Professorship for materials mechanics

Organisational unit: Professoship

Organisation profile

The professorship "materials mechanics“ focuses on the development of suitable models for different classes of materials based on the physical deformation mechanisms as well as on the modeling and simulation of local production processes. The development of these material models is crucial for the application of new materials, since these models are able to describe the deformation behavior in industrial production processes which allows for their optimization. In particular, local engineering in the context of production processes is of high technological relevance in adjusting local properties. For example, laser material processing and friction stir welding are relevant processes which are investigated. A targeted heat input into the material can be used to control and adjust the properties near the surface. As a result, improved properties, particularly in terms of damage tolerance can be achieved. The complexity of the interaction between the process parameters and material properties leads to high experimental effort, with sophisticated experimental techniques required to determine the influence of the process on the component. Therefore, reliable models are required to reduce the experimental effort. The developed material and process models are used to identify optimal process parameters that produce the desired properties inside the material and structure. The main objective of the professorship is to develop realistic and efficient numerical models which are formulated on basis of the underlying physical mechanisms. The identification of these mechanisms requires interdisciplinary collaborations with scientists from materials science, mechanics and production.The cooperation between the University of Lüneburg and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht provides an ideal opportunity to accomplish the goals of this shared professorship.