Contact

Ruhr University Bochum

Mechanics of Materials
Building IC Room 03-713
Universitaetsstrasse 150
44801 Bochum
Germany

Phone: +49 (02 34) 32 - 26025
Fax: +49 (02 34) 32 - 14154 Email: mechmat(at)rub.de

Postal Address

Ruhr University Bochum
Mechanics of Materials
Building IC Postbox 15
44780 Bochum
Germany



Research Projects

Research Interests

Modern solid-state mechanics roughly covers the following areas: development of effective models for different materials, development and application of effective numerical methods to solve complex problems, development of accurate models for components and structures, and finally experimental verification of models and calculations, and attempts to determine the parameters of the models used. The Institute of Mechanics of Materials is dedicated to specific questions in all these areas. The focus here is on the modeling and simulation of different mechanical problems, regardless of whether the concrete issue now comes from the field of civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or even from other areas such as biomechanics. The chair conducts fundamental research on the theory and numerics of solid mechanics as well as cooperations with users from the academic and industrial sectors.

Research Topics

Material Theory

Anisotropy
Development of anisotropic material models, in particular in the fields of crystal plasticity, composites, biomaterials including thermal and viscous effects as well as damage.
Microstructures
Development of models for microstructured materials, such as composites, and theory formation for materials which inherently have the property of forming microstructures, e.g. through phase transformations.
Parameter identification
Development of methods for parameter identification in material models from experimental data.

Numerical Methods

Adaptivity
Development of adaptive numerical methods such as hp - adaptive finite elements, time adaptivity, wavelet methods.
Time integration algorithms
Development of stable, higher-order time integration algorithms for rate-dependent problems.
Symbolic methods
Coupling of symbolic programs with finite element programs for the effective and consistent implementation of complex material laws.
Optimization
Implementation of optimization algorithms for the development of composite materials with optimal properties and for the optimization of structures under given boundary conditions.
Inverse Problems
Development of numerical methods for solving inverse problems as they occur in the parameter identification or the calculation of material distributions in bodies from external measurements.

Structural Mechanics

Inelastic components
Development of FE models for inelastic shells.
Microstructured components
Development of FE models for periodic microstructure devices, e.g. perforated plates or biological structures.
Optimal Design
Strength and weight optimization of components.