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Prof. Dr. Paolo Ermanni Institut f. Mechanische Systeme
Biography ------------------------- Paolo Ermanni has been full Professor of Professor of Composite Materials and Adaptive Structures at the ETH Zurich since April 1, 2003. Paolo Ermanni, born June 15, 1959, from Bissone (TI) studied Mechanical Engineering at the ETH Zürich. He received his Dr. sc. techn. degree at the ETH Zurich in 1990 under the guidance of Prof. Dr. M. Flemming. His research work was focusing on process technologies for highly integrated aircraft fuselage structures made of composite materials. He spent more than five years at DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus GmbH in Hamburg as a senior engineer and later on, as a project manager. At Airbus he was mainly dealing with structural and technological issues related to the realisation of a second generation of civil supersonic aircraft. In 1997 he took on a new challenge as a manager in the consulting firm A.T. Kearney in Milan. He was appointed associate professor at ETH Zurich in 1998. His interests focus on lightweight and adaptive structures made of composite and smart materials. Research is currently focusing on two areas. The first area includes design, modelling and characterisation of novel material systems and processes. A second focal point of the group is computational structural mechanics including the development of novel optimisation algorithms in conjunction with the numerical simulation of structures and manufacturing processes. The Centre of Structure Technologies is closely working together with different national and international research institutes and industries, seeking a well-balanced project portfolio of fundamental and applied projects. The research team of Paolo Ermanni has provided a number of valuable contributions in internationally recognised refereed journals. Paolo Ermanni is a member of the research commission of the EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research) and President of the Swiss Chapter of the Society for the SAMPE (Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering). |
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Dr. Peter Wierach Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems
Biography ------------------------- Peter Wierach, born April 1970, in Bremerhaven (DE) studied mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Braunschweig. He received his Doctoral degree at the Technical University of Braunschweig in 2009 under the guidance of Prof. Dr. E. Breitbach. In 1998 he started his career at the Institute of Structural Mechanics of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). He worked as a researcher in the department of Adaptronics in the area of smart materials and structures. From 2003 to 2008 he was the deputy head of the department of Adaptronics. In 2009 he became the head of the newly founded department of Multifunctional Materials at the DLR Institut of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems. Since 2012 he is also the vice director of the DLR Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems.
His research concentrates on the development, characterization and qualification of advanced composite materials. Especially the integration of new functionalities as a key to further enhance the competitiveness and application range of composite materials is a major focus. By adding nano-scaled particles the mechanical properties, processibility and fire resistance of composite materials are drastically enhanced. Beyond that, new functional materials with sensing and actuation capabilities as components for adaptive structures are investigated. Main application areas are Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), active noise and vibration control and morphing structures. Among others he is working in large European projects like SARISTU (Smart and Intelligent Airframe Structures), Cleans Sky and AFLONEXT (Aircraft flow control technologies).
Peter Wierach holds several patents in the area of adaptive structures and systems. DuraAct piezocomposite transducers offered by PI Ceramic GmbH are based on one of these patents. He is engaged in several international and national programs and organizations like the GARTEUR Group for structures and materials (Group for Aeronautical Research and Technology in Europe) within which he is the vice chairman. |
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INVITED SPEAKERS