Research

Research at GR-MeC focuses on the performance of composite materials and their implementation for creating innovative engineering structures. The center of attention is the area of renewable energy conversion systems, wind turbine rotor blades, and offshore composite structures. Current research areas include fatigue and fracture of composites, adhesives, joints and structural components.

Fatigue and fracture

– Fatigue and fracture performance of composites, adhesives and structures 
– Modeling and prediction tools 

Structural adhesives

– Fatigue and fracture performance of structural adhesives
– Crack arresting features and size effects

Adhesive joints

– Fatigue and fracture experimental investigation and modeling
– Thermophysical and thermomechanical loading
– Thick adhesive joints and crack arresting features

Sandwich structures

– Performance investigation, integration of functions
– Complex assemblies 
– Design aspects, planar crack propagation 

Hygrothermal loading

– Thermophysical, thermomechanical modeling
– Compression loading
– Fire protection

Experimental facilities

GR-MeC has access to the Structural Engineering Platform (GIS), an experimental platform offering the opportunity to test structural materials from the specimen level to large-scale using cutting-edge technology in measurement techniques and machinery.