Research fields

The research centre “Numerical Simulation, Testing and Mechanics of Composite Materials” is part of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The members of the department are involved in the following research fields:

• Mechanical testing, noise and vibration analysis

The main activity areas in this field are:

  • static testing of materials (traction, compression and bending testing): isotropic materials, wood, foam, plastic materials, composite materials, sandwich structures, etc.
  • Izod or Charpy impact testing for test tubes made of different materials;
  • dynamic testing (cyclic fatigue testing) with various frequencies by applying loads on two independent directions, on pieces, structures or mechanical systems;
  • piece deformity analysis by using the electro-resistive tensometry method;
  • modal analysis of mechanical systems; equipment and machine vibration diagnosis;
  • determination of acoustic characteristics of materials. Acoustic analysis and identification of noise sources and noise spreading.
• Numerical Simulations

The fields of activity in this area are:

  • Finite element analysis, modelling and simulation of mechanical behaviour of mechanical structures made of isotropic or anisotropic materials;
  • modelling, simulation and optimization of mechanical structures made of fiber embedded advanced materials (composite, sandwich composite and hybrid composite materials) ;
  • numerical simulations of flow phenomena.
• Thermodynamics and flow phenomena

The following activities are undertaken in this research field:

  • testing heat exchangers with heat pipes;
  • measurement of fluid thermal properties (thermal conductivity, specific heat, thermal diffusion and thermal resistance); measurement of dynamic viscosity (ASTM D2196);
  • measurement of tribological properties of liquid lubricants (ASTM D 2670);
  • measurement of material thermal conductivity according to ASTM C177;
  • study of small wind turbines and of mechanical structures by using two low speed wind tunnels and a cordless jet blower;
  • study of motor vehicles aerodynamics (models on a scale of 1:5) in accordance with SAE requirements;
  • study of air profiles for incompressible flow.
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