This collaborative research is linked to the research project "Mechanical Engineering of Biological and Bio-inspired Systems" (MEBioSys), reg. no. CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004634, which is funded under the Operational Program Johannes Amos Comenius (OP JAC), Excellent Research Call, administered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.
The main partners from the Montanuniversitaet are Prof. Raul Bermejo (Chair of Structural and Functional Ceramics) and Prof. Gerald Pinter (Institute of Materials Science and Testing of Polymers), who share common interest in regard to the project's research plan - particularly in the following areas: i) Design, fabrication and experimental testing of advanced functional and bio- inspired materials based on ceramics or polymers; ii) Numerical modeling and failure analysis of (multi)-material structures with functional properties and iii) Additive manufacturing and experimental characterization of advanced material structures.
The first visit from a Czech researcher, Dr. Oldřich Ševeček from the Brno university of Technology, has taken place during spring 2024. Dr. Ševeček holds sound expertise in modelling of brittle fracture and has collaborated already more than 10 years with Leoben. The aim of this visit has been to deepen this existing collaboration, define future joint activities as well as scientific publications and possible future projects in the field of bio-inspired systems with enhanced mechanical properties.