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prof. dr hab. inż. Zbigniew Pakieła

The group focuses on the comprehensive characterization of the mechanical properties of materials and the analysis of their relationship with microstructure. 

The research uses both standard mechanical tests (e.g., static tensile, bending, fatigue, and fracture resistance tests) and modern techniques involving miniaturized samples and non-contact deformation measurement methods. The scope of research covers all groups of engineering materials and structures with non-standard geometry and microstructure. The team also performs expert work commissioned by the industry.
  

Research activities

The research conducted by the team is interdisciplinary and covers the following key areas:

  1. Metallic materials with a highly fragmented microstructure – testing of aluminum, iron, steel, titanium and their alloys with a nanocrystalline or ultra-fine-grained structure.
  2. Materials produced by additive manufacturing – characterization of the structure and mechanical properties of titanium, nickel, aluminum and their alloys produced by additive manufacturing processes.
  3. Magnesium alloys for plastic working – analysis of their mechanical behavior and durability under application conditions.
  4. Fracture resistance of materials after heat treatment – assessment of the impact of heat treatment on strength and fracture toughness.
  5. Research on the mechanical properties of composites – static and dynamic strength tests of composite materials.
  6. Optical methods of deformation measurement – use of digital image correlation (DIC) for quantitative analysis of micro- and macro-scale deformations.
  7. Scale effect in mechanical property testing – assessment of the impact of sample size and microstructure on material behavior.
  8. Metallic coatings applied by thermal spraying methods (e.g. Warm/Cold Spray) – testing the impact of innovative spraying techniques on mechanical properties.
  9. Mechanical testing of industrial materials – mechanics of miniaturized samples taken directly from working structural elements (e.g. tensile test, SPT, SPC).
  10. Testing of metallic materials in a corrosive environment – mechanical testing of materials in accordance with the requirements of ASME B31.12 ‘Hydrogen Piping’ for approval for use in a hydrogen environment.
       

Research offer

The team offers advanced testing services and expertise in the field of mechanical properties of materials, including both standard tests and services tailored to individual customer needs:

  • Mechanical property testing
    • • Mechanical testing of metallic materials in accordance with the following standards:
      • PN-EN 6892, ASTM E8, ASTM E466, ASTM E606, ASTM E399, ASTM E1820, ASTM E647.
    • • Tests of polymer and composite materials according to the following guidelines:
      • PN-EN ISO 527, PN-EN 2747, ASTM D2344, ASTM D3039, ASTM D3410, ASTM D3518, ASTM D7264, ASTM D7137, ASTM D790.
    • • Testing of materials in limited volumes and structural elements up to ~1 m in size.
    • • Non-standard mechanical testing of materials and structures tailored to customer requirements.
        
  • Technical and expert services
    • Static and dynamic strength testing (also in a wide temperature range – from -150 °C to +1000 °C).
    • Deformation measurements using digital image correlation (2D/3D DIC),
    • Mechanical testing of entire components
    • Expert analysis of the causes of structural component failure.
        

International cooperation

  • National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), JAPAN
  • University of Rouen Sciences et Techniques, FRANCE
  • Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT), SPAIN
  • Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), BELGIUM
  • Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science of NASU, UKRAINE
  • Material and Metallurgical Research Ltd, CZECH REPUBLIC
  • Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), GERMANY
  • Institut Mines-Telecom, FRANCE
  •  Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, FRANCE
  • Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V., GERMANY
  •  Politecnico di Torino, ITALY
  • Slovenska Technicka Univerzita v Bratislave, SLOVAKIA
  • Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V., GERMANY
  • United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, GREAT BRITAIN
  • Regia Autonoma Tehnologii Pentru Energia Nucleara (RATEN), ROMANIA
  • Framatome, FRANCE
  •  Energiatudomanyi Kutatokozpont (HUN REN), HUNGARY
      

Team