
Textile Conservation Centre
Winchester School of Art
University of Southampton
+44 23 8059 7100
Fax: +44 23 8059 7101


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:10
                  Distributed: Sunday, August 27, 2006
                       Message Id: cdl-20-10-011
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