Dresden Summer School on Function Integration at Lightweight Systems for Industry 4.0

Composite structures are used in various fields such as aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, power generation, and marine engineering etc., due to their inherent characteristics such as high values of stiffness, dimensional stability, wear resistance, mechanical strength, and design flexibility coupled with low values of mass and coefficient of thermal expansion. Composite structures can sustain damage during their life cycle due to aging, improper service conditions, and erroneous manufacturing and assembly, such as inter-laminar voids, porosity, fibre waviness, wrinkles, de-bonding, and delamination.

Functional integration involves integration of microelectronics into composite structures, to monitor the health of these structures. These systems can assist in locating and quantifying several types of damage present in composites based structural components. Integrated sensors in a structure can generate high volumes of data, which engineers can analyze to predict the health of a structure. Machine learning is becoming an essential skill in many data-intensive scientific fields, including structural health monitoring related disciplines.

The ILK Summer School 2023 will cover fibre-reinforced composites, focusing on their properties, design, manufacturing and testing methods, as well as the integration of suitable sensors for the determination of the composite structures condition.

The ILK Summer School will consist of theoretical and practical sessions by TU Dresden focused on the discussion of general function-integration and monitoring techniques employed in lightweight structures. The specific topics that will be covered are:

• Light-weight materials and structures

• Function-integrative lightweight systems

• Design and simulation of function-integrative composite components

• Embedding sensors and actuators in composite structures

The summer school program includes a combination of guest lectures, exciting experiments and competitive group assignments. The six-day course will start with an "Ice-Breaker" event to get to know each other. Throughout the rest of the program, you will get an insight into relevant applications for heavy load bearing composite structures and the necessity of monitoring these structures, e.g. in wind turbine applications.

At the end of the Summer School, participants will have gained insight into materials, methods and algorithms used for composite structures. Successful participants will be awarded with a certificate of participation.

The scientific program will be accompanied by recreational activities; participants will enjoy a guided tour through the beautiful city of Dresden and the surrounding areas.

Download: PROGRAM of ILK Summer School 2023

Open call for excellent students or doctoral students to participate in the Summer School.

Global megatrends such as climate change, mobility and resource availability require interdisciplinary and international approaches. Resource neutral lightweight design with modern multifunctional materials empowered by machine learning promotes key technologies that develop important solutions for climate protection, innovation and resource efficiency. It is particularly important to involve young scientists in the international networks at an early stage in order to develop long-term scientific cooperation in Europe.

How to apply?

If you are student or doctoral student and you are interested in participating in the ILK Summer School 2023, please send to  a comprehensive application by Decembre 16^th, 2022, including following records:

• A letter describing your motivation to participate (500 words)
• A brief CV (max. 2 pages)
• Transcript of Records

Indicative selection criteria

• Academic merit (main criterion)
• Motivation to participate
• English language skills

Selection procedure

The selection of the participants bases on the submitted documents. Selection criteria will be e.g. the motivation for participation and the academic merit. In accordance with
our equal-opportunity policy, we will - in case of equal academic qualification - give preference to applicants from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds, minorities and people with special needs. We expressly encourage female students to apply for the Summer School.

Applicants will be informed by the end of January 2023 if they have been selected for the participation and will receive a Letter of Confirmation.

A sponsoring allowance is offered by the organizer for travel to and from the Summerschool, as well as for meals and accommodation.

Download: Info sheet for successful applicants.