Master Thesis in Thermal Management

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Automated Generation of Standardized Simulink Models from 1D Thermal System Models

Background and Motivation
Vehicle thermal-management systems are becoming increasingly complex, making efficient and reliable modeling essential for their design, development, and validation. Thermal models are often created and adapted across different vehicle projects, which can involve significant manual work and lead to differences in model structure, parameterization, and validation. One-dimensional (1D) simulation models provide a valuable basis for representing thermal-system components and their interactions, while MATLAB/Simulink offers a flexible environment for system-level simulation and control development. Automating the generation of standardized Simulink models from 1D model information could improve development efficiency, consistency, and model reuse.

This thesis will investigate a systematic approach to automating the generation and validation of standardized Simulink thermal-system models based on existing 1D models. The work will combine thermal-system modeling, model standardization, and Python-based automation, with the aim of developing a methodology that can be applied across different vehicle projects

Who Are We?
Thermal Management is a department within Volvo Group Trucks Technology responsible for developing optimized Vehicle Thermal Management Systems for truck brands across the Volvo Group. As a master thesis student, you will contribute to the development of methods supporting future thermal-system engineering and work closely with a global team of experienced engineers and researchers.

Aim and Research Questions
The aim of the thesis is to develop and evaluate a methodology for automatically generating and validating standardized Simulink thermal-system models based on 1D simulation models. The thesis addresses the following research questions:

• RQ1: How can information from 1D thermal models be systematically transformed into standardized Simulink models?
• RQ2: How can model structure, interfaces, and parameters be standardized to support model reuse?
• RQ3: To what extent can automation reduce development effort while maintaining model accuracy and consistency?

What Will You Do?
The thesis will comprise:

• Reviewing current approaches to thermal-system modeling, model generation, and automation.
• Analyzing existing 1D and Simulink models to identify the information required for automated model generation.
• Defining a standardized modeling methodology covering model structure, interfaces, and parameters.
• Developing a Python-based framework for automated Simulink model generation and parameterization.
• Developing automated verification and validation procedures.
• Demonstrating and evaluating the methodology on representative thermal-management system configurations.
• Comparing the automated approach with conventional manual model development in terms of effort, consistency, and model accuracy.

The work will involve MATLAB/Simulink, GT-Suite, Python, and related simulation tools.

Expected Outcomes
The thesis is expected to deliver:

• A standardized methodology for automated thermal-model generation.
• A Python-based framework for generating and parameterizing Simulink models.
• An automated model verification and validation approach.
• Demonstration and evaluation of the methodology on representative thermal systems.
• Recommendations for applying the approach across different vehicle projects.

Suitable Qualifications

• Final-year master’s student in Mechanical, Automotive, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related field.
• Knowledge of thermodynamics and thermal-system modeling.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink.
• Knowledge of GT-Suite is advantageous.
• Programming skills, preferably in Python.
• Analytical and structured problem-solving skills.
• Fluent in English, written and spoken.

Practical Information
Thesis level: Master, 30 ECTS credits
Number of students: 1–2
Language: English
Location: Volvo GTT, Lundby, Gothenburg, Sweden

Application deadline: 30 October 2026
Starting date: January 2027

Contact
-    Harshith Munimahadeva, 1D Simulation Engineer, Volvo Trucks Technology and Industrial via email harshith.munimahadeva@volvo.com 
-    Jelena Andric, Specialist Energy Optimization Leader – R&I, Volvo Trucks Technology and Industrial via email jelena.andric@volvo.com 

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Who we are and what we believe in 
We are committed to shaping the future landscape of efficient, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents across the group’s leading brands and entities.

Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, you will be working with some of the sharpest and most creative brains in our field to be able to leave our society in better shape for the next generation. ​We are passionate about what we do, and we thrive on teamwork. ​We are almost 100,000 people united around the world by a culture of care, inclusiveness, and empowerment. 

Trucks Technology & Industrial Division hire team players who are ready to create real customer impact. Our decentralized teams work close to our customers, with speed and autonomy, to build what they truly need. 
Join us to collaborate on innovative, sustainable technologies that redefine how we design, build, and deliver value. Bring your curiosity, your expertise, and your collaborative energy, and together, we’ll turn bold ideas into tangible solutions for our customers and contribute to a more sustainable tomorrow.