Dear students, The doors of the lecture halls are opening again. We would like to invite you to our courses. In addition to the basic modules Konstruktionslehre/Maschinenelemente II and IV, this semester you can attend the advanced modules Grundlagen der Tribologie, Kosten- und Ressourcenorientierte Produktentwicklung, Konstruktionsseminar (or Technische Produktentwicklung) and Maschinelles Lernen und Optimierung. Of…
In the research project FVA 956I ‘Design Method for Internal Knurled Interference Fits’, detailed investigations were undertaken into the static and cyclical transmission behaviour of internal knurling press fits. This shaft-hub connection is characterized by pressing a hardened hub with internal knurling onto an oversized, softer shaft, creating a form-fit and friction-fit contact zone. The…
The 14th Saxon Simulation User Meeting (SAXSIM) took place at Chemnitz University of Technology on 25 March 2025. The event once again provided a valuable platform for dialogue between science and industry with a clear focus on application-oriented research in the field of simulation. Our colleague Mr Stahr from the ‘Sustainable Products’ specialist group presented…
Research for the future: business trip with a clear focus The opportunity awaits at Chemnitz University of Technology for those wishing to drive science forward and develop real solutions for the future. Our research teams are working on ground-breaking innovations in the fields of tribology and sustainability, among others, as was highlighted at the last…
On 11 and 12 March 2025, two IKAT employees took part in the renowned CWD conference in Aachen – an important specialist event for application-related research in the field of wind power. The conference provided a platform for the exchange of information on highly topical issues in bearing and drive technology, tribology and sustainability. …
Our colleague Marko Ebermann from our research specialist group „Journal Bearings“ analyzes permissible form and position deviations of plain bearings. The change in the minimum lubrication gap height with respect to the nominal geometric bearing is determined by specifying the shape deviation (gap height field) with the use of an FE Reynolds solver. In the…
On 5 February 2025, IKAT’s Plain Bearings specialist group had a great time presenting new research topics and reporting on ongoing projects to the Project Support Committee (PA) for Plain Bearings of the FVA and FVV research associations. Mr. Friedrich spoke about the project status of the joint project with Clausthal University of Technology ‚Combined…
Diamond and ceramic particles are widely regarded as the gold standard for high coefficients of friction, yet frequently necessitate the implementation of additional coatings or inserts. However, specific laser structures that do not require supplementary components offer a novel alternative. The pivotal consideration is the selection of the most appropriate structure to achieve the desired…
On Tuesday, 4 February 2025, the IKAT Strength Division undertook an educational tour of the facilities at Härtetechnik & Metallbearbeitungs GmbH. The objective of the tour was to gain in-depth insight into the intricacies of surface layer hardening and to acquire process-specific knowledge for the future implementation of these processes in research projects.The tour commenced…
Feather key connections represent a prevalent type of shaft-hub connection. The primary advantages of this connection are its ease of manufacture and assembly, as well as its disassembly. The transmittable torque can be calculated using the German national standard DIN 6892, which is based on a critical pressure on the keyway of the shaft and…
We would like to thank the 5411 spectaros who took part in our Christmas tree experiment. During about 100,000 clicks, the axe was able to deliver about 50,000 hits of varying amplitude. The Christmas tree can be used for low cycle fatigue applications. The wood was more resistant than the welded specimen holder. We thank…
IKAT wishes a Merry a Christmas and a Happy New Year! We are pleased to welcome you again on 2nd January 2025.
On the occasion of the start of the priority project SPP2443 “Hybrid Decision Support”, the project participants met in Paderborn to get to know each other and exchange ideas with other research centres. Our colleague Leon J. Stahr from the “Sustainable Products” group represented IKAT and presented the “HYDRA” project together with colleagues from the…
We were thrilled to welcome Prof. Stephen Matope from Stellenbosch University to the Institute for Design and Drive Technology (IKAT). His visit provided an excellent opportunity for a deep scientific exchange on cutting-edge topics in our field. Thank you, Prof. Matope, for your inspiring insights and engaging discussions! Looking forward to future collaborations and continued…
On the 10th and 11th of December our Shaft-Hub-Connections/Fatigue Strength group attended the FVA conference in Würzburg. At the conference, the final results of our institute’s research projects are presented to an audience of academics and engineers from industry. IKAT presented projects in the field of inner-knurled press-fit connections and press-fit connections with hollow shafts,…
Sustainable materials are the focus of current research in mechanical engineering. To test the fatigue strength of wood, IKAT installed a new test bench during the Christmas period. The test bench consists of an axe and the specimen is a Christmas tree. We invite you to participate in our experiment to test the stability of…
IKAT presented the latest research results at the shaft-hub-connections working group, consisting of research centres and industry representatives, in Frankfurt am Main. Topics of various positive and frictional shaft-hub connections were presented in the context of their application. The results triggered lively discussions and form the basis for future applications. We would like to thank…
On 6 and 7 November, the VDI Symposium on Shafts and Shaft-Hub Connections took place in Garching near Munich, where IKAT was able to make a significant contribution to the conference with several presentations and posters. The IKAT presentations covered topics such as friction coefficient determination, fretting fatigue, knurled press-fit joints and sensor-integrated machine elements.…
The Sustainable Products group welcomes Mr. Stahr as a new member of staff. His subject area is the application of artificial intelligence, in particular deep learning, in the optimisation and design process. The artificial intelligence is intended to perform supporting tasks as well as generate geometries independently. Mr. Stahr studied Mechanical Engineering at Chemnitz University…
We congratulate Ms. Seltmann on her successful doctoral thesis on the topic: „Topologieoptimierung von pfadgenerierenden nachgiebigen Mechanismen mit selektiver Nachgiebigkeit und mehrfachem Pseudolaufgrad.“ In an engaging presentation, a new optimization approach for compliant mechanisms was introduced. Ms. Seltmann’s research provides important insights for the development of innovative solutions in engineering design. The results of her…
Discover the field of design engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology! Our Institute of Design Engineering and Drive Technology (IKAT) has an informative video aimed specifically at people who are interested in studying mechanical engineering. With a practical teaching concept and a wide range of courses, we offer students the opportunity to acquire comprehensive knowledge…
IKAT welcomes Mr Vivek Niel Jason Kanaparthy as a new member of staff. Mr Kanaparthy studied for a Master’s degree in Advanced Manufacturing at Chemnitz University of Technology, specialising in hybrid technologies. He completed his studies at Chemnitz University of Technology with his master’s thesis on „Numerical investigations into wear behaviour under fretting conditions“ and…
At this year’s SiME Congress, the IKAT presented an innovative machine element: the sensor-integrated key. This novel key is capable of directly measuring the torques acting on it and wirelessly transmitting the data to computers or smartphones. It offers great potential for future applications, particularly as an early warning system for detecting overloads. This development…
On 4 September 2024, IKAT took part in the Chemnitz company run with 12 employees. In addition to sporting ambition, the focus was on having fun. Mr. Zylla achieved the institute’s internal best time of 19:46 (233rd place overall for men). Team IKAT achieved a respectable 84th place in the overall rankings. The company run…
Mr Stahr was able to defend his Master’s thesis on „AI-assisted Topology Optimisation of Selective Compliant Mechanisms with Predictor-Evaluator Networks“ on 4 September. He introduced the topology optimisation of compliant mechanisms and tested a novel machine learning approach. We congratulate Mr Stahr on his Master’s degree!
Testing of material and components is one of the key competences at the IKAT at TU Chemnitz. Having the possibilities to test basic fatigue-related material characteristics up to complex assemblies on a variety of test benches enables us not only to achieve desired and interesting research results but also to support external customers facing challenges…
On Wednesday, August 28th, IKAT embarked on an impressive hiking and paddling tour around the city of Rochlitz and along the Zwickauer Mulde river. The tour took us up Rochlitzer Berg, where we caught sight of the famous “Lulatsch” from the observation tower. This shared activity provided a welcome break from our daily research routines…
The SHC/Strength research group welcomes Mr Marius Müller as a new member of staff. Mr Müller began his academic career with a bachelor’s and subsequent master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology. He specialised in design engineering. He focused on the calculation of components and then wrote his master’s thesis at IKAT…
The professorship says goodbye to its member of staff Silvano Giuseppe Oehme. Mr. Oehme was part of the tribology group and supervised projects on friction coefficient development and wear, among other things. Mr. Oehme was also responsible for cooperation with various partners in these areas. Mr. Oehme distinguished himself through his structured work and imaginative…
Excellent research is rewarded – Mr. Jonathan Schanner has achieved an outstanding result in this year’s competition for the Peter Watson Prize. After intense debate, the judges introduced a second prize for outstanding research, which was awarded to the IKAT scientist. The Peter Watson Prize was awarded by the EIS last month at the Fatigue…
Thin film polymers are increasingly being used in plain bearing systems due to their excellent sliding and emergency running properties. Due to the relatively low modulus of elasticity, these systems are designed with very thin layers. Otherwise, the negative properties of compliance, creep and poor heat transfer would predominate. However, the low layer thicknesses make…
Roller bearings are an essential component in machine systems. Point or line loads act in the bearing rings, which are superimposed with a rotation. The resulting elastic deformations of the bearing rings lead to a relative movement between the outer bearing ring and housing or inner bearing ring and shaft. This relative movement accumulates over…
Ms. Nettlenbusch attends the Design Society’s Summer School in Malta, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The school teaches methods for writing a dissertation. The focus is on the development of research questions and the extraction of research hypotheses. At the same time, methods for self-organisation and structuring the dissertation were taught. An interdisciplinary exchange…
The research issues associated with the fatigue strength of multi-axially loaded shaft-hub-connections (WNV) combine two important core topics that are continuously addressed at IKAT. On the one hand, complicated stress states, so-called non-proportional stresses, occur at the point of failure, which can only be evaluated using special strength hypotheses. In addition, tribological influencing variables, such…
From May 16-17, the WNV/strength section presented its research results at the PA AK WNV at TU Clausthal. In the domed building of the Aula Academica, topics of frictional and positive shaft-hub connections in particular were discussed and debated. The transfer of research into practice is an important function of the PA AK WNV, which…
The Dresdener Maschinenlemente Kolloquium took place from 14-15 May. IKAT – represented by Mr Muhammedi – presented the current status of the project „Sensor-integrated feather key„. We would like to thank you for the discussions and the exciting input during the conference. We look forward to the DMK 2026.
As part of a collaboration between IKAT and the Institute for Life and Earth Sciences at Heriot Watt University, Mrs. Nettlenbusch of the Product Development Department is conducting a research visit on Transition Engineering. The aim of the trip to Scotland is to gain a better understanding of Susan Krumdieck’s approach to Transition Engineering as…
Up to now, technical products have often been assessed for their full sustainability spectrum only after they have been developed. In the case of revolutionary products and disruptive developments, there is no generational development, so there is no information on the sustainability of previous generations. In the absence of information on previous generations, the assessment…
IKAT welcomes Dipl.-Ing. Maik Zylla as a new member of staff. Following his apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic and further education as a state-certified technician for mechatronics, he completed his degree in mechanical engineering at our university at the beginning of this year. During his studies, Mr Zylla specialised in design engineering and product development,…
The Institute of Design Engineering and Drive Technology (IKAT) is pleased to congratulate Mr. F. Kresinsky on his successful completion of his doctoral thesis on the topic of „Übertragunsverhalten torsionsbeanspruchter Passfederverbindungen.“ In his dissertation, Mr. Kresinsky describes various failure modes and causes of keyed connections under torsion, with a focus on failure due to shaft…
Here you can see the topology optimisation of a shape-adaptive compliant mechanism. Compliant mechanisms are characterised by the fact that they generate desired deformations through elastic distortions. The starting point for the design is a design space filled with finite elements. A topology optimisation approach developed at IKAT scales the stiffness of the finite elements…
At the 13th SAXSIM Conference in Chemnitz, Mr. Muhammedi presented a lecture on „Numerical Investigations into the strength of deep-rolled components under cyclic loads.“ The project, involving three research institutes – IKAT, IMM, and IF – focuses on analyzing the strength of deep-rolled components under cyclic loads through numerical simulations. Mr. Muhammedi explained the methods…
We analyse hydrodynamic plain bearings for form and position deviation using the ALP3T simulation tool (general bearing programme with three-dimensional temperature distribution). The picture shows a rotating form deviation in the form of a three-sided polygon. The pressure distribution is shown on the left and the temperature distribution on the right. The shaft and the…
In components under cyclic loads contacts, micro-slip movements lead to a local change in the coefficient of friction (coefficient of friction development), knowledge of which is essential for the consideration of numerous effects (fretting fatigue, vibration wear, rolling bearing migration, transmission capability, contact stiffness). In addition, the reserves of the components in the drivetrain are…
On 1 March 2024, Mr. Maik Zylla successfully defended his diploma thesis in front of an expert examination committee headed by Prof. Hasse. In his thesis ‚Investigation of the joining and torsional behaviour of combined press-fit and form-fit shaft-hub connections using the example of the external knurled press-fit connection‘, useful extension approaches for existing design…
In the field of drive technology, the demand for the backlash-free transmission of high power is increasingly being met by the use of combined force and form-locking shaft-hub connections. One representative, the internal knurled interference fit, is characterized in particular by the transmission of high power densities under static and cyclic loads, its functional integration…
The phenomenon of fretting fatigue that occurs in component joints is currently a major challenge in the service life assessment of components. The reason for this is a tribological stress component in the contact joint of the components, which prevails in addition to the obligatory fatigue stress. Depending on the material and the tribological parameters,…
The 10th Symposium „VDI Fachtagung Welle-Nabe-Verbindungen“ (external link) which deals with shaft-hub-connections will take place on 6 & 7 November in Garching near Munich. All topics relating to the wide range of shaft-hub connections will be presented at this conference, with a particular focus on design/dimensioning, strength verification, production and application, as well as current…
In cooperation with Dr Schierz, the publication „The Influence of Reverse Yielding on the Plastic Conditioning of Interference Fits in Power Transmission Engineering“ (external link) was published, which describes the reverse yielding of plastically preconditioned interference fits. It describes how large the plastic preconditioning may be without reverse yielding occurring.
Fretting fatigue is a major uncertainty factor in industrial applications. The cause is tribological damage in the component contacts, which results in an enormous reduction in fatigue strength. IKAT has been researching this phenomenon for over 20 years now in order to make it easier to assess and to formulate remedial measures. The test rig…