Abstract

On Friday 3rd May, we will welcome visitors from Prof Grega’s group from the Technical University in Kosice, Slovakia. They will showcase the research done in the group and their department. They will be keen to hear about the research topics pursued within the Division and to discuss potential collaboration (e.g. within the scope of EU Horizon Projects). Please join if you are interested.

The main theme of Professor Grega’s research is vibration mitigation in mechanical systems including drivetrains with combustion engines, generators, propellers, etc. The group holds patents for tunable pneumatic flexible couplings which can be actively adjusted on the run to match operating conditions, for instance, to achieve effectively-zero stiffness. This provides an improvement over traditional passive elements such as couplings and dual-mass flywheels which are only effective over a narrow frequency band. In addition to common experimental techniques (acceleration, noise, thermal measurements), the group is developing novel techniques such as spectral analysis of signals via measurements of electromagnetic fields.

In his capacity as the head of department, Professor Grega oversees a wide range of projects and activities. The department was instrumental in dismantling and decontaminating a decommissioned nuclear reactor. They pioneered the development of low-pressure hydrogen storage in metal hydride alloy tanks and showcased the system in prototypes of hydrogen-powered sports car and bus. The Prototyping and Innovation Centre is certified for additive manufacturing of aerospace components and medical implants (human and animal). Other notable areas of research include the use digital twins in logistics and virtual reality in design and manufacturing.