FIELDS OF ACTIVITY

The Structural Durability Group is a structural unit of TU Dresden's Institute of Solid Mechanics.
Teaching, research and co-operation activities revolve around dynamic fatigue strength and structural durability of materials and components.
This theme complex and related research areas, such as Experimental Solid Mechanics, are being explored by means of theoretical modelling and experiments.

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Fields of activity of the Structural Durability Group

Studies

The Structural Durability Group undertakes teaching in the undergraduate course "Industrial Engineering" and in the specialisation modules of the study programme "Mechanical Engineering". In lectures, exercises and practical lessons problems of mechanics are theoretically and practically discussed and underpinned by experiments.

Research

Research at the Structural Durability Group deals with both theoretical issues of structural durability as well as with methods of experimental fatigue test under operational stress. In addition to methods of test evaluation, the improvement of calculated life cycle verification and the development of regulations, novel testing strategies and test methods are being investigated.

Co-Operations

Partnerships are a cornerstone of scientific work. In the framework of structural durability and Experimental Solid Mechanics this means a close linkage with chairs and associated institutes of TU Dresden, partners of Dresden Concept and users of research from industry and SMEs. We gladly enter into new collaborations to produce scientific evidence or for general knowledge and technology transfer.

Fields of activity of the Structural Durability Group

As a structural unit of TU Dresden, the Structural Durability Group is divided in the remit of student education and scientific research. Co-operation plays a crucial role for the realisation and linking of these two areas.

Studies

Dynamic fatigue strength and structural durability play a vital role in the everyday life of an engineer. An assessment of the strength of dynamically loaded components is essential for many machines, (air) vehicles and equipment, and thus basic teaching subject in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The imparted knowledge is not only applied in research and development but as well in the design or the test. In the study subject "Structural Durability" – and in more detail in fatigue strength and structural durability – necessary foundations are laid. They enable individual case-specific specialisation and impart broad knowledge about existing regulations.

Experimental solid mechanics give an insight into practice-oriented experimental methods. It is an excellent complement to the numerical simulation methods in engineering, and raises students’ awareness of the critical use of measurement data, computation and simulation results.

The basic subjects of engineering mechanics are a general prerequisite for understanding mechanical problems, and are offered for various Dipl.-Ing. courses at the Institute of Solid Mechanics.

Research

Research in the field of structural durability focuses both on calculated and experimental life cycle verification.

Calculated verifications are meant to produce expertise on novel materials and methods of calculation, however, they also provide scientific input for the improvement and expansion of existing regulations. During the experimental life cycle verification, methods for materials and component testing are being developed and tested, in order to face specific fatigue phenomena with appropriate testing methods.

Co-operations

Co-operation and professional exchange in the area of structural durability exist both within TU Dresden and external research institutes as well as with industrial partners. As a result of the highly interdisciplinary character of science, the cross-disciplinary consideration of practicable solutions and scientific advancement often complement each other.