DFG approves graduate school for data-driven design of metamaterials at TU Dresden

Photo: TU-Dresden

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has the graduate school (GRK) 2868 “D³ – Data-driven design of resilient metamaterials” at the TU Dresden approved.

From October this year, more than 20 young researchers will develop digital methods for exploring new materials as part of the GRK. They are guided by an interdisciplinary team of experts from the fields of mechanics, materials science, mathematics, physics and computer science, who conduct research at the TU Dresden, the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the TU Chemnitz. The spokesman for the research training group is Markus Kästner, Professor of Numerical and Experimental Solid Mechanics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the TU Dresden. The DFG is funding D³ with around 6.5 million euros for an initial period of five years.

“The digital transformation of engineering and materials science offers huge potential for innovation. In D³ we qualify the ‘digital natives’ required to implement the transformation, who combine excellent specialist knowledge in classic specialist disciplines with skills from the areas of machine learning and data analysis. To this end, we are creating an international, innovative and collaborative research environment,” explains spokesman Prof. Markus Kästner (TU Dresden).

Research is being carried out into metamaterials, ie delicate structures produced using 3D printing that are perceived as material in a component. The design of the internal structure enables tailor-made, sometimes exceptional properties for applications in the mobility, medical and energy sectors. The investigations planned in D³ are aimed at both the mechanical performance and the sustainability of the new materials. “The vision of D³ is to develop and apply a fully digital, data-driven approach to the design of metamaterials that can also be transferred to other material systems,” Kästner continues.

With D³, a new internationally oriented, structured program for the qualification of young scientists at the TU Dresden is being established, which, in addition to the research profile line Materials and Materials Science, is also closely related to the key areas of information technology and microelectronics as well as energy, mobility and the environment. D³ also intensifies the cooperation between different areas of the TU Dresden, within the DRESDEN-concept and between the three Saxon research locations Dresden-Chemnitz-Freiberg.