The current research activities include numerical and experimental studies on the advanced problems in linear and non-linear mechanics of complex structures and structural elements. Static and dynamic issues are considered. Different modern and historic materials are considered and modelled. The following specific topics are under research:  

  • Numerical, experimental and theoretical studies on mechanical behaviour of different structures composed of various materials including composites (also textiles), wood, masonry, concrete and metals to be applied in various engineering fields. The studies include laboratory tests of the materials, identification of their mechanical properties, impact of the material component on their parameters including micromechanical modelling, application of these properties into specific constitutive formulations and numerical simulations of the given structure behaviour, and theoretical modelling. This area of the scientific interest is strictly related to designing of advanced structural systems using e. g. FEM and other computational and numerical methods.  

Keywords: structural systems modelling, mechanics of materials, constitutive modelling, finite element method 

  • Research on the multi-layer laminated composite panels and shells in the field of experimental examinations, theoretical studies, and numerical analyses covering the range of large deformations and non-linear material behaviour. The static and dynamic structural response, as well as stability issues, are considered. The influence of the hygrothermal environment is taken into account.  

Keywords: multi-layer laminated composite panels and shells, large deformations, non-linear  material behaviour  

  • Non-destructive diagnostics and structural health monitoring of variety of engineering structures and their elements are considered. The research is aimed at damage detection, localization, quantification and imaging. An extensive study of various non-invasive methods such as vibration-based methods, ultrasonic-based techniques, ground penetrating radar and acoustic emission is carried out. The methods of data analysis and interpretation, digital signal processing, optimal data collection, quantifying the value of monitoring information, full-scale dynamic testing, system identification and model updating are developed. 

Keywords: non-destructive testing, damage assessment, diagnostics, dynamics of structures, ultrasonic waves, acoustic emission, ground penetrating radar, measurements and numerical modelling 

The issues related to the measurement of the static and dynamic parameters of engineering structures, including „in situ" investigations on bridges, buildings and other civil and mechanical structures, measurement methodology, measuring equipment, data-collecting and controlling software, diagnostics, identification, and monitoring.  

Keywords: “in situ” measurements, measuring equipment, data-collecting, engineering structures, bridges 

Uncertainties are one of the key issues in modern computational modelling. They are either related to the model inaccuracies, data errors, and lack of knowledge or attributed to the natural variability of mechanical properties of materials, elements, and loading. The research provided aims to find an effective methodology to introduce uncertainties in the models and to establish their effect on the model output. The study is focused on both simulation and non-intrusive methods which can be applied in models created in commercial Finite Element software, which would normally require large computational cost (variance reduction techniques, response surface models, meta-model-based approaches).  Such a methodology is employed in various engineering applications e.g. lightweight structures, foundations, timber structures.  

Keywords: uncertainty quantification, simulation methods, meta-models, sensitivity analysis,  reliability assessment 

The knowledge of earthquake engineering is important for the design of civil engineering structures exposed to ground motions. The detailed response of different structures during earthquakes and mining tremors is studied. The research concerns advanced numerical simulations and experimental tests conducted on the unidirectional shaking table. Different effects are investigated, e.g. earthquake-induced structural pounding, eccentric vibrations, non-linear behaviour under extreme loading, reduction of vibrations by using seismic isolation and various types of dampers. 

Keywords: earthquake engineering, earthquakes, mining tremors, non-linear response, structural pounding, eccentric vibrations, seismic isolation, dampers