From Road to Laboratory: Field Analysis of Diesel Particulate Filter Ageing in Heavy-Duty Vehicles

30 credits – From Road to Laboratory: Field Analysis of Diesel Particulate Filter Ageing in Heavy-Duty Vehicles 

A thesis project at Traton is an excellent opportunity to apply your knowledge to a real industrial challenge in the transport sector while building a professional network for your future career. Many of our current employees started their careers with a thesis project at Traton.  

Background   

The transport industry is undergoing a rapid transition towards more sustainable and efficient vehicle technologies. Alongside increasing demands for reduced greenhouse gas emissions, strict emission legislation requires continued improvements in the control of pollutants from combustion engines. Ensuring compliance under a wide range of operating conditions while maintaining fuel efficiency and vehicle performance remains a significant engineering challenge. 

To meet these demands, modern heavy-duty vehicles rely on advanced exhaust aftertreatment systems consisting of catalysts and particulate filters. These technologies play a crucial role in reducing harmful emissions and enabling compliance with future emission standards. Understanding and optimizing the performance of these systems is therefore an important area of research and development. 

At Traton, catalyst and filter performance is continuously evaluated through simulations, laboratory testing, and vehicle validation. This thesis project offers an opportunity to contribute to the development of future aftertreatment technologies by investigating factors that influence system performance and identifying opportunities for improved emission control. 

Assignment 

This thesis offers a unique opportunity to investigate what happens inside a diesel particulate filter after years of real-world operation. Diesel particulate filters are essential for reducing emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, but over time they gradually accumulate non-combustible ash that can affect their performance and service life. 

In this project, you will explore field-retrieved particulate filters and uncover how operating conditions influence their condition over time.

By combining hands-on investigations of physical components with analysis of vehicle data, you will help improve the understanding of filter ageing and contribute to the verification of maintenance strategies for future products. Depending on the project direction, the work may also include laboratory testing and performance evaluations of aged filters. 

You will join the Traton Catalyst and Filter Performance group and work closely with specialists in exhaust aftertreatment, materials, testing and data analytics. The project combines experimental work with engineering analysis and offers the opportunity to contribute to technology that supports cleaner transportation, improved product durability and efficient use of resources. 

The work will be performed primarily at Scania in Södertälje and may include laboratory activities, component inspections, performance testing and analysis of real-world vehicle data. 

Education 

Master’s student in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, environmental engineering, applied physics or a related field.

You should be interested in exhaust aftertreatment, experimental work and data analysis. Experience with laboratory methods, statistics or programming is beneficial but not required. We value curiosity, structured problem solving, initiative and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. 

Number of students: 1 

Start date: Spring 2027 

Estimated duration: 20 weeks 

Credits: 30 ECTS 

Contact persons and supervisors 

Supervisor: Samuel af Ugglas, +46 (0) 70 0815876 
samuel.af.ugglas@scania.com 

Group manager: Kim Petersson, +46 (0) 70 0863544  
kim.petersson@scania.com 

Application 

Your application must include a CV, personal letter and transcript of grades  

A background check might be conducted for this position. We are conducting interviews continuously and may close the recruitment earlier than the date specified.