The Section for Solid Mechanics conducts research and teaching in the fields of structural and materials mechanics, vibration and their active control, as well as machine elements and design optimisation. The research is based on theoretical, numerical and experimental investigations of phenomena that are often highly cross disciplinary and span many length scales, from the sub-micron range of material microstructures to the structural scale. All of the research initiatives within the Section are based on strong collaborations with leading research institutions around the world as well as Danish and international industries.

Multi-scale methods have transformed the ability to adequately model essential problem features on vastly different length or time scales. Problems of interest span widely from dynamical phenomena and giga-voxel design optimisation to manufacturing processes and their effect on the resulting material and structural properties.

Solutions to societal challenges:
Research in Solid Mechanics is central whenever structural and material designs may provide the basis for better energy efficiency. To this end, strength and design optimisation are essential tools for minimising material consumption for small personal devices as well as large industrial installations and structures. To optimise material usage micromechanical modelling is employed extensively in the study of design limiting phenomena such as buckling, ductile fracture and high cycle fatigue in metals as well as debond damage in composites.

The potential of using measured vibrations in structural health monitoring is promising in several fields, e.g. in estimating tension of critical bolts, locating cracks in load carrying structures, and diagnosing rotor bearings during operation.

Unifying research goals for the Section include safer, smarter and more efficient structures, weight-saving as well as materials, with longer life-times leading to reduced environmental impact