Internship | Cone Crack Formation in Ceramics During Sphere and Bullet Impact

By studying how ceramic materials respond to high-speed impacts, you will contribute to the development of better bullet protection equipment. The research focuses on material behavior under extreme impact conditions, leading to phenomena that do not occur in everyday applications. This makes it a unique and challenging area within material science, with clear societal relevance.

Ceramic materials are used in bullet protection systems due to their ability to blunt and erode projectiles. However, this process also causes damage to the ceramics themselves, leading to cracks. As a thesis student, you will investigate the fracturing behavior of ceramics under controlled conditions using small steel spheres as impactors. This research aims to simplify the complex fracturing typically associated with ballistic impacts, allowing for accurate and repeatable measurements of cone crack angles and fragment mass. By understanding how these cone cracks form and propagate, you will help evaluate the performance of ceramic armor systems and their ability to transfer impact loads to the next layers of the protection system. Your research will involve conducting a series of impact tests on ceramic tiles, analyzing the resulting cone cracks to determine their angles and fragment mass, and developing a calculation method to predict cone crack angles in ceramics.

Your work will be a mix of office-based desk research, where you will interact with colleagues who are experts in material science applied to defense applications, and hands-on lab work, collaborating with professionals experienced in ballistic and blast testing.

Clik here for an impression of the type of work done at our Ypenburg location.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic candidate with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. The ideal candidate should have:

• A background in materials science, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with experimental research and data analysis.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

You want an internship opportunity on the precursor of your career; an internship gives you an opportunity to take a good look at your prospective future employer. TNO goes a step further. It’s not just looking that interests us; you and your knowledge are essential to our innovation. That’s why we attach a great deal of value to your personal and professional development. You will, of course, be properly supervised during your work placement and be given the scope for you to get the best out of yourself. Furthermore, we provide:

• A highly professional, innovative internship environment, within a team of top experts.
• A suitable internship allowance (615 euro for wo-, hbo- and mbo-students, for a full-time internship).
• Possibility of eight hours of free leave per internship month (for a full-time internship).
• A free membership of Jong TNO, where you can meet other TNO professionals and join several activities, such as sports activities, (work-related) courses or the yearly ski-trip.
• Use of a laptop.
• An allowance for travel expenses in case you don’t receive an OV-card.

At TNO, we innovate for a healthier, safer and more sustainable life. And for a strong economy. Since 1932, we have been making knowledge and technology available for the common good. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. There is all the space and support for your talent and ambition. You work with people who will challenge you: who inspire you and want to learn from you. Our state-of-the-art facilities are there to realize your vision. What you do at TNO matters: impact makes the difference. Because with every innovation you contribute to tomorrow’s world. Read more about TNO as an employer.

At TNO we encourage an inclusive work environment, where you can be yourself. Whatever your story and whatever unique qualities you bring to the table. It is by combining our unique strengths and perspectives that we are able to develop innovations that make a real difference in society. Want to know more? Read what steps we are taking in the area of diversity and inclusion.

After the first CV selection, the application process will be conducted by the concerning department. TNO will provide a suitable internship agreement. If you have any questions about this vacancy, you can contact the contact person mentioned below.

For this internship vacancy it is required that the AIVD issues a security clearance (VGB) after conducting a security screening. Take into account that this process may take about 8 weeks. If you have been abroad for more than 6 consecutive months, or if you do not have the Dutch nationality, it may take longer. Read more about security screening on the AIVD website.

Important to be aware of before applying:

• Before the start of the internship, the internship agreement from TNO needs to be signed. For students at a college or university based in the Netherlands, TNO uses the UNL-template (supplemented with a number of specific agreements from TNO). For students of foreign and MBO educational institutions, the TNO internship agreement applies. TNO does not sign any other internship agreements.
• Before the start of the internship, the educational institution will need to confirm in writing that:
  • 1) you are enrolled at the educational institution during the internship, and;
  • 2) the internship takes place as part of the programme of the study.
• The confirmation of educational institution takes place by signing the UNL template or forms prepared by TNO.
• Interns at TNO must be in possession of a Dutch residential address at the start of the internship. Performance of internship activities from abroad is not possible.