Fatigue and fracture of materials (FFM) research group focuses on material characterization for component lifetime, surface properties, and instabilities of the structural components. We are currently investigating samples produced with our metal 3D printer (capabilities of printing Stainless Steel, Copper, Inconel, and Titanium) to characterize effects of the process parameters on the mechanical properties of the printed parts. Our current research activities include:
- Computational fracture mechanics using FEM, extended FEM, and Meshfree methods to simulate complex mechanical problems.
- Fatigue fracture of materials, including metals, plastics, and composites.
- Tribology and wear.
- Structural integrity.
- Metal machining (with focus on the computational modelling of the process).
- Role of the microstructure and material composition of the fatigue and fracture.
Laboratory Equipment
- MTS Fatigue testing machine up to 100kN (under delivery)
- ZwickRoell tensile testing machine up to 10kN (500N and 10kN loadcells)
- Ametek LLOYD tensile testing machine up to 30kN (1, 5, and 30kN loadcells)
- Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA Q800) with force range of 0.0001 – 18N
- Universal Hardness Testing
- Charpy Impact Testing
- MatchID Digital Image Correlation system.
Software Licenses
- Simulia Abaqus commercial package
- AdvantEdge machining tool.
PhD and Postdoctoral Positions
Please check our vacancies webpage regarding the calls for fully funded PhD & postdoc positions in the FFM research group.
Regarding the self-funded or other funding applications inquiries, drop Mohammad Malekan an email (malekan@sdu.dk) if you are interested in pursuing a PhD or postdoc in the FFM group and are applying for funding from EU (e.g., Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship) or other international programs, or able to self-finance your research through other means.
Visiting and Guest Researchers/PhD Students
Please contact Mohammad Malekan (malekan@sdu.dk) for further details if you are an interested PhD or postdoctoral researcher to collaborate with the FFM research group. All the requests are welcome!
Student Projects
Please contact Mohammad Malekan at malekan@sdu.dk if you are interested in doing a master project. Here are some examples of the projects (can be taken for a master thesis project):
- Mechanical behavior and failure analysis of 3D-printed polymeric lattice structures.
- Experimental and numerical analyses of spur gear failure.
- Fatigue life estimation of laser welded joints.
- Experimental testing and FE simulation of asperity junction failure.
- Investigation of the mechanical properties of the conventional gas pipeline.
- Design and build of a pin-on-disk tribometer.
- Application of machine learning in the fracture analysis of structural components.
There is also the possibility of defining a project according to:
- Student’s personal preferences, preferably after having a discussion.
- Needs and requests from the local (e.g., Danfoss, Linak A/S, etc.) and other Danish companies (e.g., LEGO, Grundfos, Universal Robots, etc.).
