Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department – ULiège Cutting-edge research and industrial applications join forces

With 20 academic staff, 3 permanent scientific staff and over 100 researchers, the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department (A&M) is the successor of the Aerospace and Space Techniques Laboratory (LTAS). It develops advanced technologies and technical solutions based on continuum mechanics (fluids and solids), materials science, thermodynamics and applied mathematics.

A&M stands out through its top quality fundamental research, which also has short- and medium-term industrial applicability; Rolls Royce, Safran, Airbus, Peugeot, Ford, Valeo, Goodyear and high-tech SMEs are among its partners. Its researchers focus on numerical simulation, aeronautics and space, materials and manufacturing processes, fluid mechanics, energy, land vehicles and machinery. Current projects focus on aeronautical design, space instruments, additive manufacturing, composite materials, turbomachinery, energy systems in vehicles, the interface between medicine and the engineering sciences etc. By way of an example, research is being conducted into the vibration control of aeronautical structures using smart vibration absorbers. The fruit of a collaboration with Safran Aero Boosters and funded within the framework of the Walloon Region WALInnov projects, this project aims to develop a prototype “smart” absorber that would be able to achieve a substantial reduction in vibrations. Another project concerns multi-scale optimisation for the additive manufacturing of bi-stable shock-absorbing and fatigue-resistant metamaterials (MOAMMM). It is carried out in collaboration with the German company cirp GmbH and with the support of Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation funding from the European Union. The A&M department is also conducting research on the development of a mechanical model of the bone-tendon interface using Computerized Tomography and nanoindentation to better understand the transfer of loads between tendons and bones and the associated pathologies. programme. It has also set up a number of spin-offs, including Samtech, a publisher of finite element software which has now become Siemens Samtech, Open Engineering (multi-physics simulations), V2i (vibration systems measurements and tests), Noesys (non-linear vibration systems in aeronautical structures) and Green Propulsion, a specialist in low- pollution prototype vehicles. Its strong interactions with the industrial sector allow A&M to anticipate the main challenges that await its researchers in the years to come. Beyond its main activities such as energy, additive manufacturing and new materials, more specific paths to be explored cover new configurations for aeroplanes, hybrid cars and turbomachinery, aiming to increase their efficiency whilst reducing their energy consumption, as well as improving the integration between engines and vehicles. A&M also works on disruptive projects in multi-physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, chemistry, electromagnetism etc.), multi-scale physics and design Certification, which involves elements of design, manufacturing and final product Certification in an optimisation context. Lastly, it works towards breaking down the barrier between engineering and life sciences: thanks to bio-inspiration, new materials with custom-designed properties could see promising applications in the fields of aeronautics and medicine. © A&M © A&M

Each year, A&M awards between 15 and 20 doctorates and generates almost €5.2M in external contracts. It offers Masters degrees in Aerospace (including the Erasmus Mundus “THRUST” programme in turbomachinery), in Mechanics (including the Erasmus Mundus “EMship+ Advanced Design” programme in naval construction), in Electromechanics and Biomedical engineering, and it also contributes to the Engineering Physics Master's

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department University of Liège - ULiège Quartier Polytech - Allée de la Découverte 9 - B-4000 Liège Tel.: +32 (0)4 366 91 95/ +32 (0)4 366 95 59 E-mail: dept.am@uliege.be https://www.am.uliege.be