Are you a student eager to apply your theoretical knowledge and fresh perspectives to real-world challenges? At Saab, we believe that innovation thrives on new ideas, and your thesis could be the spark that ignites our next technological breakthrough. Your Role We recognize the immense value that students bring to our company. Your academic rigor, combined with your enthusiasm for advanced technology, allows you to approach problems with a unique and insightful perspective.  This project will be conducted and supervised at the Swerim Metal Research Institute (Stockholm) in close collaboration with SAAB Naval, the project’s initiator, and possibly SSAB as a stakeholder. Background For military applications, the ability of base materials and welded components to withstand loads during explosions is verified through blast tests. These tests confirm that materials are sufficiently ductile under dynamic conditions but are costly. Therefore, the ability to determine a material’s dynamic fracture toughness using less expensive testing would be of great interest. Such testing could be used to determine the impact that changes in the material manufacturing process or the presence of defects have on a material’s dynamic fracture toughness properties. Defects occur to varying degrees during welding. Here, “defects” is a collective term for undesirable pores, cracks, impurities, etc.  To establish acceptance criteria for cracks in rapid dynamic processes, it is proposed to use a modern methodology described in ISO 26843 to measure fracture toughness values at high loading rates. The purpose of the project is to evaluate and, if possible, develop a method description for dynamic fracture toughness testing using an instrumented impact testing machine.  Objectives of the Thesis The objective is to evaluate a testing methodology for measuring fracture toughness values at elevated loading rates. The proposal is to investigate whether an instrumented impact testing machine may be suitable for this purpose. The procedure is described in ISO 26843. The investigation of the test method is expected to include the following steps:

• evaluation of dynamic fracture toughness values at varying loading rates, T=RT
• evaluation of fracture type and calculation of dynamic fracture toughness values
• comparisons with quasi-static fracture toughness values and/or data from impact toughness testing of standard impact test bars

Testing at varying temperatures may also be relevant. The progress of the project will determine the number of parameters to be included.  Who you are today This position is suitable for students with an interest in mathematics, physics, strength of materials, and experimental methods. You are nearing the end of your Master of Science in Engineering program in Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or Materials Science and are about to begin your 30-credit thesis project. We’ll provide you with the support and guidance you need to turn your theoretical knowledge into practical solutions. Become a driving force behind Saab’s technological advancements! What You’ll Be Part Of Discover endless possibilities. Take on challenges, create smart innovations, and elevate your skills. This is a place for sharp thinkers, bold pioneers, and everyone in between. Together, we achieve the extraordinary, each bringing our own unique perspective. Every contribution counts. Saab is a leading defense and security company with a mission to help nations protect their populations and contribute to the safety of people and societies. With 25,500 talented employees, Saab develops technology and solutions for a safer and more sustainable world.  Saab develops, manufactures, and maintains advanced systems in the fields of aerospace, weapons, command and control systems, sensors, and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden but operates globally, where it is an integral part of many nations’ defense capabilities. Learn more about us here. Contacts For further information about the project, please contact:

• Patrik Åkerlund, Head of SAAB +46 (0)10 217 06 71, patrik.akerlund1@saabgroup.com
• Anders Blom/Tomas Månsson, Contact Person/Advisor, SAAB Kockums Anders: +46 (0)10 217 47 27, anders.x.blom@saabgroup.com Tomas: +46 (0)10 217 40 41, tomas.mansson1@saabgroup.com
• Oliwer Gustavsson, Supervisor, Swerim +46 (0)73 746 44 52, oliwer.gustavsson@swerim.se
• Jonas Jordberg, Head of Mechanical Testing, Swerim +46 (0)73 708 45 80, jonas.jordberg@swerim.se

Interested? Does this sound interesting, and would you like to learn more about the thesis project? Please feel free to contact us by filling out the form below no later than October 31, 2026. You will receive confirmation that Swerim has received your application.