Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

Current Research Activities:

• Development of computational techniques for solid and structural mechanics applications.
• Modelling and finite element analysis of metal forming processes (deep drawing, extrusion, forging).
• Parameter sensitivity and optimization of nonlinear systems.
• Fire safety engineering.
• Multicriterion and reliabillity-based optimization.
• Hybrid reasoning techniques in qualitative analysis of physical systems.
• Expert systems.
• Development of nonlinear multi-dimentional first-order optics formalism.
• Nonspecular theory of light interaction with nonlinear structures.
• Variational and numerical analysis of optical soliton excitation and propagation.
• Nonlinear spatio-temporal coupling and pulse compression.
• Mechanics, thermodynamics and electrodynamics:
  constitutive modelling of materials with finite speed of heat propagation; second sound phenomena,
  interfacial phenomena in continuum thermodynamics,
  theory of dielectric waveguides and optoelectronic devices.
• Analysis of inelastic bar and surface structures under extreme and repeated variable loads:
  limit analysis, shakedown and incremental collapse of structures,
  post-yielding behaviour of composite slabs, under restrained ustable flexure,
  reliability oriented optimization and analysis of sensitivity of inelastic structures,
  analysis of elastic-plasic plates.
• Mathematic physics:
  shock and acceleration wave propagation in dissipative materials,
  analysis of quasi-linear hyperbolic systems of balance laws in continuum thermo-mechanics and electro-dynamics,
  resonant interaction on nonlinear waves.
• Computer vision, image analysis and artificial intelligence:
  method of mathematical morphology, fuzzy image analysis, random fields, astronomical image analysis, analysis of mammograms, detection of surface defects, analysis of microstructures,
  computer-assisted analysis of medical images,
  fuzzy inference systems in classification and approximation problems, genetic algorithms.
• Structural optimization with continuous and discrete design variables.
• Seismoscopy.

Key Words:

• nonlinear mechanics, finite element method, optimization, reliability, adaptive structures, qualitative modelling, diagrammatic reasoning, nonlinear optics, photonics, planar nonlinear structures, propagation;
• thermodynamics, interfacial phenomena, heat propagation, dissipative materials, shock waves, waveguides, opto-electronic devices, nonlinear waves, stereopsis;
• structural mechanics, historical constructions, structural optimization, nonlinear programming, discrete programming, graphs, waves, smart materials and structures, structural control;
• inelastic structures, limit analysis, shakedown, inadaptation, post-yield behaviour, optimization, incremental collapse, safety, reliability.