Institute for Mechanics of Materials and Structures (IMWS)
at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien)
How can we make the pieces of wood, brick, or concrete stiffer, stronger, or their production more environmentally friendly? – This is what the research at TUWien-IMWS is about.
Although being unbeatable from the viewpoint of ecological footprint, it is very hard for timber to compete with standard building materials such as steel or concrete. Namely, only very refined simulation technology allows us to decipher the mechanical functioning of wood’s complex internal hierarchical structure. The presence of water in concrete induces a number of very challenging mechanical properties which we investigate at different length and time scales. This is our civil engineering core business; but that by no means confines our research and teaching: From man-made structures, we naturally turn on towards the structures we are made of ourselves, like our skeleton. Depending on pore fluid flow and fluid pressure, bone cells build up new bone or resorb old bone. Combining multiscale mechanics with transport theory and system biology, we transform a multitude of experimental results into new predictive tools supporting orthopedics and dentistry.
For these creative activities, we are privileged to be inspired by the atmosphere provided in the very heart of the cosmopolitan city of Vienna, where we heartily welcome creative, ambitious, and enthusiastic individuals, from a great variety of backgrounds.