Innovation Center Prof. Dr.-Ing. Niels Modler & Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Maik Gude

Lightweight construction and plastics technology

The Innovation Centre for Lightweight Engineering and Plastics Technology conducts cutting-edge research along the entire research spectrum of lightweight engineering and plastics technology with its specialisation areas ‘System Lightweight Engineering and Mixed Construction Methods’ and ‘Functionally Integrative Lightweight Engineering’. The Innovation Centre's core competencies lie in the development, design and optimisation of components and systems for high-performance lightweight construction as well as the associated manufacturing processes through to series production. Taking into account all material classes from steel to plastics and ceramics, the entire development chain ‘material - design - simulation - production - prototype tests - quality assurance - cost recycling’ is considered, with mixed construction in accordance with the Dresden model of ‘function-integrative lightweight system construction in multi-material design’ playing a central role. In addition to the technical and economic criteria, the ecological and social aspects along the entire product and material life cycle are also explicitly included. In particular, advice and support on life cycle assessment issues are offered to SMEs.

portait of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Niels Modler

DIRECTOR

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Niels Modler

Dresden University of Technology
Institute for Lightweight Construction and Plastics Technology
Professorship for Functionally Integrative Lightweight Construction
Holbeinstr. 3
01307 Dresden

Short vita

  • Head of the professorship "Functionally Integrative Lightweight Construction" at the TU Dresden
  • Doctorate at the TU Dresden
  • Scientific assistant at the Institute for Lightweight Construction and Plastics Technology at the TU Dresden
  • Industrial activity in the medical technology sector
  • Studies of electrical engineering/ precision engineering/ biomedical device technology at the TU Dresden

other functions:

  • Director of the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology at TU Dresden
  • Director of the Centre for Green Circular Economy (CircEcon)
  • Managing Director of the DFG Collaborative Research Centre: SFB 639 ‘Textile-reinforced composite components for function-integrating mixed construction methods in complex lightweight construction applications’ (2004-2015)
  • Dresden site spokesperson for the DFG Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio: TR 39 ‘Large-scale production technologies for light metal and fibre composite-based components with integrated piezo sensors and actuators’ (2006-2014)
  • Chairman of the Academic Club Lightweight Construction at the TU Dresden e.V.

DIRECTOR

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Maik Gude

Dresden University of Technology
Institute of Lightweight Structures and Polymer Technology
Chair of Lightweight Structures and Composite Structures
Holbeinstr. 3
01307 Dresden

Short vita

  • Head of the Chair of ‘Lightweight Systems and Composite Structures’ at TU Dresden
  • Doctorate and habilitation at the TU Dresden
  • Scientific assistant at the Institute for Lightweight Construction and Plastics Technology at the TU Dresden
  • Innovation Fellow of the State Ministry for Science and Art
  • Study of Technomathematics at the Clausthal University of Technology, majoring in Applied Mechanics

other functions:

  • Director of the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology at TU Dresden
  • Scientific director of the BMBF lighthouse project FOREL
  • Director of the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre Dresden ‘Lightweight Structures and Materials and Robust Design’
  • Chairman of the board of juniorIng. Sachsen e.V.

Research and development

  • Material mechanical analyses of textile-reinforced composites
  • Research into innovative, material-appropriate design and construction approaches for lightweight construction methods, from methodical concept analyses to prototype components
  • Development of holistic lightweight components and systems
  • Development and provision of practice-oriented virtual methods for the design of efficient lightweight materials, structures and systems in multi-material design by means of coupled cross-process, cross-material and cross-scale simulation approaches.
  • Research into the development of adapted semi-finished products, their preform processing and the manufacture of highly integrative component structures
  • Research on characterization, modeling and simulation of reactive processes as well as equipment and process development for innovative preform concepts
  • Development and research of novel materials, semi-finished products and the associated processing technologies
  • Development of customer-oriented solutions for application-specific problems in the field of fastening technology
  • Development of material-adapted or component-specific test methods as well as the realization of complex test rigs
  • Investigation of interdisciplinary sustainability-oriented issues in the context of lightweight construction, holistic consideration of product systems, development of sustainable, application-orientated solutions at the interface of engineering, economics, environmental and social sciences

Expertise

- Structural lightweight design, ultra-lightweight design and adaptive lightweight design:

  • Material characterizations, structural calculations and strength verifications
  • Dimensioning concepts as well as structural design
  • Space Frame Structures
  • Construction method developments
  • Finite element simulations
  • Failure and damage analyses
  • Prototype development and manufacturing, pilot testing
  • Adaptive lightweight structures
  • Tribological systems
  • Recycling-compatible lightweight structures in mixed construction (strategies - concepts - experimental verification)

- Use of lightweight materials:

  • Hochleistungskunststoffe / Elastomere
  • Faserverbundwerkstoffe / textilverstärkte Verbundwerkstoffe
  • NE-Metalle / Metallmatrix-Composites
  • "Smart Materials"
  • Stahl-Hybridverbunde
  • Ingenieurkeramiken
  • Biomaterialien
  • Recyclate

- Neutral lightweight construction:

  • Sustainability-orientated development processes for lightweight construction Systems
  • Recycling of lightweight materials
  • Resource-saving production technologies for lightweight construction and plastics technology
  • Lightweight construction with materials from renewable resources
  • Life cycle analyses of lightweight products and technologies

- Applications of lightweight materials in vehicle construction, electromobility, aerospace, etc.

Reference projects

  • Test rig modifications for representative engine conditions
  • Process and component technology development for steel-plastic hybrid materials
  • Evaluation of the application potential of natural-substance-based carbon fibers
  • Optimization of an industry-equivalent carbon fiber process
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