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Mechanics and Materials

Solid mechanics is the field of engineering concerned with the study of motion and deformation in solid materials using numerical models, including application to metals, polymers and composites. Solid mechanics is a fundamental component of engineering used to describe and predict the effect of external loads, such as applied forces or temperature changes, on structures. A key component of solid mechanics is predicting the behaviour of the materials used in structures or systems. Thus, solid mechanics is closely linked to Materials Science and Engineering, the branch of engineering focused on the design, manufacture and testing of materials, as well as relating the chemical composition and microstructure of the material to the mechanical properties and performance.

Solid Mechanics research at the University of Galway focuses on deformation of materials for a wide range of applications, including next generation renewable energy technologies operating in harsh environments, advanced manufacturing processes such as 3D printing, aerospace applications including design and assessment of advanced composites and medical device design and development. At the heart of this research is Materials Science and Engineering research focused on developing advanced material modelling capabilities based on the physical strengthening mechanisms and mechanisms of deformation to predict the overall mechanical performance of the system.

Current Research

Current research topics include: · I-FORM Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

TRANSFORRM project for materials design and fatigue life assessment of offshore wind turbine structures.
Design and development of shape memory alloys with enhanced mechanical performance for optimisation of medical procedures and actuator applications.
Design and assessment of advanced tempered-martensitic alloys for high temperature loading applications.

Mechanics and Materials, Mechanical Engineering, University of Galway