Here you find the research activities of IfW and MPA.

Research at the Center for Structural Materials

Our research work is both, fundamental and application-oriented.

Our main research areas include

Evaluation of influencing variables :

  • material properties
  • manufacturing processes: edge or protective layers, effect of residual stresses, composite materials, material composites
  • structural design: component size, component shape, notches
  • operational stresses: single- and multi-stage, component-like, transient, influence of multiaxiality, temperature, temperature change, weathering, corrosion; wear of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites and material composites

Improvement of materials engineering concepts for the description of operational behavior and operational safety as well as for service life assessment of components and component systems, considering stress and existing defects

Improvement of component properties by special surface treatment processes or protective coatings and characterization of properties

Development of material databases, creation of material laws for the user, finite element calculations, further development of numerical methods for describing the failure behavior of structures (modeling and simulation), validation (verification) of laws

Development and property determination of new materials and material composites with improved properties (ferrous materials, non-ferrous metals and light metals (aluminum, magnesium) for components in the fields of mechanical engineering, traffic engineering, power plant construction, chemical industry, medical technology, construction industry)

Research focuses on the holistic evaluation of component properties in the relationship between material – production – structural design – component stress, while materials testing and monitoring concentrate on determining the technical, physical and chemical properties of materials, semi-finished products, components and operating materials.

The close professional and organizational integration of MPA and IfW guarantees an efficient use of personnel competences and equipment as well as an optimal technical-scientific exchange of information. This also ensures that the necessary competence for research and development, damage analysis and consulting can be bundled in an optimal way and also made available for services.

The interdisciplinary cooperation with other departments of the TU Darmstadt in the Materials Research Network Rhine-Main (MatFoRM) enables component-related materials science in theory and practice that is oriented to the latest findings. Knowledge is thus always kept, conveyed and applied at the cutting edge of technology.

Results from research and development projects as well as current problems of the industry are discussed intensively also with users in colloquia and seminars. Through joint research projects, collaboration in working groups as well as technical-scientific publications and dissertations, there is a direct transfer of knowledge, exchange of information and interaction with our clients.