The research programme of the  Materials Science and Engineering Department (DMSE)is branched in two different areas:
Metals Science and Technology and Mechanics of Materials.

The entire research programme aims to address materials engineering problems of a rather applied nature but rooted in the fundamental understanding of materials behaviour.
The programme is carried out in close collaboraton with external industrial and academic partners and aims to obtain the highest level of academic excellence through dissemination of results in peer reviewed scientific journals, international conferences, Master's and PhD theses.

Metals Science and Technology (MST)

The activities of the MST research group are closely related to the vast amount of logistic and experimental facilities present. Recently, heavy investments in modern state-of-the-art materials observation tools have been done, while mechanical properties can be determined by several experimental tools allowing to fully characterizing the material.

In combination with such sophisticated characterization techniques the MST group also has the disposal over an impressive laboratory with various facilities for manufacturing and testing metals. Hence, the entire chain of metallurgical research from manufacturing till observation and testing can be done in-house, which offers a truly unique environment for an academic research facility.

Mechanics of Materials and Structures (MMS)

The activities of the MMS research group are related to the experimental study and the numerical modelling of the mechanical behaviour of materials and structures. Although in principle all materials are being studied, most of the current work is related to the dynamic behaviour of composite materials. Thereto the group has extensive experimental facilities and extensive numerical possibilities.

The group is also involved in non-destructive material characterization, in continuous monitoring of structures by means of optical fibre sensors, as well as in general experimental mechanics.