4. RIME21 Focus

Research Infrastructure for 21st century Mechanical Engineering (RIME21)

The research areas of mechanical engineering should reflect multidisciplinary solutions and develop knowledge – ranging from materials engineering (new materials, characterisation of properties, tunability of parameters, surface treatment), mechanics of material fatigue and wear, tribology, diagnostics and measurement of machine mechanisms, mechatronic parts and CPS systems, to the technologies of additive manufacturing, integrated production units, robotised and automatised workplaces. This necessary multidisciplinary approach to research and technology allows us to achieve results and methods that have further applications in the energy industry (such as biorefining, facilities for energy recovery from waste), new energy storage and transport systems, electrical engineering, aerospace technologies, means and systems of transport (automotive industry, rail transport, aerospace engineering), as well as medical applications.
The LRI research concept balances two approaches. On the one hand, there is the principle of specialisation; in other words, the choice of nodes based on their unique technologies, the knowledge and competitive expertise they provide at an international level. On the other hand, there is the attempt to achieve mutual complementarity of individual nodes, in expertise as well as in capacity. For example, materials engineering research in the area of smart materials (magnetorheological and electrorheological fluids and elastomers; piezoelectric materials, electroactive polymers; materials with controlled optical transfer) leads to new research possibilities in the area of mechatronic parts, CPS systems (adjustable shock and vibration absorbers, vibration sensors, ultrasound converters for monitoring structural elements, drive trains, self-powered sensors, etc.). Conversely, advanced production systems, integrated and automated manufacturing units and assembly lines require the development of reliable additively-manufactured parts and components, for example using powder metallurgy, leading to the development of systems for the predictive maintenance and monitoring of operational data (vibrations, noise, degree of wear) of machines and machine mechanisms.

Research areas and facilities

number

Link to node

Materials

6

 

Structures and properties

1

 

Spintronics, preparation of new materials, doped materials and alloys

1

1_SARPES

Composites

2

 

Advanced polymer composites, nanostructures

1

2_POLYMER COMPOSITE

Materials, powder metallurgy method

1

3_POWDER METALLURGY

Characterisation

3

 

Structural and functional materials, bulk deformation, mechanical properties, powder metallurgy, thermal analysis

1

4_STRUCTURAL MATERIALS

Optimisation of the properties of steels, materials and technologies

1

5_INNOVATIVE STEEL M&T

Mechanical properties of metals, miniature samples

1

6_MINIATURE SAMPLES

Mechanics

6

 

Fatigue and Wear

4

 

Fatigue, mechanical and thermal degradation of engineering materials

1

7_DEGRADATION OF MATERIALS

Internal defects, cracks, stress, tests, component reliability and surface treatment recommendations

1

8_INTERNAL DEFECTS OF AM COMPONENTS

Mechanical properties of materials, fatigue, creep, critical applications

1

9_CRITICAL APPLICATIONS

Tribology

1

10_TRIBOLOGY

Heat transfer and fluid flow

1

 

Two-phase flow, fluid mechanics, thermal comfort and aerosols

1

11_TRANSPORTATION PHENOMENA

Diagnostics and testing

1

 

Measurement of the rotation points of machines, noise, the development of structural and material modifications

1

12_MACHINE DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR

Production / manufacturing systems

7

 

Additive Technologies

3

 

Selective laser melting and cold kinetic deposition technologies

1

13_SLM & CS ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY

Technologies for the direct deposition and laser powder deposition of metal parts

1

14_DED & LPD ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY

Additive technologies SLM, SLS, CFR, printing of metals, polymers, composites, surface treatment of parts

1

15_ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY & SURFACE INTEGRITY

Cyber-physical systems

1

 

Mechatronics, smart machine components, virtual reality sensors / analysers, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness levels)

1

17_MECHATRONICS, SMART COMPONENTS, NVH

Advanced manufacturing

3

 

Manufacturing systems (integration of welding, machining, additive manufacturing and robotisation technologies)

1

16_ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

Machines and technologies for the production of nanofibers and nanofibrous structures

1

18_PRODUCTION OF NANOFIBER STRUCTURES

Integrated production units, unique structural and technological designs of equipment and assembly lines, model devices, testing of complex production systems.

1

19_COMPLEX PRODUCTION UNITS