The Network of Excellence ‘Knowledge-based multicomponent materials for durable and safe performance’ (KMM-NoE), constituted within the sixth framework program, priority 3 (Nano-technologies and nano-sciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials, and new production processes and devices), has started at November 1 in 2004. Its focus is the creation of a coherent pan-European structure of key academic and research institutions, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and large industry partners in the field of knowledge-based multicomponent materials, designed for safe and durable performance in highly demanding loading and environmental conditions. Such materials include functionally graded materials (FGM), metal-ceramic composites (MCC), and intermetallics. The KMM-NoE aims at bringing together a critical mass of high level expertise in the field of knowledge-based multicomponent materials from across 10 countries in Europe [1].
The Institute for Mechanics of Materials and Structures is, on the one hand, work package leader of the mobility programme, and, on the other hand, participant and Task Leader within the research work package called ‘Processing and Modelling of Functionally Graded Materials in Extreme Conditions’.
The role of the Institute for Mechanics of Materials and Structures within the mobility programme of KMM-NoE, responsible for executing the interdisciplinary and comprehensive Joint Programme of Research (JPR), is twofold. As work package leader of the mobility program of KMM-NoE, the Institute for Mechanics of Materials and Structures is responsible for the achievement of the programme goals [1]: the creation of systems supporting research fellowships for doctoral students, multilateral exchange of experienced researchers, relocation of teams, secondments of technical staff and experts, and efficient use of the Marie Curie program. Furthermore, as subtask leader within the mobility programme, the IMWS processes the exchange of experienced personnel within KMM-NoE.
In addition, the IMWS is involved in research work on functionally graded materials:
Structural components which must exhibit at the same time both high-temperature resistance and high strength (e.g. in aerospace engineering and energy production machinery) are preferably manufactured by multicomponent materials, combining strong and tough components (such as metals) with thermally resistant and hard components (such as ceramics). In order to avoid a sharp metal-ceramic interface resulting in stress concentrations leading to fracture and delamination, from the 1980s on, structural components with a spatial gradient in thermomechanical properties were developed. This concept was referred to as Functionally Graded Materials [2, 3] (FGM). By means of an extensive literature survey, the state-of-the-art in FGM-processing and -modeling was extracted in months 1 - 12. Based on the state-of-the-art, advancements in processing and modeling in the field of FGMs were defined. The Institute for Mechanics of Materials and Structures leads the newly founded task ‘Tailoring FGMs for Biological Environments’ (see e.g. Figure 1 and the review of Katti [4]), aiming at (i) processing of biomaterials with functional gradation; (ii) chemical, microstructural, and mechanical characterization of biomaterials and biological materials with functional gradation; (iii) models/ simulations of functionally graded biomaterials and biological materials; and (iv) model-based FGM design: processing of tailored FGMs. Thereby, the focus is on bone and orthopaedic biomaterials (implants and scaffolds). These scientific challenges, scheduled for months 13 - 30, are being tackled in collaboration with partners from Italy, Germany, Poland, and United Kingdom.
Project team:
Ch. Hellmich, St. Scheiner, A. Fritsch, M. Pöll, J. Eberhardsteiner
Project partners:
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia: Institute of Construction and Architecture, Prof. Jan Sladek
Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy: Institute for Physical Sciences, Prof. Franco Rustichelli
Imperial College London, London, UK: Department of Materials, Dr. Aldo Boccaccini
Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland; Materials Design Division, Dr. Wojciech Swieszkowski, Dr. Zgibniev Pakiela
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research, Bremen, Germany, Dr. Dirk Godlinski
Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy; Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Prof. Chiara Vitale-Brovarone
References:
[1] Network of Excellence - Knowledge-based multicomponent materials for durable and safe performance, http://www.kmm-noe.org, 2006.
[2 A. Malasoma, A. Fritsch, C. Kohlhauser, T. Brynk, C.Vitale-Brovarone, Z. Pakiela, J. Eberhardsteiner, an C. Hellmich: Micromechanics of bioresorbable porous CEL2 glass ceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, Institue of Materials, MInerals and Mining, 2008
[3 J. Sladek, V. Sladek, Ch. Hellmich, J. Eberhardsteiner: Heat conduction analysis of 3-D axisymmetric and anisotropic FGM bodies by meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method, Springer Verlag, 2006
[4 St. Scheiner, R. Sinibaldi, B. Pichler, V. Komlev, Ch. Renghini, Ch. Vitale-Brovarone, F. Rustichelli, Ch. Hellmich: Micromechanis of bone tissue-engineering in scaffolds, cased on resolution error-cleared computer tomography, Elsevier Ltd., 2008
[5 A. Fritsch, Ch. Hellmich: Universal microstructural patterns in cortical and trabecular, extracellular and axtravascular bone materials: Micromechanics-based prediction od anisotropic elasticity, Elsevier Ltd. 2008
[6] St. Scheiner, Ch. Hellmich: Stable pitting corrosion of stainless steel as diffusion-controlled dissolution process with a sharp moving electrode boundary, Elsevier Ltd. 2006
[7] . Sladek, V. Sladek, Ch. Hellmich, J. Eberhardsteiner: Analysis of thick functionally graded plates by local integral equation method, Elsevier Ltd., 2006
[8] St. Scheiner, Ch. Hellmich: FInite Volume model for diffusion- and activation-controlled pitting corrosion of stainless steel, Elsevier Ltd., 2009
