ETH Research

D-MAVTDepartment of Mechanical and Process Engineering

Research

Departement Maschinenbau & VerfahrenstechnikDepartment of Mechanical & Process Engineering

DMAV TETH ZurichDepartment of Mechanical and Process EngineeringSonneggstrasse 38092 ZurichSwitzerlandwww.mavt.ethz.ch ET

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ContactETH ZurichDepartment of Mechanical and Process EngineeringSonneggstrasse 38092 ZurichSwitzerlandwww.mavt.ethz.ch

Links to Web-sites of Professors or InstitutesInstitute of Biomechanics www.biomech.ethz.chInstitute for Dynamic Systems and Control www.idsc.ethz.chInstitute of Energy Technology www.iet.ethz.chInstitute of Fluid Dynamics www.ifd.mavt.ethz.chInstitute of Mechanical Systems www.imes.ethz.chInstitute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems www.iris.ethz.chInstitute of Process Engineering www.ipe.ethz.chInstitute of Machine Tools and Manufacturing www.iwf.ethz.ch Institute of Virtual Manufacturing www.ivp.ethz.chProfessorship of Micro- and Nanosystems www.micro.mavt.ethz.chProfessorship of Nanotechnology www.nano.ethz.ch

Concept and OrganizationUlrike Schlachter-Habermann, Margot Fox-Ziekau

Realizationdigitworks

PhotosMaurice Haas, Ruth Erdt, Masha Roskosny and others

PrintingAbächerli Druck AG, Sarnen

© Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering2009, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

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Contents

Institute for Biomechanics 9• ProfessorRalphMüller 10• ProfessorJessSnedeker 12

Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control 15• ProfessorRaffaelloD‘Andrea 16• ProfessorLinoGuzzella 18

Institute of Energy Technology 21• ProfessorRezaS.Abhari 22• ProfessorKonstantinosBoulouchos 24• ProfessorWolfgangKröger 26• ProfessorChristophMüller 28• ProfessorHyungGyuPark 30• ProfessorDimosPoulikakos 32• ProfessorHorst-MichaelPrasser 34• ProfessorAldoSteinfeld 36

Institute of Fluid Dynamics 39• ProfessorPatrickJenny 40• ProfessorLeonhardKleiser 42• ProfessorThomasRösgen 44

Institute of Mechanical Systems 47• ProfessorJürgDual 48• ProfessorPaoloErmanni 50• ProfessorChristophGlocker 52• ProfessorEdoardoMazza 54

Institute of Process Engineering 57• ProfessorMarcoMazzotti 58• ProfessorSotirisE.Pratsinis 60• ProfessorPhilippRudolfvonRohr 62

Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems 65• ProfessorRogerGassert 66• ProfessorFumiyaIida 68• ProfessorBradleyNelson 70• ProfessorRobertRiener 72• ProfessorRolandSiegwart 74

Individual professorships and single professors 77Institute of Machine Tools and Manufacturing 78• ProfessorKonradWegener

Institute of Virtual Manufacturing 80• ProfessorPavelHora

Professorship of Micro- and Nanosystems 82• ProfessorChristoferHierold

Professorship of Nanotechnology 84• ProfessorAndreasStemmer

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Welcome

The Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT)D-MAVTisoneofsixteendepartmentsofETHZurichandtracesitshistorybacktotheopeningoftheUniversityin1855.TheDepartmentprovidesundisputedleadershipinmechanicalengineeringresearchandeducationinSwitzer-land,andiscurrentlythelargestengineeringdepartmentatETHinnumbersofstudents,staffandfaculty.D-MAVTalsoplaysanimportantroleinmakingETHaleadingengineer-inguniversityworldwide.TheDepartmentandthecurrentfacultyofthirtyoneprofessorsstrivestomaintainastronginternationalreputationinresearch.

ThisreportpresentscurrentresearchintheDepartment.Eachprofessor’sresearchactivitiesarepresentedindividually,andprofessorshipsthatcombineintolargerinstituteswhicharegroupedundertheirrespectiveinstitute.Institutesthatconsistofsingleprofessorshipsandprofessorsnotassoci-atedwithaninstitutearelistedindividually.Pleasedonothesitatetocontactprofessorsdirectlyifanyquestionsariseorclarificationsaredesired.

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Institute for Biomechanics

TheInstituteforBiomechanicsisamultidisciplinaryresearchunitdedicatedtothebiomechanicalinvestigationofthehumanbody.Undertwoprofessors,theInstitutetotalsap-proximately60members,includingfourfaculty,fiveseniorscientists,sevenpostdoctoralresearchers,andmorethanthirtydoctoralandgraduatestudents,plustechnicalandadministrativestaff(twosecretaries,amechanicalandanelectronicsspecialist,andthreeapprentices).TheInstituteforBiomechanicsinvestigatesthemechanicsandmaterialpropertiesofthemusculoskeletalsystem,aswellashumanmovement,fromamacroscopic(wholebody,organ)scaletoamicroscopic(cell)scale.Manydiseases,likeosteoporosis,arthritisormuscleatrophyleadtoreducedfunctionalityofthissystem.Additionally,thegrowthandagingprocessesdemandadaptationofthesystemasaresponsetofunction,asdotherequirementsofdailylife;i.e.work,leisure,andeven,inpeakperformance,sportsactivi-ties.TheInstitute’sinterestslieincharacterizingthematerialpropertiesofthetissues,thequantificationoftheiradapta-tionfrombirthtodeath,withdisease,andduetomechanicaldemands,aswellascomparingthekineticsandkinematicsofthefunctionalanddysfunctionalsystem.Monitoringriskatanearlystageofpathologicaldevelopment,andquantify-ingoptimaltreatmentandrehabilitationarecrucialforthehealthandwelfareofsociety.Withthisaim,theInstitutedevelops,refinesandusesbiomechanicalengineeringtoolsandconceptstoexploreandunderstandmusculoskeletalorganisation,whilemaintainingaphilosophyofrespectandcompassionforallhumanandanimallife.

TheInstituteforBiomechanicscomprisesfiveresearchdomains;BoneBiomechanics,SoftTissueBiomechanics,JointandImplantBiomechanics,Mechanobiology,andSportsandMovementBiomechanics.

Bone BiomechanicsThisresearchisconcernedwithultrastructuralassessmentofboneinrelationtoitsresponsetoloading,inordertobet-terunderstandthestructure-functionrelationship.Forthisreason3Dapproachesforquantitativebioimagingaswellasexperimentalandcomputationalmechanicsareinves-tigated.Furthermore,bonefractureasassessedbymicro-computedtomographyhasbeencombinedwithdiscretemicro-compressiontestinginordertounderstandfractureata3Dmicroscopicscale,anditsrelationshiptobonematerialcompositionandstructure.

Soft Tissue BiomechanicsSofttissuebiomechanicsincludesmuscles,tendons,liga-mentsandcartilage.Experimentalandcomputationalap-proachesareusedtomeasuretheinternalstructuraldynam-icsofthese,andmodelsaredevelopedtosimulatethis.Novelbioimagingapproachesarebeingdevelopedtostudythestructural,cellularandmolecularmechanismsunderlyingskeletalhomeostasis,pathologyandhealinginthesetissues.Investigationsfocusondiseasessuchasmuscleatrophy,andarthritis,aswellasmuscle,ligamentandtendoninjurymechanisms.

Joint and Implant BiomechanicsImplantlooseningisamajorcauseoffailure,soouraimistoprovideabetterunderstandingofimplantanchorageandstability.Forthatpurpose,peri-implantbonequalityisstud-ied;includingdeformationandfailureunderload,andhowstabilityandfailureareaffectedbybone-implantinterfacecharacteristics.Additionally,thesuccessofpostoperativeimplantationisstudiedwithrespecttoshoulder,kneeandankleprostheses,whereitcanprovidecriticalinformationforimprovedlongevity.

MechanobiologyThemechanicalloadingenvironmentisanimportantfactorregulatingbonemassandshape,aswellascellularresponse.Anunderstandingofthemechanismsgoverningthisadapta-tioncouldultimatelyleadtothedevelopmentofpharmaco-logicalagentswhichmimicthismechano-sensitiveresponse,therebyofferingnovelstrategiesforthemanagementofdisease.Anunderstandingofthecellularresponseaidstissueengineeringefforts.Skeletaltissueengineeringiscarriedout,wheresubstitutetissuesthatrestoreorimprovefunctionaredevelopedandconstructgrowthismonitored.

Sports and Movement BiomechanicsQuantificationofthemovementsofthehumanbodysuchaswalking,stairclimbing,running,orduringsportingactivitiesisthefocusofthisdomain.Specialinterestliesintheloadcondi-tionsonthemusculoskeletalsystem,andthedescriptionofchangesasaresultof(i)pathologyand(ii)shortandlong-termadaptationsduetointerventions(i.e.prostheses/orthoses).Thesystemisdescribedkinematically,usingoptical3Dmeasure-mentandsimultaneousmusclesignals.Kineticinformationisgatheredfromfiveforceplates,whichallowsinversedynamicmodelingforestimationofinternalloadingofthehumanbody.

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RalphMüllerisanAssociateProfessorofBiomechanicsattheDepartmentofMechanicalandProcessEngineeringandtheDirectoroftheInstituteforBiomechanicsatETHZurich.Bornin1964,inSchaffhausenSwitzerland,hestudiedelectricalengineeringatETHZurichwherehealsoreceivedhisPh.D.in1994.Subsequently,heservedasaProjectManagerforthemicro-computedtomographyprojectoftheEuropeanUnionConcertedActionBIOMED1.In1996,hemovedtoBoston,whereheservedasatenure-trackAssistantProfes-sorofOrthopedicSurgeryatHarvardMedicalSchoolandtheAssociateDirectoroftheOrthopedicBiomechanicsLabora-tory.Between2000and2006,hewasanSNFProfessorofBioengineeringattheInstituteforBiomedicalEngineer-ing,UniversityandETHZurich.Heisanauthorofover600refereedpublicationsininternationalscientificjournalsandconferences.Hehasreceivedanumberofawards,includingtheinauguralJohnHaddadYoungInvestigatorAward(1998)fromtheAmericanSocietyforBoneandMineralResearch(ASBMR)andAdvancesinMineralMetabolism(AIMM),aswellasthePromisingYoungScientistAward(1999)fromtheInternationalSocietyofBiomechanics(ISB).In2004,hewasnamedYoungLeaderbytheAmerican-SwissFoundation,andin2007,heandhisteamreceivedthePublicationGroupAwardfromtheGermanAcademyofOsteologicalandRheu-matologicalSciences.

Vision in Research and EducationProfessorMüller’sresearchaimsatprovidingabridgebetweenbiologists,whohavebroughtmolecularandcellularcom-ponentswithintherealmofengineering,andengineers,whohavebroughtthemethodsofmeasurement,analysis,synthesis,andcontrolwithintherealmofmolecularandcellbiology.Morespecifically,newdevelopmentsinbiomechani-calresearchareaimedatthequantificationandmodelingofthemusculoskeletalsystematthemolecular,cellular,andorganlevelincorporatingnovelprinciplesandtechniquesofbiomechanics,biomedicalimaging,biologicalsignalprocessing,andbiomodeling.Asaneducationalgoal,thegroupisinterestedinafastanddirecttranslationofknowledgefrombasicandappliedresearchintotheclassroom,providingstudentswithnoveltheoriesandmethodsofcutting-edgescience,aswellasastronginterestinthefieldofbiomedicalengineeringingeneral,andbiomechanicsspecifically.

Biological Quantification for Structure Function Assessment in BoneMicrocomputedtomographyisusedtoimageandquantifyboneinthreedimensionsprovidingresolutionsrangingfromafewmillimetersdowntoonehundrednanometers.Synchrotronlightcanalsobeusedtoexplorephenomenaonthenanoscopicscale.Thesesystemsallowrelativelyeasy,volumetricandnondestructiveaccesstotheultrastructureofbiologicalmaterialsforquantification.Onalargerscale,invivocomputedtomographycanbeusedtoassessstructure-functionrelationshipsinhumanbone,andcomputationalmodelsdevelopedinthelabcanimprovethepredictionofpatient-specificfracturerisk.Tounderstandhowbonefrac-turesarerelatedtochangesinarchitecture,wehavedevelopedimage-guidedtechniquesthatutilisemicro-bendingor-com-pressionincombinationwithimaging.Thisisabletoprovide3Dvisualisationandquantificationoffractureprogressionatthenanometerscale.

Institute for BiomechanicsProfessor Ralph Müller

Pictures from left to right:1:TheBoneCrusherdeviceenteringtheinvivoHR-pQCT,forimage-guidedfailureassessmentofhumanbone(80μmresolution);2:Micro-compressiondevicefordynamicimage-guidedfailureassessmentofbonefractureforusewithsynchrotronradiation-basedCT(350nmresolution);3:Remodelingresponseofvertebral

trabecularbonefromtheC5vertebraoftwomice,followingboutsof0N(left)or8N(right)mechanicalstimulation,respectively.Imagedusinginvivomicro-CT,(10μmresolution);4:Implant-boneinteractionforaparticularscrewimplantgeometry;5:Strainenergydensity(SED)calculatedbyanFEanalysisofaslabofthedistalhumanradiusasmeasuredbyin

vivoHR-pQCT;6:Micro-CTimageofasilkscaffold,(6μmresolution).

Implant Fixation in Osteoporotic BoneInclinicalorthopedics,implantstabilityisacriticalissue,particularlyinpatientswithlow-bonequality(e.g.oste-oporosis).ResearchinthegroupofProfessorvanLentheiscarriedoutwithaviewtosheddinglightonthisproblemandproposingstrategiesforimprovement.Forthatpur-pose,experimentaltime-lapsedimagingofbone-implantconstructsisusedtovisualizehowtheseconstructsdeform,wherefailureisinitiated,andhowthisleadstoimplantloosening.Thesedataarefurtheranalyzedwithcomputa-tionalmethodsusinghighlydetailedmodelsoftrabecularbonestructureandimplantgeometrywiththeaimtounderstandandquantifythemechanismsleadingtoimplantfailure.Weexpectthatthiscomputationalapproachwillprovidecriticalinformationtodefinenewsolutionsforimprovedimplantanchorageandlongevity.

A Model of Load-induced Bone Adaptation to Study Skeletal MechanobiologyMechanicalloadingisperhapsthesinglemostimportantphysiological/environmentalfactorregulatingbonemassandshape.Adecreaseinmechanicalusageoftheskeletonwillresultinboneloss,whileoverloadingresultsinboneformationandagaininbonemass.Verylittleisknownaboutthemechanismsinvolved,sotothatendwehaverecentlydevelopedamousemodeltostudythis,aswellasgeneticcontrolofmicrostructuralboneadaptation.Hereweobservedadoseresponseinbothtrabecularandcorticalbonefollowingregularboutsofmechanicalstimulation.Newresearchhasfocusedonsimulatingthisadaptationtounderstandthemechanicalregulationofbonestructurethroughbiologicalpathways.Thisprovidesopportunitiestomimicoraugmenttheresponsetomechanicalstimulationbypharmacologicalagentsandmayleadtonovelstrategiesformanagingbonepathologies,aswellastheassessingtreatmentstrategies.

Functional Outcomes in Tissue EngineeringTheneedforfunctionaltissuesubstitutesisincreasingastheworld’spopulationages.Organtransplantationandmechanicaldeviceshaverevolutionisedmedicalpracticebutstillhavelimitationssuchasavailability,biocompati-bilityandhostacceptance.Methodscurrentlybeingusedincludeconduction(byascaffold)andinduction(bybioactivemolecules)ofcellmigrationtorepairrelativelysmalldefects,andcelltransplantationintothedefectsite(withorwithoutbiomaterial)torepairlargerdefects.Eventhesemethodsareofteninadequatebecauseofthecomplexityofthestructurethatmustbereplaced.Inourgroupwespecialiseinthemeasurementoffunctionaloutcomesintissueengineer-ingandregenerativemedicineaswellasthedevelopmentofoptimisedbioreactorsforbiomechanicalstimulationoftissuecultures.

Measuring and Modeling Single Myofibrils and Whole Muscle SystemsInthisgroup,investigationofthemechanicsofwhole-bodymusclesystemsandsinglemusclefibresiscarriedoutonthecellularandsubcellularlevel.Thegoalistounderstandbasiceventsatthecompositemechanicallevelofan‘active’biologicalmaterial.Onamacroscopicscale,thepoweroutputofthehumanmuscularsystemduringcyclingisdetermined.Theaimistotestexistingtheoreticalmodelswithrespecttomaximumperformancefromamechano-physiologicalpointofview.Onamicroscopicscalesinglemusclemyofibrilexperimentsareperformed,andsophisticatedmicroscopytechniquesareusedtodescribethedynamicsofapopula-tionofhalf-sarcomeres.Theresponseduringactivation,relaxation,stretchandreleaseprovidethemainconceptsinanalysingandmodelingthemechanicsofasinglemyofibrilorabundleofmyofibrils.

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Institute for BiomechanicsProfessor Jess Snedeker

JessSnedekerisaDualProfessorattheETHZurichDepart-mentofMechanicalEngineeringandtheUniversityofZurich,DepartmentofOrthopedics.HisresearchgroupislocatedattheUniversityHospital,Balgrist,incloseproximitytoorthopedicpatientsandtheirsurgeons.ThustheprojectsundertakenandrealizedwithinProfessorSnedeker’sgroupareclinicallymotivatedandseektodevelopimprovedsurgi-calandtherapeuticapproaches.ProfessorSnedekerreceivedhisBSc.inMechanicalEngi-neeringfromLehighUniversityin1995.Afterseveralyearsinindustrialresearchanddevelopment,hereturnedtoacademiatoearnhisMSc.inBioengineeringfromPennStateUniversityin2000,andhisdoctorateinMechanicalEn-gineeringfromtheETHZurichin2004.HewasappointedasAssistantProfessorattheUniversityofZurichinSeptember2006,andtotheETHZurichinAugust2008.TheSnedekergroupfocusesonthedevelopmentofnumericalmodelsofbiologicalsystemsandthemulti-scale(macro-,micro-,nano-scale)experimentsrequiredtovalidatethem.Thegrouphasauthoredover50refereedpublicationsininternationalscientificjournalsandconferenceproceedings,andhasreceivedvariousinternationalawardsfortheirwork.

Clinical Biomechanics: Systematically Improving Today’s Treatments Today’sorthopedicsurgeryofferspainreliefandareturntofunctionfromawiderangeofdegenerativeskeletaldis-orders.However,surgicaltechniquesandtechnologiesareconstantlyevolvingandcertainjoints(liketheshoulder)arebesetbysomepersistentproblemsthathavenoadequatetherapeuticsolution.Weseektofillthesegapsthroughthedevelopmentoffreshclinicalconcepts.Aconsiderablepartofclinicalinnovationissuesfromtheoperatingroomitselfandourgroupactivelycollaborateswithin-housesurgeonstodevisenewtreatments,testtheirpotentialefficacy,anddevelopthemintopracticabletherapeuticapproaches.Weexamineclinicalproblemsandpotentialsolutionsinquantitativeterms,applyinghigh-precisionmeasurementtechniquesandhigh-resolutioncomputationalmodelstoidentifyandexplorethemostim-portantbiological/clinicalfactorsatwork.Forexample,wehaveperformedparametricmodelingstudiesofosteotomydesign,quantifyingthebiomechanicalconsequencesofcutgeometryonthewaythatbonesarelikelytobearloadpost-operativelyandeventuallyheal.Wehavealsoinvestigatedvariouscommerciallyavailablejointprostheses,criticallyevaluatingimplantsystemswithregardtorobustnessofprimaryfixationinbone,mechanismsforlong-termim-plantloosening,andbiomechanicalconsequencesonjointfunction.

Tendon Structure and Function: Understanding the Processes of Disease, Injury and Healing Tendondisorderscontinuetobeamongthemostcom-monmedicalconditionsforwhichtreatmentissought,andtheyareassociatedwithhugesocietalandeconomiccosts.Likemanyskeletaltissues,tendonhasalowbloodsupplyandhealspoorlyasweincreaseinage.Injuriesofcertaintendonslikethoseoftherotatorcuffmusclescanseriously

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Pictures from left to right:ResearchonsurgicaltechniquesattheBalgristUniversityHospital;Experimentalmodelsofrotatorcufftear;Healingtendontobone;3Dultrastructuralmodelsoftendon;Cellmechanicsexperimentsandmodels.

compromiseanindividual’sabilitytoperformdailyactivitiesanddrasticallyreducequalityoflife.Unfortunately,manycasesoftendoninjurycannotbeadequatelytreatedbyeventhebesttherapiesavailable.TheSnedekergroupisinterestedindevelopingadvancedtendontherapiesthroughabasicunderstandingofhowatendonderivesitsfunctionalpropertiesfromitsmolecularconstituents.Specifically,weareinterestedinhowtendoncellssenseandinterpretmechanicalforces,andrespondtothoseforcesbythecreationoftheextra-cellularmatrixthatgivestendonitsfunctionalintegrity.Ourworkcentersonthebeliefthatmolecularcross-linkingofcollagenholdsalargetherapeuticpotentialthathasyettobesufficientlyexploited.Toexplorethepotentialfunctionalimpactofcollagencross-linking,wehavedevisedlarge-scalenumericalmodelsoftendonsattheproteinlevel,andarevalidatingthesemodelswithappropriateexperiments.Throughthehelpofsmallanimalmodels,wearealsocharac-terizingthebiologicalsequencesoftendonhealing,hopingtoidentifycriticalcell-sensingmechanismsandcell-signalingpathwaysthatmaybeaugmentedthroughtherapeuticintervention.Thenatureofthisaugmentationcanbethroughmicro-designedbiomaterialsthatprovidespecificmechanicaland/orbiochemicalcuestohealingcellsthatstimulatetissuegrowthandformationofarobustandsustainableextra-cellu-larmatrix.TheSnedekergroupisengagedinactivecollabora-tionswithbiomaterialscientiststoattainthesegoals.

Cell Mechanics in Disease Diagnosis and Regenerative MedicineItisbecomingincreasinglyclearthatstaticanddynamicforcesplaykeyrolesintheextremelycomplexbiochemicalandbiophysicalprocessesthatunderliecellfunction.Cellmechanicscanbeinvolvedinaberrantcellprocesseslyingattherootsofdisease,butalsoofferopportunitiesasfocalpointsfortherapeuticintervention.

TheSnedekergroupiscreatingnovelexperimentalandcomputationalplatformsforquantifyingcellularlevelforces(cell-matrixinteractions)andhowcellsrespondtothoseforces(celldifferentiation,proteinsynthesis,andextra-cellularmatrixproduction).Thisworkisperformedwiththelongertermaimofapplyingcell-mechanicswithinatissue-engineeringframeworktointelligentlyguidecellstoregeneratetissuesofimprovedmechanicalcompetencyandlongtermviability.Wealsofocusontheuseofcellmechanicsasadiagnosticandresearchtoolforcharacterizingdiseaseslikeosteosar-coma(bonecancer).Cancermetastasisdependsonchangesinfunctionalcellbehaviorssuchasadhesionandmigra-tionthatareassociatedwithchangesincellphenotypiccellelasticityandviscoelasticity.Alargepartofthegroupisdedicatedtodevelopinguniquetoolstocharacterizecellpropertiesin2Dand3Dculture,aswellasin vivo.

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Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control

TheInstituteforDynamicSystemsandControl(IDSC;for-merlytheMeasurementandControlLaboratory)isheadedbyProfessorR.D‘AndreaandProfessorL.Guzzella,andofferstencoursesintheundergraduateandgraduateprogram.Visitingscholarsandstudentsfromaroundtheworldcom-plementourteamof40+researchersandstaff.

IDSCgraduateshaveasolidunderstandingoffeedback,dynamicsandcontrol.Theymustalsobeabletoworkwithspecialistsinotherfields.Ourpedagogicalenvironmentencouragesteamworkandmultidisciplinarycollaborationtohelppreparestudentsforbothworkplaceandacademicsuccess.Studentsareengagedinresearchintheearlystagesoftheircurriculumandaregraduallyledtowardmorechallengingproblemsandindependentresearch.Highlymotivatedstudentswhoenjoyworkingwithotherswillfindlike-mindedcolleaguesinourlab.

Main Research Areas

Fromaerialvehiclestocombustionengines,multi-robotsystemsandeventhehumanbody,researchindynamicsandcontroliscrucialtotheefficientmonitoring,controlanddesignofcomplexsystems.Buildingonfirstprinci-plesinmathematicsandphysics,webringamodel-basedapproachtoawiderangeofenvironmental,commercial,social,biomedicalandexperimentaldesignchallenges.

InnovationiscriticaltoourresearchatIDSC.Cutting-edgecontroltheory,state-of-the-artmodelingandnoveldesignareatthecentreofeachprojectweundertake.Ourresearchportfolioincludesprojectsinthefollowingareas:

• Modeling, optimization and control of unmanned aerial vehicles. Despiteadvancesinsensors,actuatorsandembed-dedcomputation,experiencedpilotscanstilleasilyoutper-formautopilotsystems.Weareactiveinthedevelopmentofnewalgorithmstominimizethisgap.Ourobjectiveistodevelopsystemscapableofguidingmultipleagilevehiclesintocomplex,acrobaticflightformations.

• Design and control of autonomous, multi-robot systems.Inapplicationsrangingfromsoccer-playingrobotsto‘intel-ligent’warehouseswithhundredsofautonomousrobots,weusetoolssuchasoptimalcontrol,adaptivecontrol,nonlinear

optimizationanddistributedestimationtocreatecooperativemobilesystemscapableofcopingwithchangingconditionsandimprovingtheirperformanceovertime.

• Modeling, optimization, and control of internal combustion engine systems.Ouraimistoreducepollutantemissionsandfuelconsumptioninenginesystemsbydevelopingnewsen-sorsandactuators,aswellason-lineandoff-line(numerical),optimizationandcontrolsystems.

• Modeling, optimization, and control of novel vehicle propulsion systems.Hybrid-electricandfuelcellsystemscanbecombinedwithnewvehicledesignstodrasticallyreducefuelconsumption.Suchinnovationscanbefurtherenhancedbyinterconnectingthemwithterrestrialandsatellitenaviga-tionandcommunicationsystems,vehicle-to-vehiclelinks,andadvancedcomputationcapabilities.

• Modeling, optimization, and control of energy conver-sion systems. Traditionalenergyconversionsystemssuchasgasturbines,fuelreformersandheatpumpsarestillalongwayfrommeetingtheirefficiencypotential.Ourobjectiveistoequipthesesystemswithnovelsensing,actuating,andcomputationdevicestooptimizefuelefficiencyandreduceemissions.

• Innovating controls research by making public art.Weusestate-of-the-artcontrolalgorithmstobuilddynamicartinstallationsforpublicdisplay.Theseprojectsareourplay-groundforinnovativeresearchandhelpuspushtheboundaryofwhatispossiblewithcontrolalgorithmsinthebroadestsense.Examplesincludesystemswithmanyinterconnectedcomponents,self-organizingsystems,andsystemsthatlearnfromexperienceandimprovetheirperformanceovertime.

Acompletelistofourprojectscanbefoundathttp://www.idsc.ethz.ch.

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Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control Professor Raffaello D‘Andrea

RaffaelloD’AndreahasbeenFullProfessoratETHZurichsince2007.HereceivedtheBSc.degreeinEngineeringSciencefromtheUniversityofTorontoin1991,andtheMSc.andPh.D.degreesintheDivisionofEngineering&AppliedSciencefromtheCali-forniaInstituteofTechnologyin1992and1997.Hewasaprofes-soratCornellUniversityfrom1997to2007.ProfessorD’Andrea’scontributionsrangefromthehighlytheoreticaltotheveryap-plied,andincorporatemathematics,physics,computerscience,technologicalinnovationsandart.HereceivedaUnitedStatesPresidentialEarlyCareerAwardin2002forhis‚«TheoreticalandExperimentalAdvancesintheRobustControlofFeedbackSystems».HeistherecipientoftwobestpaperawardsfromtheAmericanAutomaticControlCouncilandtheIEEE,haswonaNationalScienceFoundationCareerAward,andhasreceivedseveralteachingawardsintheareaofproject-basedlearning.HewasthefacultyadvisorandsystemarchitectoftheCornellRobotSoccerTeam,four-timeworldchampionsattheinter-nationalRoboCupcompetitioninSweden,Australia,Italy,andJapan.HeisalsooneofthefoundersoflogisticsandroboticscompanyKivaSystems.HisworkhasbeenfeaturedonScientificAmericanFrontiersandtheDiscoveryChannel,attheSmithso-nian,theTechMuseumofInnovation,andtheSpoletoFestival.ExhibitionsincludetheVeniceBiennale,theLuminatoFestival,ArsElectronica,ideaCity,andtheNationalGalleryofCanada.

Control of Distributed, Autonomous SystemsWeareonthethresholdofbeingabletoplacesensorsevery-where.Thishasbeenprecipitatedinpartbythecontinuedrapidadvancesinsensortechnology,whichwillallowustoembedsensorsrangingfromthenano-scaletothemacro-scaleonalmostanyphysicaldevice,ataneconomicallyviablecost.Fortunately,computingandcommunicationstechnol-ogyhavebeenkeepingpacewithsensortechnology,andalltheingredientsarethereformajorbreakthroughsinthenearfutureinhowweinterfaceto,andcontrol,ourenvironment.Seriouschallenges,however,mustbeovercome.Oneofthemostsignificantoftheseisthepresentdifficultyinmakingappropriatedecisionsbasedondistributedinfor-mationacrossadistributednetwork.Toputthisincontext,itiswellknownthattwosimpledynamicsystemscanexhibitcomparativelycomplexbehaviorwheninterconnected;thepresentchallengeistoeffectivelydesignandcontrolsystemswithmanyinterconnectedcomponents.

Partofourresearcheffortsareaimedatdevelopingnewtoolsfordesigningandcontrollingsystemssuchasthese.Theemphasisisontoolsforsystemsgovernedbydiffer-entialanddifferenceequations,bothlinearandnonlinear,withalargenumberofcomponents,andinterconnectedthroughnetworksofstructuredconnectivity.Examplesarevariedandincluderegularinterconnectionstructuresforsystemsdefinedonlattices,andsparsestructuresforsystemswithlimitedconnectivitysuchasvehicleplatoons,‘’smart’’materialswithembeddedactuation,aircraftflyinginformations,andpowerdistributionsystems.Semi-definiteprogrammingalgorithmscanbebroughttobearontheseproblems,resultingincomputationallytractablealgorithmsforsystemanalysisandcontroldesign.Othertoolsincludeoptimalcontroltocreatemotionprimitives,adaptivecontrolandmachinelearningtoimprovesystemperformanceovertimeandtocopewithchangingconditions,anddistributed

estimationtobuildmodelsoftheenvironmentfrommulti-ple,error-pronesources.Theunderlyingarchitectureofthesesystemsiscrucialtotheirsuccess.Tobeeffective,theymustbemodular,easytoadapt,andallowalargenumberofindividualstoconcurrentlydevelopthem.Thisiswhy,fromapedagogicalperspective,wehaveadoptedamulti-disciplinaryteam-basedapproachformanyofourprojects:individualslearnhowtocreatemodularsubsystemsthatcaneasilyinterfacewiththesubsystemscreatedbyothermembersoftheirteam,andintheprocessac-quireasolidunderstandingoffeedback,dynamicsandcontrol.Thiskindof‘buildingblock’approach–whereeachself-con-tainedsubsystemcanbeeasilyputtousebynon-experts–iscrucialtoeffectivesystemsengineering,whereindividualsacrossmanyfieldsmustcollaborate,wheremanufacturabilityandmaintainabilityarekey,andwherepredictioncangreatlysimplifytheinterfacebetweentherobotsandthehigh-levelalgorithmsthatultimatelycontrolthem.

High Performance Autonomous Flying VehiclesHumanbeingslearnfromexperience:whenwetrysome-thingandfail,wetrydoingitadifferentwaythenexttimearound.Andweareincrediblyefficientatthisprocess.Wearesoadept,infact,thatwhenitcomestolearningcomplexactivitiessuchasracingacarorplayingaviolin,wecaneasilyout-performautomatedsystems.Thisiswhyweuseautopilotprogramsfortheroutineaspectsofflyingaplane(suchascruising,take-offandlanding),butwhywestillneedhumanpilotstohandleunexpectedeventsandemergencies.

Wearecurrentlydevelopingalgorithmsthatwillnarrowthelearninggapbetweenhumansandmachines,andenableflightsystemsto‘learn’thewayhumansdo:throughpractice.Ratherthanprogrammingtheseflightsystemswithdetailedinstructions,wecombinecontrolconceptssuchasOptimalEstimationandControl,TrajectoryControl,andIterative

LearningControl,withcomputerscienceconceptssuchasMachineLearningandArtificialIntelligencetoenableoursystemstolearnfromexperience.Concurrently,wearedevel-opingnewdistributedplanningtechniquesbasedonmotionprimitivesthatguaranteecollision-freeflightinthepresenceofdisturbancesandcommunicationnon-idealities.Thenextlogicalstepistonetworkourflightsystems,sothattheycanlearnfromeachother,andeventuallyperformsophisticated,coordinatedflightmaneuvers.

Dynamic InstallationsIntoday’sworld,engineering,science,andmathematicsareessentiallyutilitarian,andresearchintheseareasisexpectedtohavedirectsocietalrelevance.Unfortunately,«utilitarian»oftenmeans‚«forthebenefitofconsumerism»,andnarrowmetricsaretypicallyusedtogaugesocietalrelevance.

Wehaveanincredibleopportunitytopushtheboundaryofwhatispossiblewithcontrolalgorithmsinthebroadestsensewhenweremovethepurpose-drivenobjectivestypi-caltoengineeringfromourresearchagenda.Novelideasareoftendiscoveredinanunrestrainedenvironment,andtoencourage‘out-of-the-boxthinking’,webringcreativ-itytoourresearchbybuildingdynamicartinstallationsforpublicdisplay.Oureffortsaregearedtowardsusingmo-tiondesigntoexploretheinterfacebetweenmathematics,physics,engineering,andart.Oneofourresearchaimsistoaugmentmodel-basedcontroldesignwithlearningandadaptationtoprovideaflexiblemethodologyfordesigninghigh-performance,robustsystems.Intheprocess,studentsareexposedtoSystemsEngineering,withanemphasisonsystemanalysis,design,andintegration.Theylearnskillssuchasrequirements-drivendesign,manufacturability,maintain-ability,modelingandsimulationofdynamicsystems,andacquireanunderstandingoftheinterplaybetweensystemdesign,controldesign,andsimulation.

Pictures from left to right:1)KivaSystems‘„Intelligent“warehouse,wherefleetsofautonomousmobilerobotsusedistributedintelligencetoefficientlymanageinventory;2)TheRoboticChair,achairthatfallsapartandthenautonomouslyreassemblesitself...acollaborationwithartistsMaxDeanandMattDonovan;

3)TheDistributedFlightArray,usedtotestdistributedestimationandcontrolalgorithms;4)Mathematicalabstractionsofregularlyinterconnectedsystems;5)TheBalancingCube,usedtotestdistributedestimationandcontrolalgorithms;6)Aquadrocoptor,usedtodevelopthemodeling,optimizationandcontrolofunmannedaerialvehiclescapable

ofcoordinatedflightmaneuvers.

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Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control Professor Lino Guzzella

LinoGuzzellaisamemberoftheInstituteofDynamicSystemsandControlatETHZurich,wherehehas,since1999,heldtheChairofThermotronics.Afterreceivinghismechanicalengineeringdiplomain1981andhisdoctoraldegreein1986fromETH,heheldseveralpositionsinindus-try(R&DteamleaderatSulzerBrothers,WinterthurandR&DmechatronicsdepartmentheadatHilti,Schaan)andinacademia(electricalandmechanicalengineeringdepart-mentsatETHandHondaVisitingProfessoratOhioStateUniversity).Hisresearchgroupfocusesonnovelapproachesinsystemdynamicsandcontrolofenergyconversionsystems,withcontrol-orientedsystemsmodelinganddynamicoptimi-zationandfeedbackcontroldesignasthemainareasofresearch.Aparticularemphasisisplacedonminimizingfuelconsumptionandpollutantemissioninlandvehiclepropul-sionsystems.ProfessorGuzzellaisaFellowandaMemberoftheboardofIFACandanAssociateEditoroftheJournalControlEngi-neeringPractice.HeisaMemberoftheSwissAcademyofEngineeringandaMemberoftheCTICommitteeonEngineeringSciences.Heisalsoaconsultanttovariousau-tomotivecompaniesandholdsseveralpatentsintheareaofautomotiveresearch.

Model-Based Adaptive and Cylinder Individual Air/Fuel Ratio Control Asitagesoverthecourseofitslifetime,anengine’sair/fuelratiosensorundergoesasubstantialchangeinitsdynamics.Tosomeextent,arobustcontrollercanmitigatethischange.Theresultingincreaseddemandsonthesystem,however,canreduceitsoverallperformance.Thegoalofthisprojectistodesignacontrollercapableofdealingwithchangesoftheair/fuelsensordynamicswithoutsacrificingoverallsystemperformance.Ourcontrolstrategyidentifieschangesinsensordynamicsandadaptsitsparametersaccordingly,ultimatelysupercedingtheneedforglobalrobustnessandcircumventingthesystemperformanceproblem.

Emission-Controlled Diesel EngineDieselenginesaremorefuelefficientthanotherengines,buttheirpollutantemissionsmustbesubstantiallyreducedtomeetfutureenvironmentalstandards.Toachievethisaim,robustandaccuratecontroloftheengineiscritical.Enginevariabilityandageingmustalsobedealtwith,andinformationaboutexhaustgasmustbeintegratedintotheemissioncontrolloop.Thisprojectfocusesonthedevelop-mentofcontrol-orientedenginemodelsandflexiblecontrolstructuresthatuseintegratedsensorinformationtomini-mizeemissions.

Optimized Control of Standard and Plug-In HEVsHybridelectricvehicles(HEVs)promiseexcellentfuel-effi-ciencywithoutsacrificingvehicleperformanceorpassengercomfort.Becausetheyhavemorethanonepowersource,however,thesevehiclesarecomplexand,fromacontrolsperspective,posesignificantadesignchallenge.Thisprojectfocusesonthedevelopmentofcontrolstrategiescapableofmanagingcomplexsystemssuchasthese.Ourstrategyalsomakesuseofdynamicprogrammingtohandleissuessuchascomponentsizing.

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Pictures from left to right:Glowingthree-waycatalyticconverterduringcontrollertestConfigurationofthedynamicdieselenginetestbench;Particletrackingvelocimetry,measurementsoftheCSF-Phantom;

PAC-CarIIontheracetrackduringtheShellECO-marathoninNogaro/F

Pneumatic Hybrid Engine for Fuel Consumption ReductionHereatIDSCwehavebuilttheworld’sfirstfully-functionalhybridpneumaticengine.Usingcompressedairasanenergybuffer,ourengineissubstantiallysmallerthanaconventionalinternalcombustionenginewiththesamepower.Theresult:a30%improvementinfuelefficiencyoverconventionalengines,andexcellentdriveability.Becausetheyrequirenobatteriesorelectricmotors,hybridpneu-maticvehiclesofferanaffordablealternativetothehybridelectricvehicle.

Monte Rosa HutTheMonteRosaHutisacollaborativeprojectdesignedwithsustainabilityinmind.Usingphotovoltaicsystemswithlargebatterycapacity,solarpanelswithhot-waterreser-voirs,andacogenerationpowerplant,theMontaRosaHutcanhostupto125guestswithminimalenvironmentalim-pact.Withsomanyinteractingenergyandstoragesystems,however,theMontaRosahutposesasignificantcontrolchallenge.AtIMRTwearedevelopingwaystooptimizetheinteractionsofthevariousenergysystems,storagesystems,andthepeoplethatusethem.

Optimal Control of CablesBecauseoftheirlowdampingandlonglength,cablesonlargespancable-stayedbridgesarepronetopotentiallydamagingvibrations.Fortunately,promisingnewfeedback-controlledmagnetorheologicaldampingsystemsareunderdevelopmenttopreventprematurematerialfailurewithincableanchorsystems.Thebehaviourofbothdamperandcablearecomplex,however,andanintelligentdampingsys-temisneeded.Thegoalofthisprojectistocreatearobustandaccuratenon-linearmodelofsuchasystem.

Smart-Shunt ProjectThistransdisciplinaryprojectaimsatconductingthebasicresearchnecessaryforthesubsequentdevelopmentofasmartcerebrospinalfluid(CSF)shuntfornormalpressurehydrocephalus(NPH).NPHismostcommonlytreatedbythesurgicalplacementofaventriculoperitonealshuntthatdrainsCSFfromthepatient’sventricularspacetotheperito-nealarea.TheIDSCcontributestotheprojectwiththedesignofaSmartShuntfunctionalmodel,andthedevelopmentofacontrolalgorithmthatregulatesCSFdrainage.

Modeling and Control of Three-Way CatalystsThree-waycatalystshavebeenthemostsuccessfulex-haustgasaftertreatmentsystemsformanyyearsalready.Conversionratesofover98%arereachediftheexhaustgasesremainveryclosetostoichiometry.Basedonrecentlydevelopednonlinearcatalystmodels,novelfeedforwardandfeedbackalgorithmsarebeingdevelopedthatallowcompen-satingformostofthedetrimentaleffectsoccurringduringfuelcut-offandheavyaccelerations.

Formula HybridFormulaHybridisaninternationalcompetitionchallengingstudentstodesign,buildandracehigh-performance,plug-inhybridvehicles.Minimizingenergyconsumptionisakeypartofthedesignobjective.Projectmanagement,fundraisingandsafetyassessmentalsocomeintoplay.In2008,hyb-a,thefirstFormulaHybridvehiclefromETHZ,wontheFormulaHybridcompetitioninItaly.

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Institute of Energy Technology

Main Research AreasThecontinualdriveforefficientuseofournaturalresourcesnecessitatesimprovementsintheefficiencyofcurrentandfuturepowergenerationandairtransportationsystems.TheLaboratoryforEnergyConversion(LEC)hasformanydecadesbeenoneoftheleadersinresearchandteachingrelatedtoturbomachinery.ThecurrentturbomachineryactivitiesofLECspanabroadrangeofmultidisciplinaryfields,includingman-agementandcontrolofflows,thermalmanagement,aero-elasticity,instrumentation,aswellasmodel-basednumeri-caldesigntools.Thedevelopmentofwindenergythroughexperiments,computationandeconometricmodelingisalsoundertakenatLEC.Leveragingourexperienceinthermalandflowmanagement,LECisalsoengagedintheresearchanddevelopmentofalaser-produced-plasmaextremeultravioletsourceforthemanufactureofnextgenerationsemiconductors.

TheAerothermochemistryandCombustionSystemsLabora-toryisengagedinresearchinchemicallyreactiveflowswithemphasisonunsteadyturbulentcombustion.Thelong-termvisionaimsattherealizationofzero-emissioncombustionsys-temsfortransportationandpowergeneration,wherebiogenic/syntheticfuelsalsoplayarole.Tothisendbothmodelingandsimulationofreactiveflows(fromDNSoverLEStoRANS)andnon-intrusivediagnosticsinopticaltestrigsandrealenginesarecarriedout.Inthisway,keythermochemicalflowparam-etersareobtainedwithhighspatialandtemporalresolution.

TheLaboratoryofSafetyAnalysisprovidesadvancedtech-niquesandtoolstomodel,analyze(simulate)andevalu-atelarge-scaletechnicalsystemswhichhavewitnessedamuchgreaterandtighterintegrationandinterdependenceamongthem.Thescopeofanalysishasbeenextendedfromreliabilityandrisktovulnerabilityissuesandtoanincreas-ingsetofthreats.Themethodsareappliedtoenergysupplysystemsandothercomplexcriticalinfrastructures,alsotoincreasetheirrobustnessandtosupportthedevelopmentofprotectivestrategies.

ResearchintheLaboratoryofEnergyScienceandEngineeringisaimedatapplyingafundamentalunderstandinggainedfromlaboratory-scaleexperiments,togetherwithappropri-atemathematicalmodeling,totheindustrialchallengesofgeneratingelectricityinefficientandsustainableways.ThethreemainresearchareasoftheLaboratoryofEnergyScienceandEngineeringare:(i)sustainableenergygeneration,(ii)heterogeneousreactionengineeringand(iii)fundamentalsofmulti-phasegranularsystems.

TheprogramofNanoscienceforEnergyTechnologyandSustainabilitywillfocusonfundamentalsciencesofnano-materialsandtheirapplicationstoenergytechnologyandsustainability,throughdevelopmentofhierarchicalnanoman-ufacturingtechniquesthatcanbridgenano-,micro-andmes-oscales.Carbonnanotubenanofluidicsforenergytechnologywillbethemainthrustoftheprogram.

TheresearchfocusattheLaboratoryofThermodynamicsinEmergingTechnologiesisoninterfacialandtransportphenom-enainemergingenergyconversionandtransporttechnologies,includingbiomedicaltechnologies.Weoftenaimatbridgingthegapbetweenthemolecularlevelandthemacroscopicdo-main.Examplesofrelevanttechnologiesare:Micro-andnano-scaleenergyconversionandtransportintransportablefuelcellandsolarcellbasedpersonalpowersystems,manufacturingandliquid-coolingofmicro-,nano-,andhigh-densityelectron-icsinthenewgenerationofsupercomputersforzeroCO2emissiondatacenters,biomedicaltechnologiesandmodelingforthehumanbody,andnanoelectromechanicalsystems.

TheresearchoftheLaboratoryofNuclearEnergySystemsaimstosupportasafe,reliableandeconomicutilizationofnuclearpower.Theemphasisisputonthermalfluiddynamicmodeling.Tothisend,thelaboratorydevelopsflowmeasuringinstrumentation,performsexperimentsforthemodeldevelop-ment,andcontributestotheimprovementofcomputercodes.Itpromotestheapplicationofmodernmethods,suchas3Dsimulationsandnovelexperimentaltechniquesforsafetyas-sessmentsandimprovementsaswellasforthedevelopmentoffuturenuclearenergysystems.

TheresearchprogramoftheProfessorshipofRenewableEnergyCarriersisaimedattheadvancementofthethermal,thermochemical,andelectrochemicalengineeringsciencesappliedinthedevelopmentofrenewableenergytechnolo-gies.Currentresearchapplicationsincludetheproductionofsolarfuels(e.g.hydrogen),thethermaldecarbonizationoffossilfuels(e.g.reforming,cracking,gasification),thethermalprocessingandrecyclingofenergy-intensivematerials,andCO2capture/mitigationtechnologies.Onthemorefundamen-talaspectsofenergyconversion,theresearchemphasisisontheanalysisofradiationheatexchangeinmulti-phasereactingflows,appliedintheengineeringdesignandoptimizationofhigh-temperaturereactors.

Institute of Energy TechnologyLaboratory for Energy ConversionProfessor Reza S. Abhari

RezaS.AbharihasbeenaFullProfessorofAerothermo-dynam-icsatETHZurichsinceOctober1999.HereceivedhisBAdegreeinEngineeringSciencefromOxfordUniversityin1984andhisPh.D.fromtheAeronauticalandAstronauticalDepartmentofMITin1991.FollowinghisPh.D.,heheldvariousresearchanddevelopmentpositionsinindustry,andin1995hejoinedthefacultyoftheOhioStateUniversity.

TheLaboratoryforEnergyConversion(LEC)hasmaintainedanactiveresearchgroupofabout30to40scientificstafffromaroundtheglobe,withcollaborationswithacademiaandindustryinEurope,USandJapan.TheresearchactivitiesofProfessorAbhari’sgroupfocusondevelopingnoveltechnolo-giesthatsubstantiallylowerfuelconsumptionandpollutantemissions,whileincreasingthereliabilityofdifferenttypesofenergyconversiondevices.Hiscurrentresearchinterestsincludetheexperimentalandcomputationalstudyoffluiddynamics,heattransfer,structuresandvibration,advanceddiagnosticsensortechnologiesandactiveandpassiveflowcontrol.Hehasbeentheauthorofover130peerreviewedtechnicalpapersinvariousscientificareas.HeisaMemberoftheSwissAcademyofEngineeringSciences(SATW),FellowoftheAmericanSocietyofMechanicalEngineers(ASME),andisaMemberofmanyscientificboards.

Research DirectionThecontinualdriveforefficientuseofournaturalresourcesnecessitatesimprovementintheefficiencyofcurrentandfuturepowergenerationandairtransportationsystems.Thecurrentactivitiesofthelaboratoryinabroadrangeofmulti-disciplinaryfieldsrelatedtothefieldofenergyefficiencyandrenewableenergy,continuetofocusontheunsteadynatureoftheflowinsuchdevices.Researchintoaero-elasticity,aero-dynamiclossandheattransferprocesses,aswellasmodel-basednumericaldesigntoolsformthethrustareasintheseactivities.Theinstrumentationworkcontinuestoevolvefromadevelopmentphaseintoapplicationtools.Inaddi-tion,someofourcurrentmeasurementtechnologiesandsignalprocessingtechniquesarebeingexploredinemerg-ingfieldssuchassemiconductormanufacturingprocesses.

Turbomachinery ResearchSecondary Flow Control Through Endwall ContouringTheaerodynamicperformanceofaxialturbinesisbeingsig-nificantlyimprovedthrough3Dcontouringoftheendwalls,allowingthecontrolofthesecondaryflowgenerationanditssubsequentevolution.

High Work, Low Solidity Axial Turbine Aerodynamics Researchtogainafundamentalunderstandingoffluiddynamiclossesinanunsteadymulti-stageturbineatlowsoliditiesandwithclockingisbeingperformedwithap-plicationstoimprovesteamturbinesefficienciesforpowergenerationapplications.

3D Blade Tip-cavity ContouringThrough3Dcontouringofthetipofturbineblades,thegen-erationandevolutionoftherecesscavityvortexstructureshavebeencontrolled,resultinginperformancegainwhilereducingthetipheatload.

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Pictures from left to right:Watertowingtankfacility;Appliedlaserplasmasciencefacility;In-housecomputationaltools(Aheterogeneouscomputingclustersystemwithatotalof2,200processorcoresin756computenodes);RunningtheAxialTurbineTestFacility‘LISA’;ParticleImageVelocimetryusingan

Nd-YAGLasertoinvestigateFilmCoolingFlowStructure;RadialCompressorTestFacilityforFlowandForcedResponseMeasurements

Tip Clearance Passive ControlSignificantpotentialforlossreductionthroughpassiveinjectionoftheshroudcoolingflowwithinhighpressureaxialturbinesisbeingdeveloped,allowinganactualsystemoptimizationofthecoolingandtheaerodynamicperform-anceforhightemperaturegasturbineapplications.

Aero-elastic Vibration of Centrifugal CompressorsInletdistortionandexitdiffuserpotentialfieldscouldimposeasubstantialexcitationforceontheimpellerbladesofacentrifugalcompressor.Aprojectintobettermodelingofaerodynamicforcingfunctionaswellasdampingforapplica-tionincentrifugalcompressorsisbeingpursued.

Wind EnergyExperimentsonfull-scalewindturbinesinthefieldandsub-scalewindturbinesinLEC’swindturbinefacilityarebeingconducted.Performancemeasurements,complementedbydetailedflowfieldmeasurementsofvelocityandturbulence,arebeingusedinthedevelopmentofmacromodelsforsimulationtools.

Anumericalsitecalibrationtool,applicableforwindfarmsthatarelocatedincomplexterrain,isbeingdeveloped.Thistoolwillreducetheuncertaintyinthepredictionofwindpowerproductionandalsoreducethedevelopmenttimeofwindfarmprojects.Inordertolowertherisksofwindenergydevelopmentaneconometricswindfarmmodelisbeingdeveloped.

Plasma ScienceTheengineeringofaEUVlithographysourcecollectormoduleanditsoperationforspace-&time-resolvedparametricoptimizationisthefocusofexperimentsthatareconductedinLEC’splasmafacility.Thecurrentfocusisfirstunderstandingtheevolutionandcharacteristicsofthedebrisfromthe

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sourcethatdegradethecollectionoptics,andthendesigningeffectiveandpracticaldebrismitigationstrategies.

Amulti-scalephysicsin-housepackagecomplementstheexperimentsthatareconductedintheLECplasmasciencefacility.Thispackagecoversalltherelevanttimeandlengthscalesoflaser-producedplasma,andincludesaradiation-hydrodynamiccodethatiscoupledwithaPICmethodandDSMCcode.

Instrumentation and Signal ProcessingMiniature Entropy Probe Entropyincreasewithinafluidrepresentstheactualrateoflossgenerations.Measuringtheflowentropyriseathighfrequen-ciesinturbomachinesandinotherfieldsisagoalcurrentlybeingpursued.

High Temperature FRAPIn-housedevelopedpiezoresistivepressuretransducersareembeddedinLEC’sFastResponseAerodynamicProbes(FRAP)inordertomeasuretimedependentflows.Anovelhightemp(260°C)FRAPisbeingdevelopedinordertofollowthetrendsofhigherturbineoperatingtemperatures.

Applied Fluid DynamicsFeature-based Computational Embedded Modeling Anovelmodelisbeingdevelopedthatallowspracticalcomputationofmulti-scalefluiddynamicsproblemsin3Dunsteadyflowwithsubstantialcomputationalacceleration.Thisapproachisbeingappliedforpredictionoffilmcoolinginhightemperatureturbineapplications.

Experimental Study of Pulsating Jet in Cross Flow Anexperimentalstudyofarowofpulsatingjetsatdifferingreducedfrequenciesisbeingperformedinordertobetterunderstandtheinfluenceofthepulsationandtheincomingvorticalfieldonthemixingrates.

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Institute of Energy TechnologyLaboratory of Aerothermochemistry and Combustion SystemsProfessor Konstantinos Boulouchos

Bornin1955inGreece,KonstantinosBoulouchosreceivedhisdiplomainMechanicalEngineeringfromtheNationalTechnicalUniversityofAthensin1978andhisPh.D.fromETHZurichin1984.Hespent1.5yearsasapost-doctoralresearcheratETH,andin1987hejoinedtheMAEDept.ofPrincetonUniversitywhereheworkedonprojectsinsimulationanddiagnosticsofcombustionprocesses.In1988hereturnedtotheI.C.EngineandCombustionTechnologyLaboratoryofETHwherehebuiltuptheturbulentcombustionresearchactivities.In1995,hewasappointedheadoftheJointCom-bustionResearchProgramwithPSI,andin1998hebecameTitularProfessorofETHZurich.HedirectedtheCombustionResearchLaboratoryofPSIuntil2002whenhewaselectedFullProfessorforAerothermochemistryandCombustionSystemsatETHZurich.K.Boulouchoshaswon,amongothers,theSensorInnovationAward2007andtheDistinguishedPaperAwardonNewTechnologiesConcepts2006bytheCombustionInstitute.HeisalsoChairmanoftheBoardoftheEnergyScienceCenteratETHZurich.Heisco-authorofover120publicationsinrefereedjournalsandpeer-reviewedconferences.

The Aerothermochemistry and Combustion Systems Laboratory is Active in Research (and Teaching) in the Following Areas:- DNSoflaminar,transitionalandturbulentreactiveflows usingafullyparallelspectralelementcodewithdetailed chemistryandtransportin3-D;- EntropicLatticeBoltzmannsimulationofmicroflowsinclu- dingeffectsofvariabledensity/temperature/composition;- RANSsimulationofmulti-phasereactiveflowsininternal combustionenginesbasedonadvancedturbulentcombus- tionmodels.Extensionofthiscapabilitytoincludehetero- geneouschemistryinexhaustafter-treatmentdevices;- Opticaldiagnosticsoftwo-phaseflows,ignitionandcombus- tionprocesses,sootformation,andoxidationinopticallyaccessibletestrigs,likesprayandcombustionbombs,single-shotcompressionmachines,laminarandturbulentburners;-On-line,insitudetectionoftemperature,sootandrelevantradicalsconcentration,flamepropagation,andlocalwallheatfluxthroughminiaturizedsensors,includingion-probesandfastsamplingvalvesforapplicationincombustionchambersandintheexhaustsystemofresearchandpro- ductionenginesinsteadyandtransientoperation;- 3-DCRFDsimulationforunderstandingandoptimizationofadvancedcombustionsystemsincludingcombustionofbiogenic/syntheticandhydrogen-enrichedfuels,aswellashighlyturbulent,highlydilutedmixtures.

Main Research Projects and Results:-Afullyparallel3-DversionoftheDNScodeforreactiveflows hasbeendevelopedincollaborationwithArgonneNational Labandappliedtoproblemsofcellularinstabilitiesindiffusion flamesandtransitionsbetweenedgeanddiffusionflames inopposedjetconfigurations.Thelatterresultshavebeen validatedthroughdetailedOH-LIFandRomanmeasurements incollaborationwithPSI;- Acorrectformulationformulticomponent,non-isothermal

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Pictures from left to right:Thehightemperaturehighpressureconstantvolumecombustionchamberenables4opticalaccessesprovidingstudiesoffuelsprayandcombustion;Anopticalaccessible,state-of-the-arttestrig,aswellasadvancedmeasurementtechniquesprovideauniquebasisforcombustionanalysis;Dynamics

ofpremixedhydrogen/airflamesinmesoscalechannels;Simulationofturbulentliquidfuelspraysbymeansofthreedimensionalcomputationalreactivefluiddynamicswithadvancedcombustionmodels

flowshasbeendevelopedforthefirsttimeintheframeof the(Entropic)LatticeBoltzmannmethodologyandiscur- rentlyappliedin3-Dproblemsinmicroflows;-TheConditionalMomentClosureapproachhasbeenfurther appliedformulti-phaseRANScomputationsindiffusionflames incollaborationwithCambridgeUniversity;applicationsinre- searchdieselengineshavedemonstratedanexcellentcapabili- tyoftheconcepttoaccuratelypredictignitiontimesandheat- releaseratesforawiderangeofoperatingparametersboth forconventionalmixing-controlledandforhomogeneous- charge-compression-ignitioncombustionmodes;-Chemiluminescenceandlaser-inducedfluorescencesignals oftheOH-radical,togetherwithtransientpressuremeasure- ments,havebeenappliedtoinvestigateoriginsandmodes ofthermoacousticinstabilitiesinlean,gas-turbine-relevant, premixedmethane-airflameswithvortex-breakdownsta- bilization.Fastactingvalvescoupledwiththesediagnostics andanefficientcontrolalgorithmhavesuccessfullybeen appliedtosignificantlysuppressthelevelofoscillationswith- outadverseeffectsontheformationofnitrogenoxides;-Mie-scattering,shadowgraphy,Schlieren-imaging,OH/CH- chemiluminescenceandPDA-measurementshavebeen appliedforcharacterizationoftransientdieselsprayswith differentgeometries,injectioncharacteristics,fuelcomposition andambientconditionstounderstandtheevaporation, mixing,andself-ignitionprocessesunderhigh-pressure, diesel-engine-relevantconditions.Thissetofdatafrom constant-volumebombsandthesingle-shotcompression machinehasbeenusedtovalidateindetailsimulation modelsdevelopedinparallelformulticomponentevaporation, ignition,andcombustionofspraysindieselengines,including HCCIcombustionmodels;-Understandingofsootformationandreduction:Theinfluence offuelcomposition,ambientconditions,andfuelinjection featureshasbeenwellunderstoodonthebasisofplanar andline-of-sightmethodslikeLaser-Induced-Incandescence

(incollaborationwithPSI),Back-Diffused-Laser-Light-Extinction, andinparticularmulti-wavelengthPyrometry.Theseinvesti- gationshavebeencarriedoutintheconstant-volumecom- bustionbomb.Animportantspin-offhasbeenthedevelop- mentofanaccurate,robust,andself-cleaningpyrometer sensorinminiaturizedformfortheon-linedetectionofsoot concentrationandtemperatureindieselengines.Thisproduct isinacommercializationphase,togetherwithaleadingsen- sorsupplierfortheautomotiveindustry;- Asetofphenomenological,veryfastmodelsfortheefficient predictionofheatreleaserate,NOx-formation,andsootemis- sionsinI.C.engineshasbeendevelopedandvalidatedforen- ginesofseveralsizes.Aninnovationinthiscontextwasthe stochasticoptimizationofthemodelparameters,basedonthe methodofevolutionaryalgorithms,whichisprovedtobe byfarsuperiorto,forexample,neuralnetworksformulti- parameterproblemswithcomplexunderlyingphysics;- Ahighlyinnovativecombustionsystemfornaturalgasfuelled cogenerationengineshasbeendeveloped,basedonturbo- charged,stoichiometriccombustionwithhighexhaust-gas recirculationrates.Thenewconcepthasbeencommercialized incollaborationwithSwissindustry,sothatca.100powerplants withaninstalledpowerofmorethan25MWeland~ 300’000hrsofoperationhavebeensoldworldwide.The newengineachievedworldrecordsbothforelectricand totalefficiencyinitsclass;- Incollaborationwiththeautomotiveindustry,thepotential useofreformatesfromon-boardgenerationtopositively influencecombustioninOttoengineshasbeeninvestigated indetail.Wehavedemonstratedthathydrogen-richfuels haveatremendouspotentialforloweringengine-out nitrogen-oxideemissionsbyalmost3ordersofmagnitude, whileinparallelallowingsignificantlyloweredpart-load fuelconsumption,duetoextensivedethrottling.Thiswork hasbeencarriedoutinclosecooperationwiththeEuro- peanautomativeindustry.

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Institute of Energy TechnologyLaboratory of Safety AnalysisProfessor Wolfgang Kröger

WolfgangKrögerhasbeenOrdinariusofSafetyTechnologyandDirectoroftheLaboratoryforSafetyAnalysissince1990.HealsoisFoundingRectoroftheInternationalRiskGovernanceCouncil(www.irgc.org),establishedbyaSwissinitiativein2003.BeforethisheheadedresearchinnuclearenergyandsafetyatthePaulScherrerInstitut(PSI)andservedontheboardofdirectors.BornintheRuhrdistrictinGermany,ProfessorKrögerstudiedmechanicalengineeringattheRWTHAachen,completedhisdoctoratein1974andhishabilitationthesisin1986.ProfessorKrögerischieflyinvolvedinmethodicaldevelop-mentspertainingtomodeling,analysis/simulation,andoptimizationofhighlyintegratedengineeredsystems.Heisengagedinputtingtheassessmentandmanagementoftech-nologicalrisksandvulnerabilitiesintoabroadercontext,andinprovidingtoolsformulti-criteriadecision-makingprocesses.HiscurrentactivitiesrelatedtotheIRGCaimatearlydetectionofemergingtransboundaryrisksandprovisionofgoodgovern-ancestrategiestobeappliedatgloballevel.HeisChairmanofthe“SafetyReviewGroup”oftheEBRD,MemberoftheEuropeanAcademy,MemberoftheSwissAcademyofEngineeringSciences,andHonoraryMemberoftheSwissNuclearSociety.HewasscientificchairmanoftheForumEngelbergin1999.Hehaspublishednumerousarticlesandcontributedtovariousbooksfocusingonriskissuesandoncomprehensiveassessementofenergysystems.

Balancing Safety and Availability for the LHC Machine Protection System (MPS)ThedesignandoperationoftheMPSoftheLHCatCERNentailsatrade-offbetweenmachinesafetyandbeamavail-ability.TheMPSdetectsthefailuresintheLHCandstopstheoperationtopreventcomponentsfrombeingdamaged.Asimulation-basedmethodologyhasbeendevelopedtoyieldtheprobabilityoftherelevantscenarios,i.e.missedemergencybeamdumpandfalsebeamdump.Ananalyticaldescriptionoftheunderlyingmodelprovidesanaccurateverificationofthesimulationresultssuggestingitselfforanalternativetosimulations.Therefore,inviewoftheap-parentadvantagesofboththesimulationandanalyticalapproach,themergingofthetwoapproachesrepresentsastartingpointforfurtherdevelopment.Analgorithmfortheautomaticset-upoftheanalyticalequationsbasedonthegraphicalmodelrepresentationunderlyingthesimulationswouldprovideanaccurateandtimesavingcalculation.Itwillbefurtherinvestigatedwhetherthemethodologycanbeappliedtomoreadvancedmodels.ThePh.D.projectissupportedbyCERN.

Scientific Support of the IRGCTheIRGCisdedicatedtoimprovinghowre-emergingsystemicrisksarehandled.Itsupportskeydecisionmakersbyprovidingauthoritativeinformationanddesigninginnovativegovern-ancestrategies.Therisksandvulnerabilitiesofcriticalinfra-structures(CI)havebeenapriorityforIRGC,withfocusbothonindividualinfrastructuresandtheincreasinginterdependencebetweenthem–asintheuseofICTforindustrialcontrol.Astudyhasbeenundertakenaimedatidentifyingweaknesseswithina“system-of-systems”offiveselectedCIincludingthepowersystemandproposingpotentialsolutionstovulner-abilitieswhichmaycauseend-userdisruptions.TheworkwaspublishedasaWhitePaperandPolicyBrief.AcurrentstudyfocusesonmaritimeglobalCIwiththeStraitofMalaccaandlinkedhubsaswellasmajorhazardsastheexample.

(LHC)

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Pictures from left to right:LHCperformanceestimates,assessmentmatrixforselectedinfrastructures,Ph.D.Studentrunningasimulation,modelforthegrid

operatorandinterplaywithtransmissionlines

Using Binary Decision Diagrams (BDD)MostPRA-toolsquantifylogicaltreemodelsbyapplyingsimplifyingassessmenttechniques(e.g.,minimalcutsets,rareeventapproximation).Furtherproblemsarisewhenhandlingrelativelyhighprobabilityevents(e.g.,seismiccontributionstoreactorcoredamagefrequency)asneededfornuclearlicens-ingpurposes.ThesemethodologicalrestrictionsareovercomebytheuseofBDD.EffortsareneededtoconvertafaulttreestructuretoBDD,whilethemodelingcomplexityhastobereduced,e.g.byoptimizingthebasiceventordering.ThePh.D.projectwassponsoredbyKernkraftwerkLeibstadt.

Modeling of Failure Propagation in Complex Engineering Systems Marketliberalizationandtechnologicaltrends(includingintegrationofintermittentgenerators)haveleadtotheunprecedentedcomplexityoftheEuropeanpowersystemandtoitsoperationatdesignlimits.Thishasonlybeenpossiblethroughthepervasiveuseofdigitalcontrolsystems,whichinturnintroducesnewvulnerabilities.Reliabilitypoliciesandassessmentmethodologiesdidnotkeeppacewiththesedevelopments.Theprimaryobjectiveofthisprojectsponsoredbyswisselectricresearchistodevelopanovelprobabilisticmodelingandsimulationtechniquefocusingonmorecom-plexfailuresequencesspreadingoverseveralcontrolareas.Ahybridobject-orientedmodelingapproachwaschosentosimulatethesystembehaviorasawholeexplicitlyintimeandtoincludehighlynon-linearresponsesandnon-technicalfac-tors,e.g.controlroomoperators.Thisallowsthecalculationofexpectedfrequenciesofpoweroutagesversussize,represent-ingthereliabilityofthesysteminahighlydifferentiatedway.VarioussimulationstudiesperformedonbothavirtualtestsystemandonamodeloftheSwisstransmissiongridconfirmthesuitabilityandfeasibilityofthedevelopedapproach.Withrespecttopotentialindustrialapplications,theresultspermitelaborationonanovelcomplementaryprobabilisticsecuritycriterionandonadequateoperatorresponsetimes.

Coping with Vulnerabilities of Interconnected CICIarelarge-scale,technicalsystemsessentialforthemini-mumoperationofoureconomyandsociety.Theyareex-posedtoasetofmultiplethreatsandmayevenbemisusedtocausesignificantharmtothepublicortriggerpanic.ThedebiliationofasingleCIcansnowballintoothersystemsdependingonthedegreeofinterconnectedness.Civildefenseauthoritiesconfrontedwithsuchsituationshavetobroadentheirknowledgebaseandimplementtoolsallow-ingthemtoreliablyassessandmanagethevulnerabilityofCI.TheprojectintroducedhereassiststheSwissFederalOfficeforCivilProtection(FOCP)indevelopinganationalstrategyfortheprotectionofCIbyimprovingthescientificbasis.Thisincludestheevaluationanddevelopmentofmodelsandtoolsforvulnerability/riskanalysisofinterconnectedCIaswellastheirapplication.Basedonacriticalityparameterevaluation,severalinfra-structureshavebeenidentifiedtobeanalyzedaccordingtoatailoredframework.Inascreeninganalysistostartwith,anadequatesystemunderstandinghastobesetupandconventionaltechniquesincludingnetworkanalysishavetobeappliedtoidentify“obvious”vulnerabilities.Basedonmoredetailedinformation,anin-depthanalysismaybenecessary,makinguseofmoresophisticatedmodelingandsimulationmethods(suchasobject-orientedmodeling/Monte-Carlosimulation)followinga“system-of-systems”approach.ThecurrentfocusisonSwisssystemsforelectric-itysupply,informationandcommunication,urbandrinkingwaterandtransportationbyrailincludingtheirinterde-pendencies,whichmayeitherbephysical,functionalorgivenbyahosttechnology.SpecialemphasiswillbeplacedoneventslikeearthquakesandstormspotentiallyaffectingtheCIinaregion.Thepresentworkispartofalong-termcooperationwithFOCP,makinguseofworkdoneunderotherauspices,e.g.swisselectricresearchandFOE.

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Institute of Energy TechnologyEnergy Science and EngineeringProfessor Christoph Müller

ChristophMüllerwilljoinETHZurichon1stJanuary,2010toheadtheLaboratoryofEnergyScienceandEngineering.Born1978inNuremberg(Germany)hereceivedhisunder-graduatedegree(Dipl.-Ing.)attheTUMünchen,DepartmentofMechanicalEngineering.HereceivedhisPh.D.in2008attheDepartmentofChemicalEngineering,UniversityofCambridge.Hisdoctoralthesiswasentitled“FundamentalStudiesofFluidisedBedReactors”.Onthebasisofthatwork,hewasawardedaJuniorResearchFellowshipatQueens’College,UniversityofCambridge.

ResearchResearchintheLaboratoryofEnergyScienceandEngineer-ingisaimedatapplyingafundamentalunderstandinggainedfromlaboratory-scaleexperiments,togetherwithappropriatemathematicalmodeling,totheindustrialchal-lengeofgeneratingelectricityinefficientandsustainableways.ThethreemainresearchareasoftheLaboratoryofEnergyScienceandEngineeringare:(i)sustainableenergygeneration,(ii)heterogeneousreactionengineeringand(iii)fundamentalsofmulti-phasegranularsystems.Thesetopicsarenowdescribedinmoredetailusingsometypicalprojectsasexamples.

Sustainable Energy GenerationResearchonsustainableenergygenerationconcentrateson:(i)chemical-loopingcombustion,particularlyappliedtosolidfuels,andthesustainablegenerationofhydrogenand(ii)post-combustioncaptureofCO2,usingnaturalandsyntheticsorbents.

Chemical looping combustion Chemicalloopingcombustion(CLC)isanovelchemicalcycleinwhichafuelisoxidisedbyoxygenderivedfromametaloxide,ratherthandirectlyfromtheair.TheproductsofsuchcombustionareCO2andH2O,withthelattereasilyremovedbycondensation.InconventionalCLC,agaseousfuel,e.g.ahydrocarbonlikenaturalgas,isoxidizedinthefuelreactor:(2n+m)MeO+CnH2m (2n+m)Me+mH2O+nCO2,whereMeisametallikecopper.SubsequentcondensationofthesteamyieldsastreamofpureCO2.Themetal,Me,iscon-veyedtoanoxidationreactor,whereitisregeneratedinair:Me+

1 2O2 MeOIneffect,thefuelhasbeencombustedinair,buttheCO2isproducedinapureform,i.e.separatedfromtheN2intheair,thusavoidingthemajorcostofseparatingCO2fromN2inthefluegasesafterconventionalcombustioninair.Sofar,researchhaspredominantlyfocusedontheCLCofgaseousfuels,e.g.methane.InourgroupwearefocusingonextendingCLCtosolidfuels,suchascoalandbiomass,whichwillplayanimportantroleintothefutureasafuel.

Post-combustion capture of CO2 using natural and synthetic solid sorbentsIfCO2hastobesequesteredfromanexistingpowerstation,apost-combustiontechnologyforcapturingithastobeem-ployed.Oneattractivepossibilityistheuseofcalcium-basedsorbents.ThecarbonationreactionofsolidCaOwithCO2,viz.CaO+CO2 CaCO3canbeusedtoremoveCO2fromprocessstreams(thisexothermiccarbonationreactionoccursat~65o°C,atemperatureatwhichitisadvantageoustorecover

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Pictures from left to right:SEMpictureofanironoxygencarrierusedfortheproductionofhydrogen;MagneticResonanceimageshowingtheformationofjetsatasingle-andmulti-orificedistributorinafluidisedbed;PIVmeasurementsoftheparticlevelocityaroundarisingbubble;TwophaseDiscreteelementModelsimulationofagas

fluidisedbed;Single-phaseDiscreteElementModelsimulationshowingthesegregationofparticlesofdifferentparticlesizesinarotatingkiln.

heat).Thecarbonatedsorbentcanthenbetransferredtoasecondreactor,whereitisheatedto~900°CtodriveofftheCO2(calcination).Thecalcinedsorbentcanthenberecycled.Here,themainchallengeliesindevelopingsyntheticsorb-entswithahighuptakeofCO2overalargenumberofcycles.

Heterogeneous Reaction Engineering for Novel Energy CyclesForthenovelchemicalcycles,describedabove,tobeap-plicableattheindustrialscale,animprovedfundamentalunderstandingofthekineticsoftheunderlyingheteroge-neousreactions,includingthemorphologicalchanges,isoffundamentalimportance.Becausemostofthesenovelcyclesinvolvesyntheticparticles,notonlythereactivity,butalsothecyclicstabilityisparamount.However,thedevelop-mentofoxygen-carriersandCO2sorbentsofhighcyclicstabilityandreactivityiscurrentlyablackart,asthereisasignificantlackofdetailedunderstandingof:(i)theprocess-esinvolvedinthemanufacturingoftheseparticles,mainlyco-precipitationandwet-impregnationtechniques,(ii)theeffectofmorphologicalchangesduringrepeatedcyclesonperformancestabilityandreactivityand(iii)catalysisinthepresenceofagas-solidnon-catalyticreaction.Researchwillbeperformedinallthreeareas.Therefore,theultimategoalwillbethetailoreddesignofparticleswithhighcyclicreac-tivityandstability,basedonafundamentalunderstandingoftheunderlyingmanufacturingprocessandmorphologicalchangesduringheterogeneousreactions.

Fundamentals of Multi-Phase Granular SystemsThemajorityofthesenovelenergycycleswilltakeplaceinoneormorebubblingorcirculatingfluidisedbedsinad-ditiontomovingandpackedbedreactors.Thisisbecausefluidisedbedsofferhugeadvantagesoverothertypesofreactorsforthisapplicationintermsof:(i)tolerancetochangesinfuelmixandtype,(ii)thecatalysisofreactionsorcaptureofpollutantsbythebedmaterial(e.g.tarcracking

andsulphurremovalbycalcareousmaterials,NOxreductionbyiron),(iii)highratesofheattransferand(iv)economicoperationatrelativelysmallscales.Therefore,beforetheseschemescanbeappliedefficiently,majorchallengeshavetobeovercome.Thesearemainlyduetoalackofunder-standingofsingle-andtwo-phasegranularflowsonaveryfundamentallevel.Thislackofunderstandingoriginatesinthefactthatgranularsystemsareusuallyopaque,makingexperimentalmeasurementsintrinsicallydifficult.Conse-quently,asignificantpartofourresearchconcentratesontheexperimentalandnumericalinvestigationoftwo-phasegranularsystems.Thisincludes:(a)FurtherdevelopmentofexperimentalmeasurementsusingamongothersMag-neticResonanceImaging(MRI),ParticleImageVelocimetry(PIV)andPlanarLaserInducedFluorescence(PLIF)and(b)modelingofgranularsystems,includingthedevelopmentofamulti-scalemodelingstrategy,rangingfromfully-resolveddirectsimulation,throughDiscreteElementsimulationstotwo-fluidsimulations.Anemphasiswillbeonpolydisperseandreactingsystems.Thus,toadvancethefieldofsustainableenergyscience,expertiseandknowledgeacrossanumberofcognatedisciplinesrangingfromclassicalchemicalandmechanicalengineeringthroughcatalysisandwetchemistrytocompu-tationalphysicsandimagingtechniquesisessential.Suchamulti-disciplinaryapproachisakeyfacetoftheLaboratoryofEnergyScienceandEngineering.

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Institute of Energy TechnologyNanoscience for Energy Technology & Sustainability Professor Hyung Gyu Park

HyungGyuParkjoinedETHZurichinApril,2009,asanAssistantProfessorofEnergyTechnologyinD-MAVT.Hewasbornin1973inSeoul,Korea.Afteranearlierprepa-rationofscienceinSeoulScienceHighSchool,heenteredSeoulNationalUniversity(SNU)in1992andreceivedBSc.andMSc.inMechanicalEngineeringin1998and2000,respectively.HisM.S.thesiswasaboutthenumericaltreatmentofaxisymmetricflowsinaCartesiancoordinatesystem,motivatedbythehemodynamicsimulationofanartery.AfteroneyearinSNUresearchcenter,hewenttotheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley,andcarriedoutresearchtopicsincluding(1)microfluidicfuelprocessorforamicrofuelcellsystemand(2)masstransportincarbonnanotubes,supportedbyLawrenceLivermoreNationalLaboratory(LLNL).HisresearchonmasstransportincarbonnanotubesreceivedanacademicspotlightintheformofacoverarticleinScienceinMay2006.Sincethen,thearticlehasbeenoneofthemostfrequentlycitedchemistryarticlesinthejournal.UponreceivinghisPh.D.in2007,hejoinedLLNLasapostdoctoralresearchstaffmemberandconductedmanyprojectsinthefieldsofCNTnanofluidicsandsurfaceenhancedRamanspectroscopy,etc.

Research DirectionPark’sProfessorshipofEnergyTechnologywillfocusonfundamentalnanoscienceforenergytechnologyandsus-tainabilityapplications.Theinitialstageoftheprogramwillutilizeavarietyofcarbonnanotubenanofluidicplatformsinstudyingbasicpropertiesoftransportunderextremeconfinementthatiscommensurablewiththeownsizesoftransportingentities(i.e.molecules).Bycontrollingshapeandconfigurationofcarbonnanotubesatthesynthesisstageandthroughformationofdifferentnanocompositesatthepost-synthesisstage,theprogramenvisionsprovi-sionofmembrane-andnanofluidic-typeplatformswithdiversepropertiesandfunctionalities.Theseplatformswillenableexperimentalstudiestobecarriedoutrangingfromfundamentalnanoscaletransportphenomenatoenergy-efficientfiltrationtonovelenergygenerationschemes.Asitgrows,theprogramwillexploreothernanomaterialsthatarefunctional,eitherasisorintheformofnanocomposites,inenergytechnologiesandchem-biosensing.Theprogressofprojectsinthisprogramwillalsobuildknowledgeaboutmicro-andnanomanufacturingtechniques.Therefore,studentsandresearcherstrainedintheprogrammayendupacquiringvariousexperiencesinfundamentalnanoscaletransportphenomena,applicationsinenergytechnol-ogyandsustainability,andmultipletechniquesofmicro/nanomanufacturing,whichwillbecomeusefulinbothacademiaandindustry.

Carbon Nanotube Nanofluidics for Energy Technology and SustainabilityThisprogramwillfocusonunderstandingoffundamentalsofmasstransportthroughcarbonnanotubesandtheappli-cationofthisacquiredbasicnanosciencetoenergytech-nologiesforaddressingourfuturesustainability.PreviousexperimentalstudyofthemoleculartransportthroughtheinternalspaceofCNTdemonstratedenhancedflowsofwater

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Pictures from left to right:Multiscaleimagesofcarbonnanotubemembranezoomingfromcentimeter-intonanometer-scales;Figure-of-meritdiagramofcarbonnanotubemembranescomparedwithacommercialpolycarbonatemembrane.Bothgasandwatercanflowmuchfasterwhenconfinedinsidecarbonnanotubes(FromJ.K.Holt,

H.G.Parketal.,Science312:1034(2006).ReprintedwithpermissionfromAAAS);artist’simaginationofwatermoleculesflowingintocarbonnanotubes,leavingionsbehind;schematicexplanationofaproposedionexclusionmechanism.

underextreme(sub-2-nm)one-dimensionalconfinementbyatomic-scalesmooth,hydrophobicsurfaces.Throughahierarchicalmicro/nanomanufacturingtechnique,thestudyalsodevelopedaprototypemembranewithCNTsservingaspores.Thosefindings,togetherwitharecentdemonstra-tionofionexclusionbytheCNT-membrane,aresheddinglightonthecapabilityofenergy-efficientfiltrationbyCNT-membranes.

Much more to learn:thecurrentstateofunderstandingofthebasicsoftransportinCNTsstillliesinitsadolescencestage.Thereismuchmoresciencetouncoverthatcouldpotentiallynurturenewfieldsofapplications.Thefundamen-talsciencedomainofthisprogramwill,therefore,centeronbroadeningthebasicknowledgeofCNTnanofluidicsandexpandittowardnoncontinuumfluiddynamicsandmasstransferatnanoscale.

Energy technology for sustainability:itispredictedthatthe21stcenturysocietalandeconomicdevelopmentswillplaceenormousdemandsoncleanwaterandenergysupplies.CNT-membraneshavemanypotentialadvantagestoaddressthesedemands.First,aspreviousresearchhasdemonstrated,chemicallyfunctionalizedCNT-membranescanexcludeionsinanaqueoussolutionthroughreverseosmosis.Second,waterflowsinCNTscanexperience1000timeslessviscousdragthanotherreverseosmosismembranes.Thirdly,ifionicsolutionsaredrivenbyelectrokineticpotential,veryinter-estingphenomenamayoccurrelatedtotheequilibriumconformationofionsunderextremeconfinement.Fourthly,itispossibletofunctionalizethesurfaceoftheCNT-membraneinavarietyofwaysforotherpurposes,suchassolarenergyharvestinganddrugdeliveryforon-demandtreatments.Thispotentialfacilitatesawiderangeofapplicationsinenergytechnologyfromseawaterdesalinationandwaterdecontaminationtonextgenerationfuelcellstosolarenergy

harvesting.Park’sresearchprogramrequiresaseriesofinter-related,coordinatedandsynergisticresearchtopicsoutlinedasfollows:

•CNTsynthesiscontrol;characterization;interactionwith othermaterialsandfunctionalgroups•Hierarchicalmicro/nanomanufacturingofmembrane platformsandcharacterization•Studyoffluidandsolutionflowsunderextremeconfine mentofCNTsusingthoseplatforms•Watertechnologyapplications:energy-efficientfiltration•Energytechnologyapplications:fuelcellcomponentsand membranereactors,etc.

Institute of Energy TechnologyLaboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging TechnologiesProfessor Dimos Poulikakos

ProfessorPoulikakosholdstheChairofThermodynamicsandfoundedtheLaboratoryofThermodynamicsinEmerg-ingTechnologiesin1996.Hiscurrentresearchisintheareaofinterfacialtransportphenomena,heattransferandther-modynamicsinnoveltechnologies,focusingontransportphenomenaandenergyconversionincludingthephysicsatmicro-andnano-scales,surfacedrivenenergyconversion,andonmedicalapplicationswithspecialemphasisonthehumanbody.AmongthehonorshehasreceivedaretheNSFPresidentialYoungInvestigatorAwardin1985,thePiTauSigmaGoldMedalin1986,andthe2000JamesHarryPotterGoldMedaloftheASME.HewasaRussellS.SpringerProfessorofMechanicalEngineeringattheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleyin2003,andtheHawkinsMemo-rialLectureratPurdueUniversityin2004.HereceivedtheHeatTransferMemorialAwardforSciencefromtheASMEin2003.HereceivedtheDr.honoriscausaoftheNationalTechnicalUniversityofAthensin2006.Heisthe2009recipientoftheNusselt-Reynoldsprize.Heistheeditororontheeditorialboardofseveralprestigiousinternationaljournalsinhisfield.ProfessorPoulikakosisaMemberoftheSwissNationalAcademyofEngineering.

TheresearchinterestsoftheLaboratoryofThermodynamicsinEmergingTechnologies(LTNT)canbesubdividedintotwomainareas:A) Transport Phenomena, Energy Conversion and Energy ConservationThisgroupfocusesontransportphenomenaandinterfacialaspects.Typicalapplicationsareultra-highheatfluxliquidcoolingofelectronics,energyreuseinzeroemissiondatacenters,highlyefficientenergyconversionsystemssuchasfuelcell-basedmicropowerplants,manufacturingofmicro-andhigh-densityelectronics,surfacecoatingtechnologies,andnanoelectro-mechanicalsystemsbasedonnanoparticle,carbonnanotubeandgrapheneassemblies.B) Biothermofluidics and Species Transport in Biomedical Technologies and DevicesThecentraltopicoftheresearchofthisgroupisthevirtualmedicalsubject.Thisareaofactivityinvolvesthedevelopmentofefficientmethodologiesandcomputationaltoolsforthesimulationofhumanbodyfunctionsandsystems.Althoughtheresearchfocusesonthemacroscopictransportprocesses,weintegratenecessaryinformationfrommicroscopicbiophysi-calphenomena(cellular/biological/biochemical)aswell.Westrivetoimprovetheunderstandingofcomplexphenomenainsystemsofbiological/medicalrelevance,andtointroducead-vancedcomputationalsimulationtechniquestotheeverydayclinicalenvironment.

Thermofluidic Phenomena in Multiphase Flows Carrying Nanoparticles. Novelmethodsoffabricatingsmall-scalestructuresgainedsignificantimportanceinscienceandmicroelectronicindustries.ResearchatLTNTdemonstratedthatnanoink-basedmanufac-turingisapromisingtechnique,asitallowsthewritingofsmallscalestructuresondifferentflexibleorrigidsurfaceswithoutrequiringcleanroomenvironmentsorsiliconsubstrates.Ourresearchaimsatfurtherdevelopingnanoparticlebasedmanu-facturingfornano-andmicrotechnologyapplications.

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Pictures from left to right:Microchannelsofadirectmethanolfuelcell(DMFC)containingliquidmethanolandhydrogengas;NURBSfittedsegmentedgeometryofthehumansubarachnoidspace(l).CFDsimulationofcerebrospinalfluidmotionintheintracranialcavities(r);Towardscontactlessmicrofluidics:awaterdropletisultrasonicallylevitated

betweenaresonatorAandreflectorB;Asingle-walledcarbonnanotubeispositionedbetweenembeddedgoldelectrodesbydielectrophoresis;Hydrogenproductiontestfacilityformicroscalefuelcellsystems.Activephaseinthecatalyticreactionconsistsofnanoparticlesmadebyflamespraypyrolysis.

Toachieveconsistentpatterningatthenanoscale,betterunderstandingoftheunderlyingphysicalphenomenahastobegained.Wecombineexperimentswiththeoreticalmodelingandnumericalsimulation,addressingthenumer-ousthermophysicalaspectsinvolved,suchastheinfluenceofwettability,localchangesinthesurfacetensionduetotemperature,andconcentrationgradientsandparticlecoagulation/coalescenceinaphase-changingcarriermedium.

Thermophysical Properties of Individual Carbon NanotubesResearchonCNTsatLTNTmainlyaddressesthefollowingaspects:ThechallengeofaprecisehandlingofCNTshastobemadecommerciallyviable.Ourgoal,therefore,istoinvestigatepossibilitiestoreliablyassembleCNT-integratedelectricalon-chipcircuitsandnovelnanodevices,suchasnewsolutionsforpressuresensortransducersbasedonCNTs.Onceassembled,theCNT-integratedchipscanalsobeusedtomeasurethethermophysicalpropertiesoftheCNTs,asthepropertydataavailableisstillincomplete.

Contactless MicrofluidicsInmicrofluidicchipsfordrugdiscoveryandmedicaldiag-nostics,thesensitivityislimitedbyunspecificadhesionofDNAandproteinmoleculestothechannelwalls.Wehavesucceededinpreventingwallcontactbyultrasonicallylevitatingtheliquid.Dropletsof1nLto1μLwerelevitatedinline-shapedacousticpressurenodes,alongwhichtheycanbetransported.Thegoalistoproduceacontactlessmicrofluidicsplatforminwhichhighlysensitivebiochemicalanalysescanbeperformed.Fuel Processing in a Micro Fuel Cell SystemTheONEBATmultipartnerprojectwithLTNTparticipationfocusesonthedevelopmentofamicroSolidOxideFuelCellsystem.Thisnovelpowersourcehasahighpotentialto

replacethebatteryofstandardportableelectronicequip-ment.Sinceliquidbutaneisusedasanenergycarrier,largegeographicindependenceisgained.Additionally,theoperationaltimeisincreasedduetothehigherenergydensitycomparedtoLi-ionbatteries.Todevelopaprototype,novelmicro-fabricationtechniquesanddetailednumericalsimulationsareemployed.

Smart Treatment of Normal Pressure Hydro-cephalusNormalpressurehydrocephalusisaconditionofthecer-ebrospinalfluid(CSF)systemthatleadstothemechanicaldestructionofbraintissue.Thecurrenttreatmentreliesontheimplantationofdifferential-pressurevalves(shunts)inthepatient’shead,fromwheretheCSFisdrainedintotheperitonealarea.Inthisresearch,weaimatdevelopinganintelligentshuntthatwillautomaticallyadapttochangesinthepatient’sphysiology.Tothisend,wearecombiningin-vivodatafrommagneticresonanceimagingwithcom-putationalandexperimentalmodelsofhydrocephalusinamultidisciplinaryteamofsurgeons,radiologists,infectiolo-gists,physicistsandengineers.

Pathogenesis of Spontaneous Dissection of the Cervical Carotid ArterySpontaneousdissectionofthecervicalinternalcarotidartery(sICAD)isamajorcauseofstrokeinyoungadults.Inthisproject,thewallstressinthecervicalICAduringstaticanddynamicpositionsoftheheadinpatientswithsICADandhealthyvolunteersarecomparedbyacquiringtheICAgeometryandpositionwithmagneticresonanceimaging,andcalculatingthewallstressinducedbybloodflowandheadmotion.ThegoalistoverifyiftheworkinghypothesisthatsICADisduetoanincreasedwallstressinthecervicalICAiscorrect.

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Institute of Energy TechnologyLaboratory of Nuclear Energy SystemsProfessor Horst-Michael Prasser

Horst-MichaelPrasserwasborninGörlitz,Germany.AftergraduatingfromtheMoscowInstituteofPowerEngineering,heobtainedaPh.D.attheInstituteofEngineeringinZittauin1984,specializinginreactorfluiddynamics.In1987hejoinedtheCentralInstituteofNuclearResearchRossendorf.DuringGermanreunification,hetookpartinthereorganizationoftheinstituteandthefoundationoftheForschungszentrumDresdenRossendorf(FZD)inthepositionofaPersonalAssist-anttotheScientificDirector.Since1994,ProfessorPrasserhasbeentheheadofthedepartmentsof“AccidentAnalyses”and“ExperimentalThermalFluidDynamics”attheInstituteofSafetyResearchwithinFZD.ProfessorPrasser’sworkfocusesonthermalfluiddynamicsappliedtonuclearpowerplants.Hisresultsonborondilutiontransientsdirectlycontributetonuclearsafety.Novelmeasur-ingmethodsforgas-liquidtwo-phaseflows,suchaswire-meshsensors,time-resolvinggammaandX-raytomographyareusedtostudythedynamicsofthegas-liquidinterface.ProfessorPrasserdevelopednovelexperimentalmethod-ologiestostudyfundamentalandcomplexphenomenainenvironmentstypicalforindustrialapplications,usedinlargeexperiments,liketheTOPFLOWandROCOMtestfacilitiesbuildundertheleadofProfessorPrasseratFZD.Experimentalresultsareusedtodevelopandvalidatecomputercodesforfluid-dynamicsimulationsoftwo-phaseflows.Theresearch

inthenewpositionatETHiscarriedoutincooperationwiththePaulScherrerInstitute,whereheistheheadoftheLabo-ratoryofThermalHydraulicsintheDepartmentofNuclearEnergyandSafety.Since2008,ProfessorPrasserisaMemberoftheboardoftheFederalNuclearSafetyInspectorate,ENSI.

TheLaboratoryofNuclearEnergySystemsofProfessorPrassercarriesoutfundamentalandappliedresearchwiththeaimofsupportingthesafe,reliable,andeconomicutilizationofnuclearpower.Themainfocusisonthermalfluid-dynamicmodeling,andselectedissuesofreactordynamic,controlandinstrumentation,uraniumsupplyandwastedisposalareincludedaswell.Tothisendthelaboratorydevelopsmeasur-inginstrumentationforsingleandtwo-phaseflows,performsexperimentstoobtainthedatabaseformodeldevelopmentandcontributestotheapplicationofimprovedmodelsincomputercodes.Itcontributestothevalidationandintroduc-tionofmodernmethods,like3Dsimulationsandnovelexperi-mentaltechniquesfortheneedsofexistingnuclearpowerplantsaswellasforthedevelopmentoffuturenuclearenergysystems.ResearchisstronglylinkedtoteachingthroughtheinvolvementofstudentsofthenewmasterprograminNuclearEngineeringlaunchedin2008.

Efficiency and Safety Related Fluid-dynamic StudiesFluiddynamicsplayamajorroleinmanyenergyconversionprocesses,especiallyinsafetytechnologyofnuclearpowerplants,whereresearchcontributestotheenhancementofefficiency.Thephenomenainvestigatedincludeinparticular:-containmentthermalhydraulics,-two-phaseflowinnuclearfuelassemblies,-optimizationoftheenergyconversionchainand-plantlifetimerelevantfluid-dynamicphenomena.Containmentstudiesareconductedatthelarge-scalethermal-hydraulictestfacilityPANDAatthePaulScherrerInstitute(PSI).Fortheseexperiments,newinstrumentationforthecontain-mentatmosphereduringaccidentsimulationsisbeing

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Pictures from left to right:StudentsintheGrimselundergroundlaboratoryofNAGRA;Turbulentmixingpatternrecordedbyawire-meshsensor;Measurementofwavestructuresintheliquidfilmonafuelrodsimulator;Transitionfrombubblytoslugflowvisualizedbyawire-meshsensor;Novelwaystoperformfluid-dynamicstudiesathighpressure-thepres-suretankofForschungszentrumRossendorfforthePTSexperiments;PANDAfacilityofPSI-uniquelarge-scalecontainmenttestsforthereactorsafety;Injectionpipe,reactorvessel

model,PANDAduringconstruction;Inspectionofacoolingtower-appliedfluid-dynamicstoenhanceefficiencyofnuclearpowerplants.

developed,suchasin-situsensorsofthelocalgascompo-sitionusingultrasound.TheworkatPANDAaimsattheimprovementofsafetyofexistingnuclearpowerplants,atthetestofpassivesafetysystemsfornovelreactortypesandatCFDcodevalidationrelatedtocontainmentbehavior.TheenhancementoffuelefficiencybyafluiddynamicoptimizationofnuclearfuelassembliesreliesmoreandmoreondetailedCFDmodeling.Theirdevelopmentandvalidationrequireshigh-resolutionmeasurementdata.Atestfacil-itytostudyliquidfilmflowsincoolingchannelsofboilingwaterreactorshasbeenbuildforthispurpose;asecondtestrigaddressingthetwo-phaseflowsinfuelassembliesofpressurizedwaterreactorsisunderconstruction.Amajoradvantageistheavailabilityofhigh-resolutionlocalgasfrac-tionmeasurementsdevelopedbyProfessorPrasser.Thisworkiscomplementedbytheoreticalstudiesonflowboilingheattransfer,whichaiminthelongtermatthemodelingofboil-ingcrisisonthebasisoffundamentalprinciples.Plantlifetimeis,amongotherthings,limitedbyloadcyclesresultingfromtransienttemperaturechanges,whichareoftentheresultofturbulentmixingprocessesincomplexgeometries.Aprominentexampleistheso-calledpressurizedthermalshock(PTS)thatisexpectedwhentheemergencycorecoolingsystemdeliverscoldwaterintothehotreactorsystem.Steeptemperaturetransientsinthereactorpressurevesselwallmaypotentiallyoccur,whichmaycausethermalfatigue,whichisstillahypothesislackingexperimentalproof.Thelab-oratorytakespartinanexperimentalprogramconductedintheForschungszentrumDresdenRossendorf,wherePTStestsareunderpreparationwithanovelexperimentalmethodol-ogydevelopedbyProfessorPrasser.FurthermainpartnersofthisresearchareEdF,CEA,Framatome,andIRSN.Anotherissueofmechanicalintegritythatisofgreatindustrialinterestisthermalfatigueinpipetee-junctions,wheremixingofcoolantstreamswithdifferenttemperaturesoccurs.ThelaboratoriesofProfessorPrasserstudythethermalfluid-dynamicpartofthephenomenaleadingtothethermalloadstothestructures.

Fundamental Studies on Gas-liquid Two-phase FlowsFundamentalstudiesdealwithmulti-bubblesizemodelingofapoly-dispersegas-liquidflow,fundamentalmodelingofboilingusingLargeEddySimulationtechniquescoupledwithsurfacetrackingaswellasturbulentmixinginstrati-fiedsingle-phaseflowswithstrongdensitygradients.Theseareanimportantbasisfortheapplicationofthesecodestomodelsafetyandefficiencyrelevantprocessesinnuclearenergysystems.Theworkcombinesexperimentswithhigh-resolutioninstrumentation,likewire-meshsensors,PIV,LDA,andnovelsensorsfordynamicliquidfilmthicknessmeasure-ments,withtheoreticalactivitiesinthefieldofcomputa-tionalfluiddynamics.

Development of Experimental Instrumentation for Fluid-dynamic StudiesOnthebasisofthewire-meshsensortechnology,whichisnowadaysusedbyanumberofresearchgroupsworldwide,anovelsensorfordynamicliquidfilmshasbeendeveloped.Itrecordsthetwo-dimensionalfilmthicknessdistributiononawettedsurfacewithasamplingrateupto10kHz.Itisusedintheexperimentsdedicatedtoboilingwaterreactorfuelassembliesmentionedabove.Thesensorcanbeappliedtothecurvedsurfaceofanindividualfuelrodmodelandhasmanypotentialapplicationsalsooutsidenucleartechnology.Thedatareportswavystructuresandtheeffectofdropletdepositioneventsingreatdetail.Itisidealforthevalidationofsurfacetrackingtechniques.Furthermore,along-termgoalisthedevelopmentofnovelnon-intrusivemethods.Complementarytotheearlierdevelopedphase-lockedgammatomographytechniquesforperiodicallychanginggas-fractionfieldsandthefastX-raytomographybasedondeflectedelectronbeams,afeasibilitystudyonimagingwithfastneutronsisunderway.

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Institute of Energy TechnologyRenewable Energy CarriersProfessor Aldo Steinfeld

AldoSteinfeldhasbeenFullProfessorofRenewableEnergyCarriersatETHZurichsince2007.HefurtherleadstheSolarTechnologyLaboratoryatthePaulScherrerInstitute.Hewasborn1960inMontevideo,Uruguay.HereceivedhisB.Sc.inAeronauticalEngineeringfromtheTechnionin1983andhisPh.D.inMechanicalEngineeringfromtheUniversityofMinnesotain1989.PriortojoiningPSIandETH,hewasResearchFellowattheWeizmannInstituteofScience.Hisresearchprogramisaimedattheadvancementofthethermal,thermochemical,andelectrochemicalengineeringsciencesappliedtorenewableenergytechnologies,withfocuson:•radiationheattransferinmulti-phasereactingflows;•appliedthermodynamicsofnovelenergyconversionprocesses;•high-temperaturechemicalreactorengineering;•renewablefuels(e.g.solarhydrogenproduction);•decarbonizationandCO2 mitigationtechnologies.ProfessorSteinfeldistheEditoroftheASME Journal of Solar Energy Engineering.Hehasauthoredover150researcharticlesinrefereedscientificjournalsandhascontributedchapterstotheEncyclopedia of Physical Science & Technol-ogy and Encyclopedia of Energy.

Hiscontributionstoscienceandeducationhavebeenrecog-nizedwiththeASMECalvinRiceAward(2006),theUOP/Hon-eywellLecturer(2006),theElectrosuisseFachliteraturpreis(2006),theUniversityofMinnesotaFoundersLecturer(2007),andtheASMEYellottAward(2008).

Research Thethermodynamicfundamentalsofenergyconversionareappliedinthedevelopmentofnovel,efficient,andcleanenergytechnologies.ThecurrentresearchfocusisinSolarChemistry:aninterdisciplinaryemergingfieldthatdealswiththeutilizationofconcentratedsolarpowerfortheproduc-tionofchemicalenergycarriers(e.g.solarhydrogen,syngas,metals).FurtherareasofR&Darethedecarbonizationoffossilfuels,thethermalprocessingandrecyclingofenergy-intensivematerials,andCO2 capture/mitigationtechnologies.Onthemorefundamentalaspectsofenergyconversion,theresearchemphasisisontheanalysisofradiationheatexchangeinmulti-phasereactingflows,appliedintheengineeringdesignandoptimizationofhigh-temperaturethermochemicalreactors.Threeselectedprojectsarebrieflydescribed.

Solar Hydrogen by a 2-step H2O-splitting Thermochemical CycleAtwo-stepH2O-splittingthermochemicalcyclebasedontheZnO/Znredoxreactionsisinvestigatedusingconcentratedsolarradiationastheenergysourceofhigh-temperaturepro-cessheat.Inthefirstendothermicsolarstep,ZnOisthermal-lyreducedintoZnandO2 at2000K.Inthesecondexothermicstep,ZnishydrolyzedwithwatertogenerateH2 andZnO;thelatterisbeingrecycledtothesolarreactor.ThenetreactionisH2O=H2+0.5O2, butsinceH2 andO2areformedindifferentsteps,theneedforhigh-temperaturegasseparationistherebyeliminated.Theproject’sgoalsarethedevelopmentofthechemicalreactortechnologyforbothreductionand

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hydrolysissteps,andtheexperimentaldemonstrationoftheclosedmaterialcyclewithhigh-energyconversionefficiency.Thesolarchemicalreactorconceptforthefirststepofthecycle(ZnO-reduction)featuresarotatingcavity-receiverlinedwithZnOparticlesthataredirectlyexposedtohigh-fluxsolarirradiation.Withthisarrangement,ZnOservessimultaneouslythefunctionsofradiantabsorber,thermalinsulator,andchemicalreactant.Thesecondstepofthecycle(Zn-hydrolysis)usesanaerosolflowreactorfortheformationofZnnanoparticlesandtheirin-situhydrolysisforH2 gene-ration.Sincenanoparticleshaveinherentlyhighspecificsur-facearea,thereactionkineticsandheat/masstransferaresignificantlyaugmented.Bothreactionstepsandassociatedreactortechnology,whichhavebeenpatentedbyPSI/ETH,arecurrentlybeingoptimizedusingcomputationalmodelsforheat/masstransport.

Hydrogen Production via the Solar Thermal Decarbonization of Fossil Fuels.Hybridsolar/fossilendothermicprocessesmakeuseoffossilfuelsasthechemicalsourceofhydrogenandconcentratedsolarradiationastheenergysourceofhigh-temperatureprocessheat.Examplesincludethecracking,reforming,andgasificationoffossilfuels.Theadvantagesofthesehybridprocessesarethree-fold:1)thecalorificvalueofthefeedstockissolar-upgraded;2)thegaseousproductsarenotcontaminatedbycombustionby-products;and3)thedischargeofpollutantstotheenvironmentisavoided.ASecond-Lawanalysisforgen-eratingelectricityusingthesolarreactionproductsindicatesthepotentialofdoublingthespecificelectricaloutputand,consequently,halvingthespecificCO2 emissions,vis-à-viscon-ventionalfossilfuel-firedpowerplants.Theseprocesseshavebeenexperimentallydemonstratedinsolarchemicalreactorsatapowerlevelrangingfrom5to500kW.Hybridsolar/fossilprocessesofferaviablerouteforfossilfueldecarbonizationandcreateatransitionpathtowardssolarhydrogen.

Radiation Heat Transfer in Chemical Reacting Multi-Phase FlowsThisresearchthemehasfundamentalsignificancetoseveralenergy-relatedfieldssuchascombustion,advancedmateri-alsprocessing,atmosphericsciences,andsolarchemistry.Thermalradiativetransportcoupledtothereactionkineticsisanalyzedforheterogeneouschemicalsystemsinwhichtheiropticalproperties,speciescomposition,andphasesvaryasthechemicalreactionprogresses.Ofspecialinter-estisthetransientradiativeexchangewithinparticle/gassuspensions,appliedinthermochemicalfuelprocessingsuchascracking,gasification,reforming,decomposition,andreductionprocesses.Theradiativeanalysesareincorporatedincomputationalfluiddynamicssimulationmodelsofsolarchemicalreactorstosupporttheirdesignandoptimizationformaximumenergyconversionefficiency.ThemethodologiesappliedincludeMonte-Carloraytracingandband-approx-imationradiositytechniquesfortreatingnongraynoniso-thermalabsorbing-emitting-scatteringparticipatingmediaundergoingchemicaltransformations.Forcomplexporousmedia,tomography-basedpore-levelnumericalsimulationsaredevelopedforthedeterminationoftheeffectiveheat/masstransportproperties.Numericalmodelsarevalidatedwithexperimentaldataobtainedfromtestinglab-scalereactorprototypesatETH/PSIsolarconcentratingfacilities.

Research FacilitiesTheETH/PSIsolarconcentratingfacilitiesincludethesolarfurnaceandthehigh-fluxsolarsimulators,capableofdeliveringover50kWofradiativethermalpowerwithpeakfluxconcen-trationratiosover10000suns.Thesestate-of-the-artresearchfacilitiesserveasuniqueexperimentalplatformsforinvesti-gatingthethermochemicalprocessingofsolarfuelsandfortestingadvancedceramicmaterialsattemperaturesexceeding3000Kandheatingratesexceeding1000K/second.

Pictures from left to right:70kW3000sunsparabolicconcentratorforsolarpowerandfuelproduction;40kW5000sunssolarfurnaceforR&Dofhightemperaturechemicalreactortechnology;Solarhydrogenproductionviaawater-splittingthermochemicalcycle;

50kW10000sunshigh-fluxsolarsimulatorforinvestigatingthefundamentalsofradiativeheattransferinreactingflowsandadvancedceramicmaterials;High-temperaturethermochemicalreactorengineering

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Institute of Fluid Dynamics

TheInstituteofFluidDynamics(IFD)comprisesthethreepro-fessorshipsheldbyP.Jenny,L.KleiserandT.Rösgen.Whiletheresearchactivitiesoftheprofessorsarelargelycomplementary,thereisclosecooperationandresourcesharinginteaching,infrastructureandadministrativematters.

Fluidmechanicsisbothacoredisciplineofmodernengineeringandahighlyactiveareaofongoingresearchanddevelopment.Thefieldislinkedtofundamentalquestionsinmathematics,physics,chemistryandbiology,andatthesametimeformsanintegralpartofmanytechnicaldesigns,productsandproc-esses.Itsestablishedimportanceinfieldssuchasaerody-namics(e.g.cars,trains,ships,aircraft),energytechnology(turbomachinery,combustionengines,windmills)orenvi-ronmentalmodeling(oceanography,meteorology,limnology)isincreasinglybeingaugmentedbyinterdisciplinaryapplica-tions,forexampleinmedicine,biologyormicro-andnanoscaleengineering.

ThejointresearchobjectiveoftheInstituteisthescientificexplorationandtheengineeringapplicationoffluiddynamicprocesses.Byconductingactiveresearchinanumberofspecial-izedareas,IFDfacultyandresearcherscontributetothesolu-tionofchallengingproblemsbothatthefundamentalandap-pliedlevel.Priorityisgiventoareasandtopicswhereresultswillhaveanimpactbeyondtheiroriginalsetting,demonstratingawidelyrecognizableandsustainedexpertiseattheInstitute.

Withinthisframework,researchatIFDisprimarilyaimedatthedevelopmentandapplicationofmoderncomputationalandexperimentaltoolstoprobeabroadspectrumofprob-lemsinfluiddynamics.

Onespecificareaoftechnicalcompetenceisthedevelop-mentofadvancednumericalsimulationtechniques(DNS,LESandPDFmethods)forengineeringflows.

BasicresearchprojectsatIFDinwhichsuchtechniquesareappliedincludethesimulationandmodelingoftransitionalandturbulentboundarylayers,turbulentparticle-ladenflows,computationalaeroacoustics,turbulentcombustion,andflowsinrandommedia.Someoftheassociatedengineeringapplicationsarejetnoisepredictionandreduction,advancedfilmcoolingforturbineblades,abrasivewaterjetcutting,cleancombustion,oilextraction,orundergroundCO2sequestration.

Ontheexperimentalside,theemphasisliesonthedevelop-mentofquantitativeflowimagingdiagnosticsforresearchandindustrialapplications.Amainobjectiveisthedevelopmentoffast,multidimensionalmeasurementtechniques,suchasglobalDopplervelocimetry,multispectralimagethermometryoropticalpressuresensingmethods.Thelinktopracticalappli-cationsisestablishedthroughresearchintunnelfiredynamics,gravitydrivencryogenicflows,hypersonicre-entryflightandaerodynamicoptimization.

Thebroadin-housecompetencefacilitatesalsotheimple-mentationofjointexperimentalandnumericalstudies.

Thisapproachhasproventobeparticularlysuccessfulindiffer-entbiomedicalapplications.Here,theexistingmedicalknowl-edgeofdoctorsiscombinedwithrigorousanalyticalmodelsdescribingtheunderlyingfluiddynamics.Computersimulationsandexperimentsusingcustom-designedengineeringmodelsarethenemployedtofurtherexplaintheobservedphenomenaandtodeveloppossiblediagnosticandtreatmentscenarios.

Examplesforthismulti-tieredapproacharethestudyofalveolarmicro-flowsinthehumanlung;particle-ladenflowsinthesemi-circularcanalsoftheinnerear;fluid-structureinteractioninthecochleaandthedynamicbehaviourofartificialheartvalvesorbloodperfusioninthehumanbrain.

Modernlarge-scalefacilities(in-housecomputersandnationalsupercomputers,windandwatertunnelfacilities,advancedimagingsystems,etc.)areavailableatIFDtoconductthediffer-entresearchprojectsinastate-of-the-artandtechnologicallycompetitiveenvironment.

Fundingfortheactivitiescomesfromdifferentsourcessuchasnationalresearchgrants(ETHinternalandSwissnationalfund-ingagencies),Europeanresearchprograms,andcollaborationswithSwissandforeignindustries.

Withitschosenportfolioofactivities,IFDisrecognizedasacompetencecentreforfluiddynamicsresearchwithinETHandinthewidernational/internationalcontext.Collaborationswithotherinstitutes,organisationsandcompaniesareactivelysoughtandmaintained,bothonthelevelofundergraduatestudentworkandintheformofmulti-yeargraduateresearchprojects.

Institute of Fluid Dynamics Professor Patrick Jenny

In1997PatrickJennyreceivedhisPh.D.inComputationalFluidDynamics(CFD)underthesupervisionofProfessorBernhardMülleratETHZurich.TheprimaryfocusofhisresearchwasondevelopingnumericalalgorithmstosolvethecompressibleNavier-Stokesequationsforreactiveflowwithapplicationstostudiesofthermoacousticinstabilities.FromJuly1997tillOctober1999PatrickJennywasamemberofProfessorStephenB.Pope’sTurbulenceandCombustionGroupintheMechanicalandAerospaceEngineeringDepartmentofCornellUniversity,Ithaca,NewYork.Hisresearchdealtwithprobabilitydensityfunction(PDF)modelingofturbulentreac-tiveflow.FromNovember1999tillApril2003PatrickJennywaspartofthereservoirsimulationandoptimizationresearchgroupofChevroninSanRamon,California.Inspring2003PatrickJennyjoinedtheInstituteofFluidDynamicsatETHZurichasanSNFAssistantProfessorforComputationalFluidDynamicsandinAugust2006hebecameanAssociateProfessor.PatrickJenny’smainresearchinterestsincludemodelingofturbulentcombustion,multi-phaseflowinporousmediaandmulti-scalemodelingofcomplexphysi-calphenomena.Hehasdevelopedvariousnewmodelsandnumericalmethodologiestosolvethegoverningequationsefficientlyandaccurately.Besidesconcentratingonfundamen-talresearchtopics,applicationstorelevantproblemsinvariousindustrialsectorsareatthecenterofhisfocus.

Probability Density Function (PDF) Modeling of Turbulent Reacting FlowsWorldwide,morethan80%oftheenergyconsumedisconvertedbyburningfossilfuels.Therefore,improvingemissionratesandefficiencyofcombustiondevicesauto-maticallyhasasignificantimpactonourenvironmentandisofcrucialimportance.Toachievesuchimprovements,however,thecapabilityofaccuratelypredictingthegovern-ingphysicalprocessesisessential.Incontrasttootherap-proaches,jointprobabilitydensityfunction(PDF)methodshavethecrucialadvantagethattheyrequirenomodelforturbulentconvectionnorturbulence-reactioninteraction.

PDF solution algorithm:ComparedwithReynolds-averagedNavier-Stokes(RANS)models,PDFmethodsarecomputa-tionallymoreexpensive.Motivatedbythisdeficiencyanewhybridparticle/finite-volumePDFsolver,whichprovedtobemuchfasterthanprevioussolutionalgorithms(upto370times),wasdeveloped.Recently,thishybridalgorithmwasgeneralizedforproblemswithcomplex3Dgeometriesandinordertomakelarge,complexstudiesfeasible,thecodewasparallelized.

Molecular mixing model: Anaccuratedescriptionofmo-lecularmixingatthesmallestscalesiscrucialforturbulentcombustionsimulationsandposesoneofthegreatestmodelingchallengesinthisfield.Anewmixingmodelformulti-scalarmixingwasdeveloped.Itisbasedonparam-eterizedscalarprofiles(PSP)andprovedtobesignificantlymoreaccuratethanpreviousmodels.

Turbulent combustion modeling:Basedonascalesepara-tionapproach,PDFmethodshavebeendevelopedtomodelnon-premixedturbulentcombustionwithlocalextinctionandre-ignitionandpremixedturbulentcombustion.

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Pictures from left to right:Mixingoftwoscalarsinhomogeneousisotropicturbulence.ShownarethePDFsatdifferenttimescomputedwithvariousmixingmodelsandbyDNS(reference);Transmissionpointspreadfunction(PSF)computedfordifferentincidentbeamanglesandbasedonspecifiedsubstratecharacteristics;Injectedwater(blue)intoanoil

reservoir.Fine-scale(13’020cells)vs.MSFV(33coarsecells)simulation;CO2storageaboveSleipnerreservoiroperatedbyStatoil;Capillarynetworkofaratbrain.

Finite-Volume Schemes for Simulations of Thermoacoustic PhenomenaInrecentyears,thedevelopmentofnumericalmethodsforcombustionproblemshasbeendrivenbyanincreasingindustrialdemandforfastandaccuratecomputationsofreactingflow.Consideringtheinteractionofacousticsandcombustionaddsanotherlevelofcomplexity.However,thecontrolofthermoacousticinstabilitiesisdecisiveforthesafeoperationofrocketmotorsandmoderngasturbines.ContributionsofthegroupinthisareaincludeaRankine-Hugoniot-Riemann(RHR)solver,whichtakesintoaccountsourceterms,viscoustermsandmultidimensionaleffects;aconvergenceaccelerationschemeforcompressiblelowMachnumberflow,andasolverforcompressiblegasmixtures;whichavoidsspuriousoscillations.

Radiation and Light ScatteringScatteringofelectromagneticwavesiscrucialformanyresearchareas,includingenergysciencesandthegraphicsindustry.Basedonthetransporttheory,aPDFmethodtodescribejointphotonstatisticswasdeveloped.Thesolutionscontainahugeamountofrelevantstatisticalinformationandcomparedwithpreviousmethods,fewermodelingas-sumptionsarerequired.Recently,itsvalueforcolorinvestiga-tionsrelatedtohalftoneprintingwasdemonstrated.

Multi-Phase Flow in Porous MediaFlowandtransportinporousmediahasmanyapplicationsinenergyscience,e.g.forcatalyticprocesses,oilandgasrecovery,CO

2 storageingeologicalsub-surfaceformationsandgeothermalenergy.

Multi-scale modeling:Oneofthemajorchallengesinmacro-scopicsimulationsisthecorrecttreatmentofcomplexpermeabilitydistributionswithstrongvariationsandmanylengthscales.Todealwiththisissue,anewmulti-scalefinite-volume(MSFV)algorithmwasdevelopedincollaboration

withChevron.TheMSVFmethodhasseveraladvantageouspropertiescomparedwithpreviousmulti-scaleapproachesanditwasdemonstratedthatlarge,realisticstudiescanbecomputedmuchfasterthanwithconventionalsimulators.Atthesametime,theaccuracyofthesolutionishardlycompro-mised.Recently,theMSFVmethodwasextendedbygravity,capillarypressureandcompressibilityeffects.

Uncertainty assessment: Toassesstheuncertaintyofsimu-lationresultsasafunctionofuncertaininputdata,aPDFmethodfortransportinporousmediawasdeveloped.Concep-tually,ithasanumberofcrucialadvantagescomparedwithestablishedapproachesanditisintendedtogeneralizetheframeworkformulti-phaseflow.

CO2 sequestration:StoringCO

2ingeologicalsub-surface

formationsseemstobeoneofthemostpromisingfeasibletechnologiestostabilizetheCO

2 concentrationintheEarth’satmosphere.TogetherwiththeStanfordPetroleumEngi-neeringDepartmentanappropriatemodelingframeworkisbeingdeveloped.Inordertolearnmoreabouttheconnectionbetweenthephysicsattheporescalesandthemacroscopicbehavior,aPDFmethodhasbeendeveloped.Aproofofcon-ceptstudyiscompletedandcurrentlythemethodisbeingextendedfornon-equilibriumphenomena.

Efficient simulators:Inordertoallowforlargertimestepsandthereforemoreefficientsimulations,anunconditionallystableschemeforsub-surfacetransportwasdevelopedincollaborationwithChevron.Modeling cerebral blood flowIncollaborationwithProfessorsBrunoWeberandAlfredBuckfromtheUniversityofZurich,regulationmechanismsofcerebralbloodflow(CBF)arebeinginvestigated.Bloodflowsthroughacomplexcapillarynetworkanditsflowismodeledwithamulti-scaleapproach.

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Institute of Fluid Dynamics Professor Leonhard Kleiser

LeonhardKleiserhasbeenFullProfessorofFluidMechanicsattheInstituteofFluidDynamicsofETHZurichsince1994.Hewasborn1949inFreiburg(Germany),studiedmath-ematicsandphysicsattheUniversityofFreiburgandbeganhiscarrierasastaffmemberattheForschungszentrumKarlsruhe.In1982hereceivedhisdoctorateinMechanicalEngineeringfromtheUniversityofKarlsruhe(TH)andmovedtotheGermanAerospaceResearchEstablishment(DLR)inGöttingen.Therehetookresponsibilityforthe“TransitionandTurbulence”researchgroupuntil1994.HespentresearchvisitsatUCSantaBarbara,CaltechandtheUniversityofUppsala.

Theresearchinterestsofhisgrouparefocusedonfun-damentalsoffluiddynamicsandonthedevelopmentofadvancedsimulationmethodsforfutureapplications.Transitional,turbulentandparticle-ladenflowsaswellastheoriginandpropagationofaeroacouticnoisearebeinginvestigated.Simultaneously,newaccurateandefficientsimulationmethodsaredevelopedtotackletheseprob-lemswiththeaidofmodernsupercomputers.Considerableprogresshasbeenachievedrecentlyinparticularintheareaof“Large-EddySimulation”(LES)byestablishingnovelconceptsformodelingofthenon-resolvedscales,andbytransferringthesemodelsintoasemi-industrialComputa-tionalFluidDynamics(CFD)code.

Eventhoughturbulenceandlaminar-turbulenttransitionhavebeenmajorresearchsubjectsinfluiddynamicsforthepasthundredyears,theseflowphenomenaarestillfarfrombeingfullyunderstood,andtheirreliablepredictioninpracti-calapplicationsremainsadistantgoal.Significantfutureprogresscanbeexpectedthroughnewnumericalsimulationmethodsandnovelmodelingapproaches.

LES of Turbulent and Transitional FlowsThenumericalsimulationofturbulentflowsandoflaminar-turbulenttransitionisacentralfieldofthegroup’sresearch.Wall-boundedandfreeshearflowsareinvestigatedusingDirectNumericalSimulations(DNS),inwhichallrelevantspaceandtimescalesareresolved,andLarge-EddySimula-tions(LES),whereonlythelargescalesareresolvedwhiletheeffectofthesmallonesisaccountedforbyasubgrid-scalemodel.LESaretypicallyatleasttwoordersofmagnitudelessexpensivethanDNS,butatpresentstilltoocostlyforroutinesimulationsinindustrialsettings.However,thecontinuedexponentialgrowthofaffordablecomputingpowermakesLESoneofthemostpromisingconceptsformasteringturbu-lenceinnumericalsimulations.

TwoLESsubgrid-scalemodelsweredeveloped:thehigh-passfiltered(HPF)eddy-viscositymodelandtheapproximatedeconvolutionmodel(ADM).Theirsuccesswasdemonstratedforanumberofincreasinglycomplexflows,featuringe.g.massiveseparation,swirl,compressibility,shock-turbulenceinteractionorlaminar-turbulenttransition.Suchflowsoccurinnumerousapplicationsandarenotoriouslyhardtopredict.Furthermore,themodelsweresuccessfullyimplementedintotheCFDcodeNSMBthatiscapableofhandlingcomplexindustrialconfigurations.Asanexample,jet-in-crossflowconfigurationsarestudiedwiththiscodewhicharecentraltofilmcoolingofgasturbineblades.TheworkonLESoftransitionalandturbulentflowsbuildsasolidfundamentforthequalityimprovementofindustrialflowsimulationsinthe

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Pictures from left to right:Transitiontoturbulenceinachannelflow;LESofaswirlingjet;vortexstructuresofajetincrossflow;vorticityandnoisepatternofajet;bonylabyrinthoftheinnerear.

future.Computational AeroacousticsNoiseemissionsofaircraftattake-offisaseriousproblemofgrowingimportance.OnecurrentprojectaimsattheanalysisandpredictionofjetnoisewithadirectnoisecomputationapproachbasedonLESandahybridmethodusedforthepropagationofnoisetotheacousticfar-field.Suchsimula-tionsneedtocoverawiderangeoflengthandtimescalesinthenoise-generatingregion,whichrequiresawell-suitedsubgrid-scalemodelfortheLES.AroundsubsonicjetatamoderatelyhighReynoldsnumberissimulatedwithLES.Thiscomputationnotonlyincludesthetransitionalandturbulentstructuresofthejetflow,whicharemainlyresponsibleforthecreationofnoise,butalsocapturesthenear-fieldnoise.TheacousticdatafromtheLESisextrapolatedtotheacousticfar-fieldwithasolverthatisbasedonLighthill’sacousticanalogy.Thishybridmethodwillallowpredictionofthenoiseperceivedbyadistantobserver,e.g.thenoiseofanaircraftattake-offasperceivedbyapersonontheground.

Simulation of Particle-laden FlowsAclassofdisperseparticle-ladentwo-phaseflowsisstud-iedinwhichthesolidparticlesaremuchsmallerthanthesmallestrelevantscalesofthefluidmotion,andthemutualparticleinteractioncanbeneglected.Eitherthefluidequa-tionsaresolvedinanEulerianframeworkwhiletheparticlesaretrackedindividuallyalongtheirtrajectories,orboththeclearandtheparticle-ladenphasearecomputedinapurelyEulerianmanner.Thesenumericalapproachesareappliedtovariousproblems:thesettlingandbreak-upofsuspensiondrops,particlesettlinginhomogeneousturbulence,particle-ladenflowinachannelandoverabackwardfacingstep,particle-drivengravitycurrentsandparticletransport,mixingandsettlingmechanismsinestuaries.Thestudyoftheseba-sicproblemsenhancesourunderstandingoftheflowphysicsandsupportsmodelingofparticle-ladenflowswhichhavevariousimportantapplicationsinindustrial,environmental

andbiologicalcontexts.Biomedical Fluid Dynamics: Fluid Mechanics of the Inner EarThestudyoffluidmotionsintheinnerearisoneofnumer-ousapplicationsoffluiddynamicsinthefieldsofbiologyandmedicine.Inoneproject,specificallythelymphaticflowinthesemicircularcanalsoftheinnerearisstudied.Thiscreepingflowisresponsiblefortheproperfunctioningofourbalanceorgan.Thepresenceofsmallparticlesmayperturbthisflowinawaythatleadstovertigo.Thisdisorderisinvestigatedbyanalyzingtheparticle-ladenflowwithnumericalandanalyticalmethods.Inanotherprojectthefluidflowwithinthecochleawhichholdsthesensoriumofourhearingisin-vestigated.Thetightfluid-structureinteractionissimulatedwithahigh-ordersimulationcodetolearnmoreaboutthephysicalphenomenainvolvedinthehearingprocess.Theseinterdisciplinaryprojectsbringtogetherclinicalmedicalresearch,fundamentalfluiddynamics,appliedmathematicsandmodernnumericalsimulationmethods.TheresultsofthisworkaddtoourunderstandingofhumanphysiologyandcanbeexploitedjointlywiththecollaborationpartnersfromtheZurichUniversityHospital.

Development of High-Fidelity Numerical Discre-tization Methods and Simulation ToolsForallnumericalinvestigations,theavailabilityofhigh-fidelitydiscretizationschemes,robustsimulationmethodsandadvancedpost-processingandvisualizationtoolsisindispensable.CommercialCFDcodesareusuallyfartooinaccurateforthepresentdemandingresearchtasks.There-fore,inadditiontoimplementingwell-establishednumeri-calschemes,newhighlyaccurateandefficientschemessuchashigh-ordercompactupwind-biasedfinite-differenceschemesorspectral-elementmethodsaredevelopedbythegroup.Theyareimplementedinresearchcodesthatrunefficientlyonavarietyofcomputersfromworkstationstomassivelyparallelsupercomputingarchitectures.

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Institute of Fluid DynamicsProfessor Thomas Rösgen

ThomasRösgenisaFullProfessorofFluidMechanicsatETHsince1997.Beforethat,heworkedasaseniorengineerattheresearchcentreoftheEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA-ESTEC)inNoordwijk(NL).HealsoheldpositionsasaseniorgroupleaderattheInstituteofSpaceSystems,StuttgartUniversity(D),andasPostdoc/staffengineeratESA.Hehasanengineer-ingdiplomafromtheTechnicalUniversityinBerlin(D)andaPh.D.degreeinAeronauticsfromtheCaliforniaInstituteofTechnology(Pasadena,USA).

BeforehisarrivalatETH,heworkedinanumberofdifferentresearchareas,bothfluids-relatedandnot.Theyincludevor-texmotioninsuperfluidhelium,microgravityfluiddynam-ics,ferrofluidsforlevitation,cryo-electronics,digitalimageprocessingandrestorationofsatelliteimagery,real-timevideomotionanalysis,andinteractiveandremote-controlledsatellitecommunicationsforspaceexperiments.

ThecurrentresearchactivitiesofProfessorRösgenarefocusedonthefieldofmodernelectro-opticaldiagnosticsandquantitativeimageanalysiswithapplicationtofluiddynamics.Otheractivitiesinhisresearchgroupincludeenvi-ronmentalfluiddynamics(firedynamicsandcontrol,gravitydrivencryogenicflows),bio-fluidics(alveolarlungflows)andaerodynamictestingandoptimization.

TheexperimentalresearchworkatIFDisperformedinseveralgeneralpurposefacilities,includingthelarge,lowspeedwindtunnel,aboundarylayertunnelandawatertunnel.Additionaldedicatedfacilities(e.g.acryogenicheavygastunnelorahotgascrossflowtunnel)areavailableformorefundamentalstudies.Theinstrumentationisbeingcontinuouslyupdatedtoprovidecapabilitiesforflowvisualization,forcemeasure-ments,advancedlaserdiagnostics(LDA,PIV,DGV)andvariousformsofelectronicimaging,includinginfrared,lowlightlevelandhighspeedcameras.

ThefollowinglistprovidesasummaryofrecentandongoingPh.D.researchprojects.

Quantitative Flow Visualization in Large Wind TunnelsThisactivityisaimedatimprovingtheproductivityinaero-dynamicwindtunneltesting.Theconventionalapproachofvisualizingtheflowaroundmodels(usingsmokefilaments,heliumbubbles,etc.)isbeingaugmentedbydigitalimageenhancementandanalysistechniques.Usingrecentadvancesinimaginghardwareandsoftware,adigitalrepresentationofthemeasurementisbeingcreatedinrealtime.Thisallowstheoperatornotonlytostoreandre-analyzetheoriginaldata,butalsotoextract“invisible”informationsuchaslocalflowvelocitiesorpressuredistributions.

Imaging Doppler VelocimetryThemeasurementofvelocitydistributionsisrelevantbothforaerodynamictestingandfundamentalresearch.Al-thoughParticleImageVelocimetry(PIV)isestablishedasthedefactostandardforthistask,therearealternativeswhichofferspecificadvantages.Dopplertechniques,forexample,donotrequiretheresolvedimagingofindividualflowtrac-ersandmaybebettersuitedforlargescaleapplications.TheresearchatIFDfollowstwothreads.Usingmoleculariodinefiltersnearanabsorptionline,flowinducedfrequencyshifts

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Pictures from left to right:Propagatingcryogenicgascloud;CFDsimulationofaflowinthehotgasfacility;AerodynamictestingintheIFDwindtunnel;largeETH/IFDwindtunnel;PSP

sensorfoilsonwindtunnelmodel;HybridPIV/DGVmeasurements

canbetranslatedintoamplitudeorphaseinformationandrecordedwithaconventionalcamera.Usinginterfero-metricimagingprinciples,thesensitivityandaccuracyofsuchtechniquesisbeingexpanded.Ontheotherhand,special“activepixel”sensorsarebeingusedasdirectopto-electronicdemodulators.Here,theDopplershiftfrequencyismeasuredusingalock-indetectionschemeappliedtoallsensingpixelsinparallel.

Low Coherence Measurements in Fluid FlowsLaserpointmeasurementsofdisplacementsorvelocitiescanreadilybeperformedfromconsiderabledistances.However,theabsoluteaccuracyandreproducibilitybecomesaproblemforvibratingtestarticlesandclosetosurfaces.Here,“lowcoherence”lasersourcesareadvanta-geous,becausetheyprovideabsolutedepthresolutioninthemicrometerrange.SeveralactivitiesareongoingatIFDtoutilizethiscapabilityforfluidmechanicsmeasurements:PIVimaginginavirtualimageplane,opticaltipclearancemeasurementsinahotgasturbinestage,andimprovedLaserDopplerVelocimetry(LDV)incloseproximitytowallsweresuccessfullydemonstrated.Thelastapplicationalsofeaturesaself-referencingrecordingsetupwhereabsolutewallstandoffdistancesaremaintainedevenformovingsurfaces.

Surface Pressure DistributionsTherecordingofsurfacepressuredistributionsonaerody-namicmodelscontinuestobeanessentialpartofwindtunneltesting.TwoactivitiesatIFDaimatdevelopingimag-ingtechniqueswhichwoulddoawaywiththerequirementforcostlyarraysofwiredpressuretaps.Self-illuminatingpressuresensitivepaints(PSPs)weredeveloped,basedonintegratingthepaintlayerwithathin,flexibleelectrolu-minescentfoil.Sincethepressure-dependentfluorescenceisexcitedlocallyinthissetup,therequirementsregardingilluminationandmodelstabilitycanbesignificantlyrelaxed.

Theothertechnologyunderdevelopmentreliesontheopticalinterrogationofindividualhigh-sensitivityMEMSpressure-sensingmembranes.Theobjectiveistomaintainahighmeasurementaccuracy(notachievablewithPSPs)whilestillprovidingawirelesssensorinterrogation.

Environmental Flows with Gravity InfluenceTwocustom-builtfacilitiesareavailableatIFDtostudyvarioustypesofenvironmentalflows.Inthecryogenicgasfacility,thepropagationandmixingofcold(andheavy)gascloudsisstudiedtodevelopmodelsforthespreadingofsuchfluidsinindustrialaccidents.Thehotgasfacilityisbeingusedtostudyfire-inducedflowsandtheircontrolincross-flowventilationsystems.Thisisafundamentalaccidentscenarioformanyroadandtraintunnels,andmeasurementsareimportanttosupportandvalidatethenumericalpredictionsbeingdeveloped.Furthermore,theempiricalcorrelationsrequiredintheoreticalmodelscanbeprovidedinthisway.

Flow Control in the LungThisactivityisconcernedwithcontrolofflowsdeepinsidethehumanlung.Alveolarflowsareveryslowandlargelyreversible,leadingtoapoordepositionofthesmallaerosoldropletsusedinmedicaltreatment.Differentforcingmeth-odsarebeingstudiedtoenhancethemixingandparticleresidencetimeinthealveoli.Bothnumericalandexperimen-talmodelsareemployedtoidentifyandevaluatetheforcingmechanisms.

Re-entry MeasurementsIFDisinvolvedinahypersonicre-entryflightexperimentoftheEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA“Expert”).Ashortwaveinfrared(SWIR)cameraisbeingdevelopedtogetherwithadetachedhigh-temperatureopticalfrontendtoimagethein-flighttemperaturedistributiononthesurfaceofanexternalcontrolflap/compressionrampofthespacecraft.

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Institute of Mechanical Systems

TheInstituteofMechanicalSystemsconsistsoftheCentresofMechanicsandStructureTechnologiesandiscommittedtoalong-termsustainabledevelopmentofoursocietybydeliveringcutting-edgeeducationandresearchinthebroadfieldofmechanics,structuresandmultifunctionalmaterials.Onmanyaxesofactivitiesweconsidersystemsfromthesmall-tothelarge-scale,frombasicresearchtoapplicationsusingtheoretical,computationalandexperimentalapproaches.

Whileteachingthebasicmechanicsandengineeringdesigncoursesweintroduceyoungstudentstothegeneralconceptofmathematicalmodelingofourenvironment.AlignedwiththespiritoftheDepartmentofMechanicalandProcessEngi-neering,wealsoprovidehigh-leveleducationinengineeringsciencestoskilledstudentsinthelaterstageoftheireduca-tion,forgingtomorrow’sengineersandresearchers.

Tofulfilourmissionwestriveforcross-fertilizationbetweenourmainfieldsofactivity,namelyresearch,education,servicesandco-operationwithindustry.TheInstituteseeksco-operationwithnationalandinternationalindustriesandresearchinstitutionswhileintegratingcompetenciesinchallengingandhighlyinterdisciplinaryprojects.Areas of Specialization:ProfessorJürgDual,MechanicsandExperimentalDynamicsProfessorPaoloErmanni,StructureTechnologiesProfessorChristophGlocker,Mechanics,NonsmoothDynamicsProfessorEdoardoMazza,ExperimentalContinuumMechanics

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Institute of Mechanical SystemsCenter of MechanicsProfessor Jürg Dual

JürgDualhasbeenFullProfessorofMechanicsandExperimen-talDynamicsintheCenterofMechanicsoftheInstituteofMechanicalSystemsatETHZurichsince1998.HewasPresidentofthePlanningCommissionofETHZurich2000-2004andhasbeenPresidentoftheHochschulversammlungsince2008.JürgDualwasbornin1957andstudiedmechanicalengineeringatETHZurich.HethenspenttwoyearsonaFulbrightgrantattheUniversityofCaliforniainBerkeley,wherehegraduatedwithanMSc.andanM.Eng.degreeinMechanicalEngineering.HethenreceivedhisDr.sc.techn.degreeatETHZurichundertheguid-anceofProfessorDr.M.SayirattheInstituteofMechanics.ForhisdissertationhewasawardedtheLatsisPrizeofETHZurichin1989.AfteroneyearasVisitingAssistantProfessoratCornellUniversity,Ithaca,NY,hereturnedtoETHZurichasAssistantProfessor.HeisaMemberoftheSwissAcademyofTechnicalSciences,FellowoftheASMEandHonoraryMemberoftheGer-manAssociationforMaterialsResearchandTesting.Hisresearchfocusesonwavepropagationandvibrationsinsolidsaswellasmicro-andnanosystemtechnology.Inparticular,heisinter-estedinbothbasicresearchandapplicationsintheareaofsensors(viscometry),nondestructivetesting,mechanicalchar-acterizationofmicrostructures,andgravitationalinteractionofvibratingsystems.Inhisresearch,experimentationiscentral,butmustalwaysbeembeddedincorrespondinganalyticalandcomputationalmodeling.

Theprojectspresentedhereshowthecentralroleofme-chanicsasatimelessdisciplineinawiderangeofmodernandfascinatingchallenges.

Sensors based on Structural VibrationsInresonatingsensors,thevibrationcharacteristics(frequency,damping)areinfluencedbytheenvironment.Asanexample,dynamicviscometersareinvestigated,whereasurroundingfluidincreasesthedampingofaresonatingdevice.Agatedphase-lockedloophasbeeninvestigatedfordrivingsuchsensors.Anumberofnovelviscometerdesignshavebeenbuilt,tested,andappliedinvarioussituations,e.g.forblooddirectlyduringextractionfromthebody,foodintheproduc-tionprocess,etc.Measurementscanbemadewithvolumesof<10microliters.Inanotherproject,smallhigh-frequencymotionissuperimposedonlargedeformationsinaclassi-calrheometer.ProcessviscometersbasedonourdesignaremarketedbyBrookfieldEngineering,USA.

Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation (QNDE)RecentresultsinguidedwaveQNDEincludethedeterminationoftheelasticconstantsforfilament-woundshellsincludingnon-axisymmetricwaves,faultdetectionincylindricalshellsusingatime-reversescheme,basicinvestigationsontheNDTofwood,whichisextremelydifficultduetotheinhomoge-neitiesandanisotropy,andtheapplicationofadvancedfibercomposites(piezoelectricfibres)inQNDE.

Wave Propagation in Micro Systems: NanosonicsUsinganopticalpumpprobeset-up,highfrequency(~100GHz)wavepropagationexperimentsareperformedwithpicosecond(ps)resolution.Suchwaveshavebeenusedforprobingofinterfacesandburieddiffusionbarriers,andwillbefurtherappliedtowardspsresolutionatomicforcemicroscopy.Thefeasibilityofpropagatinganddetecting100GHzwavesfordistancesupto10micrometershasbeendemonstrated.Alsoatwo-temperaturemodeltodescribetheinteractions

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Pictures:Impressionsfromthelabs

betweenlightandthemechanicalwaveshasbeensuccess-fullyimplementedandshowsgoodagreementwithexperi-ments.ApplicationsareintheareaofNDTofsemiconductordevicesorsub-THzfilters,wherethefrequency-dependentreflectionbehavioratcontinuousinterfacesisused.

Manipulation of Particles by UltrasoundSmallparticles(e.g.withasizeof10microns,biologicalcells,etc.)canbemanipulatedbyultrasound.Theinteractionismodeledandusedtodesigndevices.Recently,microsystemshavebeeninvestigatedandbuiltfor1Dand2Dparticlearrangementsandinteractionwithmicromachinedsilicongrippers(ProfessorB.Nelson’sgroup).Thefeasibilityofma-nipulatinglivingcellshasbeendemonstrated.

Mechanical Properties of MicrostructuresMechanicalpropertiesofmaterialsusedformicrostruc-turesinmanycasescannotbededucedfromcorrespond-ingmacroscopictestingduetothedifferentmanufactur-ingprocesses.Thereforetestrigshavebeenbuiltfortensiletesting,torsionaltesting,andfatiguetestingofstructureswithatypicallengthintherangeofsome100microm-eters.Fortensiletesting,aLeast-SquareTemplateMatching(LSM)algorithmwasdevelopedyieldingadisplacementresolutionof10nminanopticalmicroscope(superresolu-tionuptoafactorof100).Torsionaltestingallowedthemeasurementoftorqueswitharesolutionof50nNmusingadifferentiallaserinterferometer.Fatiguetestingusingaphase-lockedloopsofarhasreachedresolutionsincracklengthmeasurementof10nm.Alsosizeeffectsinthincop-perfoilsandpolymermicrostructures(Baytron)havebeeninvestigated.Mechanical Properties of Snow, Snow Slab Release, and Ski/Snow Interaction Basedonfracturemechanicsandstatisticalmechanics,trig-geringmechanismsforsnowslabreleaseareinvestigated

boththeoreticallyandexperimentally.Forexample,criticalstressintensityfactorshavebeenmeasuredandinterpretedinthecontextoffracturemechanicalsizeeffects.Also,acarvingskiinacurveinteractingwiththesnowcoverhasbeensimulatedandexperimentallyinvestigated.

DNA Analysis System Startingfromasampleofblood,anovelDNAanalysissystemhasbeeninvestigated,whichwillrevolutionizeDNAtestingofvarioussamples.ItallowsthedetectionofaspecificDNAsequencewithinlessthan45minutesstart-ingfromsampleprocessingtotheresult.Itisbasedonacartridgethatdoesthelysisandpreparesthemastermixtobeusedinamicro-machinedPCRChip.

Microsystem DevicesInourcleanroomsanumberofdeviceshavebeenbuilt.D.Bächidevelopedamicrochannelnetworkwithintegratedmicrovalvestobeusedforsortingofcellsandmicroparti-cles.M.HaueisdevelopedanencapsulatedmicromachinedresonantforcesensorwhileS.Blunierworksonaresonant3Dgyroonasinglewafer.Allmakeuseofthegatedphaselocked-loopcontrolsystem.Withthissystem,onlyonetrans-ducerisneeded,andelectromagneticcrosstalkiscompletelyeliminated.N.Quackdevelopsaverticallyactuatedmicro-mirrorforInfraredDetectors,whichimprovestheintrinsicsensitivityofthedetector.

Additionalprojectswithindustryincludedamicropipettingsystem(RocheDiagnostics),resonantmicromotors(Creahol-ic),andresearchintothesquealingnoiseofrailwaysystems(SBB).

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Institute of Mechanical Systems Centre of Structure TechnologiesProfessor Paolo Ermanni

PaoloErmanni,born1959,studiedmechanicalengineeringatETHZurichandreceivedhisDr.sc.techn.degreein1990.Hegainedsignificantprofessionalexperienceinindustry;work-ingforoverfiveyearsatAirbusGermanyGmbHasaseniorengineerinthefutureprojectofficeandlaterasaprojectmanager.In1997hetookonanewchallengeasamanagerintheconsultingfirmA.T.KearneyinMilanbeforebeingappointedAssociateProfessoratETHZurichin1998.PaoloErmannihasbeenFullProfessorofStructureTechnologiesatETHZurichsince2003.Since2007heisalsoDirectoroftheCentroStefanoFranscini(CSF).TheCSFistheinternationalconferencecentreofETHZurich,situatedinthesouthofSwitzerland(CantonTicino)atMonteVerità.ProfessorErmanni’sgrouppromotesscienceandinnovationintheareasoffunctionalmaterials,innovativecompositesolutionsandstructuralmechanicsbyexploringtherelationbetweenmaterials,manufacturinganddesignofcompositebasedstructuralsystemswithbetterperformanceandnovelfunctionalities.

Carbon Nanotubes as Electromechanical ActuatorsInadditiontofeaturinguniquephysicalproperties,carbonnanotubes(CNT)havebeenshowntoactaselectromechanicalactuators,convertingelectricalinputenergyintogeometricdeformationandthususeablemechanicaloutput.Intypical

actuators,amacroscopiccarbonnanotubeassemblyisim-mersedinaliquidelectrolyteandoperatedatlowvoltage.Ourresearcheffortisfocusingongainingabetterunder-standingoftheinterrelationbetweenthepropertiesofCNTassembliesandtheiractuationperformance.Furtherworkisaimedatimprovingperformancebychemicalfunctionalisa-tionandtheuseofnon-volatileelectrolytes,respectively.

Polymeric Foams as Electromechanical Actuators/SensorsPolymericfoamscanbeelectricallypoledbytheapplicationofahighelectricfield,resultinginaremnantchargesepara-tionwithinthegasfilledvoidsasaconsequenceofelectricbreakdown.Poledfoamsshowferroelectricandpiezoelectricbehaviorandcanpotentiallybeusedasactuators/sensors,e.g.inacousticnoisereductionoraslargeareamedicalpres-suresensors.IncollaborationwiththeNonmetallicInorganicMaterialsresearchgroup,anovelfoamingtechnologyisap-pliedtopolymersandtheresultingporousstructuresinvesti-gatedwithrespecttotheirelectromechanicalproperties.

Piezo Shunt Damping in Aeroelastic Applications DREAMstandsforValiDationofRadicalEngineArchitectureSysteMsandinvestigatesnewtechnologiestominimizeenvi-ronmentalimpactofcommercialairtraffic.TogetherwithourprojectpartnersfromEPFLausanne,EMPADübendorf,BuschCompositesandSNECMAweinvestigatenoveldampingmechanismsforlaterapplicationtoopenrotoraircraften-gines.Wefocusonintegrationofpiezoelectricactuators,sen-sorsandelectroniccircuitsintothehoststructure.Anotherresearchaspectistheinvestigationoftheoverallaeroelasticsystembehaviorandpossibleinteractionsbetweenpiezoelec-tricdampingandtheonsetofflutterphenomena.Weplantodevelopnumericaltoolstoaccountforaeroelas-ticinteractionsandvalidatethemwithwindtunnelexperi-mentsondampedandundampedspecimens.

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Pictures from left to right:TestrunoftheCitiusbobsledinSt.Moritz;scanningelectronmicrographofamatofrandomlyorientedsinglewalledcarbonnanotubes;(upperrow)polymerparticlesusedforfoaming;(bottomrow)sinteredpolymerfoams;Streamlinesofanopenrotoraircraftenginesatstationaryflight;contourplotofthe

maximumdisplacement,inauniaxiallystressed[+-30,+-θ1,+-θ2]slaminatepanelasfunctionofθ1andθ2;3-pointsbendingtestforextractingsystemdampingefficiency

Damping of Vehicle StructuresWeareinvestigatingnoveldampingapproachesforcompositeapplicationsincarstructures.Theprojectisdealingwithfloorpanelsthataremountedtotheload-carryingprimarystructureofthevehicle.Theobjectiveistoreachoutstandingdampingperformanceconsideringthestringentweightandcostrequirementoftheautomotiveindustry.Wehavedevelopedandvalidatedanexperimentalset-upforthedeterminationofthedampingpropertiesofstructuralspecimensalsoconsideringinterfacedampingef-fects.Variousdampingtreatmentshavebeeninvestigated.Themostpromisingdampingapproacheswillbeoptimizedandvalidatedinanautomotivecomponenttestcase.

Multi-Functional Composite Airframe Structure Weareworkingincloseco-operationwithDassaultAvia-tionandCNEM.Ourcontributionconcernstheevaluationofinnovativedesignsolutionsformulti-functionalprimarycompositeairframestructuralcomponentswithintegrateddampingtreatment.Theapproachincludesastep-by-stepfeasibilityandcharacterizationprogramleveragingstruc-turemechanicalbehavior(strength,stiffnessandstability),vibrationdampingdeviceintegrationandmanufacturingtechnologies.Theresearchactivitieswilleventuallyleadtothefabricationoffuselage-barreldemonstratorframeswithintegrateddampingsolutionsbyRTMprocess.ThelatterincludethedevelopmentofrobustRTMproductionroutesrelyingonadvancedmonitoringtechniquestodetectoccur-renceofflawsanddryspotregionsduringtheinjection.

Unified Topology and Shape Design Optimization of Composite StructuresTheresearchaddressesanovelwayofhowtorepresentmechanicalstructuresinthecontextofanautomateddesignprocess.Weaimatconstructingarrangementsfromparam-eterizedspline-basedprimitives.Theresultingtopological

entities(faces,edgesandvertices)mayfurthercarryinforma-tiononmechanicalattributeslikevoidormaterialinclassicaltopologicaloptimaldesignproblemsorlaminateattributesinanadvancedlaminateoptimizationenvironmentwithavary-ingnumberoflaminatezones.Thiskindofarrangementshouldestablishabaseforaheterogeneous,graph-basedgenotypeallowingforacombinedoptimizationoftopology,shapeandlaminateofarbitrarymechanicalstructures.

Corrugated Laminate Homogenization ModelCorrugatedsheetsmadefromcompositematerialscanprovidecandidatesolutionsforflexibleskinsneededforanisotropiccompliantshellstructures.Thefindingofdesignsolutionsfortheserequiresautomaticcomputeraidedoptimizationprocesses.Asubstitutematerialmodelcangreatlyreducethenumericalsizeofthefinite-elementmethod(FEM)modelsandwithitthecomputationaleffortofthemanynumericalsimulationswhichmustthenbeperformed.Thecurrentworkinvolvesaunitcellmodeloftheperiodiccorrugationpatternforobtainingthecompleteandexactelasticitysolutionswhoseby-productisthesubstitute-platestiffness.

Composite Hull for a new Swiss BobsledInnovativenewbobsleds(2man&4man)fortheSwissnationalteamaredevelopedintheCitiusproject.IMES-SThastodesignandoptimizethefiberreinforcedplastichullsofthe2-manand4-manCitiusbobsledsandtosupportthemanufac-turingofthehullsatRUAGAerospace.

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Institute of Mechanical Systems Center of MechanicsProfessor Christoph Glocker

ChristophGlockerhasbeenExtraordinariusforMechanicsattheInstituteofMechanicalSystemsatETHZurichsince2001.HewaspromotedtoFullProfessorin2006.ChristophGlockerwasbornin1962inMunich.Hestudiedmechanicalengineer-ingattheTechnicalUniversityofMunich.Afterreceivinghisdiplomain1989,heworkedasaresearchassistantattheIn-stituteBofMechanicsandwrotehisdoctoralthesisundertheguidanceofProfessorF.Pfeiffer.In1996hereceivedaFeodorLynenFellowshipsupportedbytheAlexandervonHumboldtFoundationandspentoneyearattheAristotleUniversityofThessalonikiworkingwithProfessorP.D.Panagiotopoulosonhemivariationalinequalityproblemsindynamics.Afterthisstay,hereturnedin1997totheInstituteBofMechanicsasaseniorengineer.In2001,heobtainedthecertificateofhabilitationinmechanicswithapostdoctoralthesisdevotedtonon-smoothdynamics.Acentralpointinhisresearchisnon-smoothdynamicsofmechanicalsystemswithfinitedegreesoffreedomwhichincludes,forexample,thefrictionandimpactprobleminmultibodysystems,andwhichmustberegardedasageneralizationofclassicalmechanics.Heisinterestedinboththeoreticalandpracticalquestionsconcerningthemechanicalmodeling,themathematicalformulation,andthenumericaltreatmentofsystemswithdiscontinuities,aswellastheirapplicationstoindustrialproblems.

Impact Theory and ExperimentThebest-knownexampleofanimpactinmechanicsisthecollisionoftworigidbodies.Thereisavelocityjumpattheimpactduetothegeometricimpenetrabilitycondition,butalsoanimpulsiveforcecausedbytheassumptionofrigidity.Thesetwoproperties,velocityjumpsandimpulsiveforces,characterizeimpacts.Impacttheory,however,isnotrestrictedtorigidbodies.Moregeneralsituationsturnupincomputationalmechanicswhenconsideringcollisionsofdeformablebodiesafterdiscretization.Moreover,thereareeveneventsprimarilyunrelatedtoanykindofcollisionleadingtovelocityjumpsandthus,toimpacts.Thetransversalcrossingofanedgeintheconfigurationmanifoldisanexampleofsuchbehavior.Impactsrequireimpactlaws.Theycanberegardedastheconstitutiveequationsoftheimpact.Inclassicalmechanics,localformula-tionslikeNewton’simpactlawareused,whichhaverecentlybeenreformulatedasinequalitiesandextendedtomulti-contactconfigurations.Suchapproachesworkwellaslongashighlydissipativecollisionsareinvestigated.Forageneraltheoreticalframework,however,geometricalconceptsareneededtocharacterizeandidentifytheimpactparametersinaninvariantandmeaningfulway.Impactbehavioristhenexpressedintermsofreflectionandorthogonalprojectionlawsonthetangentconeoftheconfigurationmanifold,whichleadstoabetterunderstandingandimplementationofthedynamicsobservedbyexperiments.Evenwavepropa-gationphenomenamaybehandledinthisway.

Numerical SchemesThemathematicalformulationofunilateralconstraintswithCoulombfrictionindynamicsleadstodifferentialinclusions.Theydescribethesystemfornon-contact,sliding,andstickingfriction,andcontaineventheimpactprocessthattakesplacewhenacontactisclosed.Asoneparticularpropertyofnon-smoothmechanics,thenumberofdegreesoffreedomchangesduringmotion,controlledandinfluencedbythesystem’s

Pictures from left to right:Definitionoftheadmissiblepost-impactvelocitiesforNewton’scradlewiththreeballsunderkinematic,kineticandenergeticrestrictions;Setupforcollisionexperimentswithdistanteffects:Newton’scradlewithfiveballs,releaseunitsandlinearencodersfordisplacementmeasurements;Numericalsimulationofamulti-

contactproblem,performedwithtime-steppingmidpointruleandGauß-Seideliterationontheunderlyingproximalpointproblem;Stabilityplotsofthefrontbogie’sfourwheelsforvaryingfrictionandcreepdirection.Blue:realstatesofoperation.Green:stablearea.Red:squeal;Twolinkmanipulatorwithexchangeableconventionallyandpassivelyactuated

joint.Passiveactuationisperformedbyanelectromagneticbrake.

dynamicsitself.Thenumericaltreatmentofsuchsystemsmayinprinciplebesplitintotwoindependentsubtasks:Integrationofdifferentialequationsandevaluationofinequalitylaws.Standardroutineswitheventdetectionallowfortheintegrationofthedifferentialequations.Theseso-calledeventdrivenschemesworkwellaslongasthenumberofdiscon-tinuitiesismoderatelylow.Theyfail,however,inthecasesofaccumulationpointsandbecomeimpracticalforcontactproblemsofhighdimension.Thelatteraresuccessfullytreatedbytime-steppingalgorithms,whichprovideamoreconsistentevaluationbasedondirectdiscretizationofthemeasuredifferentialinclusions.Forbothmethodsofnumericalintegrationinequalityproblemshavetobesolvedtofindthevalidsystemstate.Mostimportantforapplicationsareine-qualitiesrepresentedbynormalconeinclusions,whichcanberewrittenasproximalpointproblemsanditerativelysolvedbyGauß-Seidelmethods.Theresultingalgorithmshavetobebothrobustandaccurate.Accuracyisgenerallyrequired,butbecomesquintessentialforself-excitedoscillationsinfrictionalvibrationproblems.Numericaldampingandothersourcesofinaccuracymaycausesuchhighlysensitivemechanismstoconsequentlydisappearinthecomputedresults.

Curve Squealing of TrainsSquealingoftrainsisanarrow-bandnoiseofabout4000Hertz,whichoccursincurveswithradiibelow300meters.Insuchcurves,theconicalprofilesofthewheelscannolongercom-pensateforthedifferenceinarclengthbetweentheinnerandtheouterrail,whichcausessomecreepageinthecontactzonebetweenthewheelandtherail.Thedirectionofthecreepageforsteady-statemotionofthetrainisinfluencedbythemisalignmentofthewheelset,whichitselfdependsonthetrain’sspeedandthefrictionconditionsbetweentherailandthewheels.Sometimes,theoverallconstellationissuchthatoneofthewheelsmaystartoscillating.Thisiscalledafriction-inducedvibration,fromwhichthenoiseoriginates.

Measurementsrevealedthattheinnerfrontwheelofabogieisinmostcasesresponsibleforthenoise,butsometimesalsotheouterrearwheel.Thisresulthasbeenconfirmedbyanumericalstabilityanalysis,inwhichthefirst61elasticmodesofthewheelhavebeentakenintoaccounttogetherwithathree-dimensionalCoulombcontactmodel.Suchstabil-ityanalysisactsthenasthebasisforimprovementsontheprofilepairingsbetweenrailandwheelstoreducethenoise.

Non-Smooth ControlOptimalwalkingpatternsofhumanoidsandtheoptimalswitchinginautomatedgearsaretypicalexamplesofnon-smooth-optimalcontrolproblems.Inadditiontotheclassicalconstraints,likeboundeddrivingtorques,contactandfrictionlawshavetobetakenintoaccounttomakethesystemstructurevariantandtoallowforamechanicallyconsistentconstraintactivationanddeactivationprocess.Thetrajectoryoptimizationsofstructure-variantmechanicalsystemsbelongtotheclassofmathematicalprogramswithequilibriumconstraints,whichareoptimizationproblemswiththeessentialconstraintsbeingdefinedbyparametricvariationalinequalitysystems.Directshootingmethods,basedonthetime-steppingscheme,provideanapproximationoftheoptimalpath,includingtheoptimalswitchingpattern.

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Institute of Mechanical SystemsCenter of MechanicsProfessor Edoardo Mazza

EdoardoMazzahasbeenAssociateProfessorofMechanicsattheInstituteofMechanicalSystemsofETHZurichsince2006.Hewasbornin1969inItaly,studiedmechanicalengineeringandreceivedhisDr.sc.techn.degreeatETHZurich.ForhisdissertationhewasawardedtheETHmedal.AfterhisPh.D.heworkedinindustryfrom1997-2001.AtAlstomPowerhewasgroupleaderinthesteamturbineR&Ddepartment.In2001hewasappointedasAssistantProfessorofMechanicsatETHZurich.Since2006hehasleadanewlaboratoryattheSwissFederalLaboratoriesforMaterialsTestingandResearch(EMPA).HisfieldofresearchatETHZandEMPAisexperimentalcon-tinuummechanics.Theactivityofhisgroupisfocusedontheconstruction,analysisandinterpretationofadvancedexperi-mentsforunderstandingthemechanicalbehaviorofnovelengineeringmaterialsandsoftbiologicaltissue.Moderncon-tinuummechanicsrequiressophisticatedexperimentstode-velopmathematicalmodelsandalgorithmsforthesimulationofmaterialsandmaterialsystems.Asopposedtoconventionalmaterialstesting,theseexperimentsinvestigatetheresponseofmaterialstolargeandnon-homogeneousdeformationsrelatedtomulti-axialandtimedependentmechanicalloads.Experimentsaredesignedtoreproduceserviceconditionsofloadingofmechanicaldevicesorphysiologicaldeformationstatesofconnectivetissueandorgansinthehumanbody.

ResearchOurresearchaimsatlinkingcontinuummechanicsandmaterialphysics,andatbridgingthegapbetweenthesescientificdisciplinesandtheirapplicationinengineeringandmedicine.Examplesofanincreasinginvolvementofcontinuumme-chanicswithexperimentalresearchcanbefoundinbiome-chanics(withinvestigationsonthedeformationbehaviorofsinglecells,tissues,andwholeorgans),inenergyresearch(fightingthedesignchallengestowardssustainableenergyproduction),inthedevelopmentofsocalled“adaptivemate-rials”(analyzingcoupledfieldproblemsin“smart”mechani-calsystems).Wehavemadecontributionstofundamentalandappliedresearchinthesefields:

BiomechanicsOurstudiesonthemechanicalbehaviourofhumantissuesandorgansaremotivatedbymedicalapplications:(i)diag-nosis(specifically:detectionofliverpathologies;malfunc-tioning(“incompetent”)uterinecervix;prematureruptureoffetalmembranes),(ii)surgeryplanning(facialtissuemodelsforplasticsurgerysimulations),(iii)tissuereplacement/im-plantdevelopment(intervertebraldisc,supportiveimplantmeshesforherniaorlaxity).Biologicaltissuesareextremelycomplexmaterialsandmodelingtheirmechanicalresponseisobviouslyaverydifficulttask.Wecontributetothesechallengeswithnovelexperimentalobservationsandtheiranalysis.Examplesarethe“aspirationdevice”forquasi-staticmeasurements,the“torsionalresonatordevice”,forin-situhighfrequencysheartesting,the“inflationdevice”forbiaxialexperimentswithbio-membranes,andthe“biaxialmachine”fortension-tensionbiaxialexperimentsonsoftmembranes.Inparticularweprovideinformationontheinvivomechanicalbehaviourofhumanorgans(asopposedtoobservationsfromanimalorgansorspecimenextractedfromthehumanbody).Wehaveperformedalargenumber

Pictures from left to right:1-3Dnumericalmodelofthefaceforsimulationofcosmeticandreconstructivesurgery;2-Thermomechanicalfatigueexperiments(HighTemperatureLab.,EMPA);3-BiaxialtestingofacrylicelastomerusedforEAPactuators;4-Measurementofthemechanical

behaviorofhumanliverinvivoduringopensurgery;5-Inflationexperimenttoinvestigatedeformationandruptureofhumanfetalmembranes

ofintra-operativeaspirationexperimentsonhumanlivers,thusbuildingauniquesetofquantitativedataontheinvivomechanicalbehaviourofthisorgan.Ourmeasurementsontheuterinecervixofpregnantwomenprovidedthefirstobjectivedataontheevolutionofthemechanicalresponseofthecervixduringgestation.Theexperimentalobserva-tionsareanalysedusingnon-linearvisco-elasticconstitutivemodels.Recenteffortsweretowardsacorrelationbetweenmechanicalparametersandhistologicalobservationsorbio-chemicalindicescharacterizingtissuemicrostructure(e.g.forhumanliverandfetalmembranes).

EnergyThenecessityofreducinggreenhousegasemissionsandthelimitedavailabilityoffossilfuelsrepresentthemaindrivingforcesforenergyresearch.Thedevelopmentofnovelenergyconversiontechnologiesandtheimprovementoftheefficiencyofconventionalpowergenerationleadtonewchallengeswithrespecttothereliabilityofthemechani-calcomponents.Wedetermineconstitutiveequationsforthedesignofpowergenerationsystemswithincreasedefficiencyandhigheroperationalflexibility.Modelswithimprovedpredictivecapabilitiesrequireanunderstandingofthemechanismsofdeformationanddamage,undercondi-tionsofnon-isothermalmulti-axialcyclicloadingandcreep-fatigueinteraction.Ourresultsalsoprovidemethodsforacceleratedthermo-mechanicalagingusedtopredictlongtermpropertiesofnewhighertemperaturematerials,inordertoexploitthemattheearliestopportunity.Ourmodelsofdeformationanddamageareverifiedattwolevels:(i)weperformcomprehensivepost-testinspections(opticalandelectronmicroscopy)inordertoconfirmconsistencybetweenphysicalconditionsandmodelpredictions;(ii)weverifythepredictivecapabilitiesofourmodelsusingdedi-cated“benchmark”tests.Tothisend,wedevelopnovelex-perimentalset-upsandproceduresandstudytheresponse

ofmaterialsunderconditionsthatcloselyrepresentthoseexperiencedinservice,withthermo-mechanicalfatigue,isothermalcreep-fatigueandcreeptestsonuniaxial,aswellasonmultiaxial“component-like”testpiecesandfracturemechanicsspecimens.Thisapproachallowsquantificationoftheinfluenceofstressandstraingradientsandstrainrateaswellasstressmultiaxialityonmaterialdeformationanddamageformation.AllexperimentalactivitiesareconductedinournewhightemperaturelaboratoryatEMPA.

Adaptive MaterialsAdaptivematerials(e.g.shapememoryalloys,electroactivepolymersystems,piezo-ceramics)areintegratedinhighlydeformablestructuresinordertoenablenovelfunctionali-ties,tooptimizethedesignorincreasethereliabilityofmechanicalsystems.Applicationsareinthefieldsofenergyconversion(e.g.shapeadaptableairfoilsthatimproveaero-dynamicefficiencyofturbineblades),biomedicalproducts(e.g.surgeryinstrumentsbasedondistributedcompli-ancesasasubstituteforconventionaljoints,sotoreduceparticlerelease,wearandproductioncosts),andactuatortechnologies(withelectroactivepolymersystemsoffering“muscle-like”performance).Predictionofthebehaviourofhighlydeformablestructuresandfunctionalmaterialsrep-resentsoneofthemainchallengesinthisinnovativefieldofengineeringresearch.Wecontributewithmodelsofthenon-lineardeformationbehaviourofadaptivestructures.TheseactivitiesarecarriedoutinthecompliantsystemslaboratoryatEMPA.Weinvestigatetheactiveandpassivemechanicalresponseandthemechanismsofdegradationandfailureofsocalleddielectricelastomeractuators.Asfortheotherresearchprojects,wehavedevelopednovel“unconventional”experimentsreflectingtheoperatingconditionsoftheactuators.Nonlinearvisco-elasticmateriallawsareusedtorationalizetheseobservations.

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Institute of Process Engineering

TheInstitutefocusesontheteachingofprocessengineeringfundamentalsthroughengaginglecturesandinnovativeresearch.Itsactivitiescovertheentirespectrumofmacro,micro,nanoandmolecularprocesseswithstate-of-the-artinstrumentationandfacilities.Since2004IPEoffersaMasterinProcessEngineeringbasedonanewlystructuredcurriculumandcontributestothemaster’sprogramsinMechanicalEngineering,ChemicalEngineering,EnergyScienceandTechnologyandMicro-nanoEngineering.ThefollowinglaboratoriesofIPEcarryoutcutting-edge,innova-tion-drivenresearchaimedatdevelopingandunderstand-ingnewproductsandefficientprocessesincloseinteractionwithindustry:

•ParticleTechnologyLaboratory•SeparationProcessesLaboratory•TransportProcessesandReactionsLaboratory

MarcoMazzotti,anItaliancitizenbornin1960,married,withtwochildren,hasbeenProfessorofProcessEngineeringatETHZurichsince1997(Associateuntil2001andFullProfessorthereafter).HeholdsaLaurea(MSc.,1984)andaPh.D.(1993),bothinChemicalEngineeringandfromthePolitecnicodiMilano,Italy.BeforejoiningETH,hehadworkedinindus-try(1985-1990),andhadbeenAssistantProfessorinMilan(1994-1997).Heteachesclassesonseparationprocesses,mathematicalmethodsforchemicalengineersandcarbondioxidecaptureandstorage.HehasmentoredeighteenPh.D.studentsandiscurrentlyadvisingtwelve.Hisrefereedpubli-cationsincludemorethan160journalarticles,20articlesinbooksand6bookchapters.Hisresearchactivityaddressesthepurificationandformulationofbiopharmaceuticalsandthedevelopmentofcarbondioxidecaptureandstoragesys-tems.MarcoMazzottihasbeencoordinatingleadauthoroftheSpecialReportonCarbonDioxideCaptureandStorageoftheIPCC,thatwasthenawardedthe2007NobelPeacePrize.HeisVice-PresidentoftheInternationalAdsorptionSociety,andMemberoftheAIChE,ACSandEFCE,onbehalfofwhichhewillchairthe18thInternationalSymposiumonIndustrialCrystallization(Zurich,Sep.13-16,2011).Heisontheedito-rialadvisoryboardofInd.Eng.Chem.Res.,Adsorption,Cryst.GrowthDesign,andJ.SupercriticalFluids.

Separation Processes LaboratoryThevisionoftheSeparationProcessesLaboratory(SPL)is“Todevelopefficient,safe,andsustainableprocessesforhighqualityproductsandenvironmentallyresponsiblein-dustrialsystems”.Itsmissionistoeducatefutureengineersandscientists,specificallytrainedinthescienceandengi-neeringofeconomicallyoptimizedandenvironmentallybeneficialseparationprocesses,bycarryingoutcutting-edgeresearchintheareaspresentedbelow.

Purification of Biopharmaceuticals by Preparative ChromatographyPreparativechromatographyisahighlyselectivetechniqueforthepurificationoforganiccompoundsinthepharma-ceuticalandfoodindustriesandinbiotechnology,fromenantiomersofchiralcompounds,topolypeptidesandpro-teinsandnucleicacids.Weaddresstheinterfacebetweenchemistryandchemicalengineering,wherethetremen-dousprogressmadeinthedesignofstationaryphasesfordifficultseparationshastofindeffectiveimplementationinpreparativechromatographicprocesses.Inparticular,wedealwiththeoperation,design,optimizationandcontrolofmulticolumnchromatography,usingtheSimulatedMovingBed(SMB)technologyanditsvariants.TodaysuchacomplexfamilyoftechnologiescanbemasteredbyitsmanypractitionersthankstotheuniquedesigncriteriaandmodelingtoolsthathavebeenandarebeingdevelopedintheSPL.WehavealsodemonstratedhowSMBsoutperformtraditionalsingle-columnchromatographyinallcasesofin-terest.Moreover,theSPL,inco-operationwithtwootherde-partmentsofETHZurich,hasdevelopedauniqueoptimiz-ingmodelpredictivecontrollerforSMBprocesses.Recentlywehavedemonstratedtheoretically,throughsimulationsandexperimentallytheexistenceofthedelta-shock,i.e.abrandnewtypeofcompositionfrontinnonlinearchromatography.

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Institute of Process EngineeringSeparation Processes LaboratoryProfessor Marco Mazzotti

Production of Micro-Particles of Organic Species by Crystallization and PrecipitationCrystallizationandprecipitationfromsolutionoforganicsubstances,e.g.drugsandproteins,arekeytechniquesinthepharmaceuticalindustryandinbiotechnologytodeterminethepropertiesofthefinalsolidproduct.Productqualityisusuallydefinedintermsofpurity,polymorphism,crystalhabit,shapeormorphology,averageparticlesizeandparticlesizedistribution(PSD).Thesehaveadecisiveeffectnotonlyontheformulationprocess,butalsoonthedrugbioavailability.Thefieldofcrystallizationhasexperiencedtremendousprogressinthelasttenyears,mainlythankstotheavailabilityandwidespreaduseofnewprocessanalytictechniques,e.g.InfraredSpectroscopy,RamanSpectros-copy,orFocusedBeamReflectanceMethod,thatallowforanunprecedentedquantitativeinsightintothecomplexfundamentalmechanismsinvolvedincrystallization,i.e.nucleation,growth,agglomeration,breakage,dissolution,mixing,andtheirinterrelation.Ourstrategyisbasedontheexperimentalcharacterizationofsuchmechanisms,ontheirdescriptionthroughfirst-principlemodelsandontheuseofdetailedmodelsforproductandprocessdesign,processoptimizationandscale-up.Ourultimategoalistodevisestrategiesthatallowtodesignandcontrolthefinalcrystalform,sizeandshape.Thisapproachiscurrentlysuccessfullyappliedtothecrystallizationofdifferentorganicspeciesaswellastodense-gas-assistedantisolventprecipitation.Pre-cipitationoforganicsubstancesfromsolutiontriggeredbypressurizationwithsupercriticalcarbondioxidemakespos-sibletheformationofmicro-andnano-particlesofproductsofpharmaceuticalrelevance.Inthisarea,wehavedeepenedtheunderstandingofthescienceandtechnologythroughuniqueexperimentalandtheoreticalwork.Recently,wehavebeensuccessfulinproducingnano-particlesofahigh-loadeddrug-polymersolidsolutionwithenhanceddissolu-tioncharacteristics.

Carbon Dioxide Capture and StorageCarbondioxidecaptureandstorage(CCS)isasetoftechnolo-giesforthecaptureofCO2 fromitsanthropogenicpointsources,itstransporttoastoragelocationortreatmentplant,anditsisolationfromtheatmosphere.Thisisonlyone,thoughveryimportant,optioninaportfolioofactionstocontrasttheincreaseofatmosphericCO2 concentrationandtomitigategreenhouseeffectandclimatechange,whileatthesametimeallowingforthecontinueduseoffossilfuels.Inthiscontext,athree-yearprojectinvolvingdifferentSwissscientificinstitutionsandcoordinatedbyProfessorMazzottistartedinJanuary2009,withthepurposeofexploringthepotentialandthefeasibilityofCCSdeploymentinSwitzerland(www.carma.ethz.ch).TheSPLaimstocreateaknowledgebaseintwospecificareasbelongingtotheCCSchain,namelythecaptureofCO2usingadsorptionbasedprocessesandthestorageofCO2byinjectingitintodeepunmineablecoalseamsorbyfixingitinmineralcarbonates.Advancedpre-combustioncapturetechniquesareneededtosubstantiallyreduceCO2emissionsfromfossilfuelpowerplants.Inthiscontext,theSPLtakespartoftheEuropeanUnionFrameworkProgram7projectDECARBitandaimstodevelopanddesignanappropriatepressureswingadsorption(PSA)processtoeffectivelyseparatetheCO2/H2gasmixturepro-ducedbythegasificationofcoal.Fromthestoragepointofview,coalseamsareattractivegeologicalformations,sinceCO2canbetakenupbythecoalinlargeamounts.Anattractiveprocess,i.e.enhancedcoalbedmethanerecovery(ECBM),isinvestigated,whichwouldallowtherecoveryofthemethanepresentinthereservoir,whileatthesametimestoringtheCO2.Inmineralcarbonation,thecapturedCO2reactswithmetal-oxide-bearingmaterials,e.g.naturalsilicatesoralkalineindustrialwastes,andsubsequentlyprecipitatesascarbonates.TheaimoftheSPListoinvestigatethefundamentalmechanismswhichcontrolthekineticsofboththedissolutionofsilicatesandtheprecipitationofcarbonates,since,thoughmineralcarbonationrepresentsthesafestandmoststablestorageoption,itslargescaleapplicationishinderedbytheslownessofthereaction.

Pictures:Hardware,softwareandhumanfactorattheSeparationProcessesLaboratory

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Institute of Process Engineering Particle Technology Laboratory Professor Sotiris E. Pratsinis

ProfessorPratsiniswasbornin1955inChanea,Krete,Greece.HeholdsadiplomainChemicalEngineeringfromtheAristotleUniv.ofThessaloniki,Greece(1977)andaPh.D.fromtheUniv.ofCalifornia,LosAngeles(1985).HewasinthefacultyofChemicalEngineeringattheUniv.ofCincinnati,Ohiotill1998whenhewaselectedProfessoratETHZurich.HeteachesMassTransfer,ParticleTechnology,NanoscaleEngineeringandCombustionSynthesisofMaterials.Hisresearchfocusesonthefundamen-talsofaerosolsynthesisofmaterialswithapplicationsincatal-ysis,sensorsandnanocomposites.Hehasgraduated17Ph.D.studentsandisadvisingcurrentlynine.Hehaspublishedover200refereedjournalarticlesandhasbeenawardedfiveU.S.andEuropeanpatentslicensedtoDow,DegussaandHosokawa.HehasreceivedthePresidentialYoungInvestiga-torAwardin1989fromtheU.S.NSF,the1995MarianSmolu-chowskiAwardoftheEuropeanAssociationforAerosolResearchandthe2003ThomasBaronAwardofAIChE.In2005-06hewasappointedSpringerProfessorofMechanicalEngineeringatUniv.ofCalifornia,Berkeley.HeservesintheEditorialBoardofvariousjournalsincludingPowderTechno-logy,J.ofAerosolScienceandJ.ofNanoparticleResearchaswellasontheAdvisoryBoardoftheAustralianResearchCouncilCentreonFunctionalNanomaterialsandontheScienceAdvisoryBoardoftheHarvardSchoolofPublicHealth-InternationalInitiativefortheEnvironment.

Particle Technology Laboratory Particlesareeverywhere.Fromtheairweinhale,tothebread,saltandpepperonthedinnertable,inourdentalfillings,ineverypillwetake,inthetireswedriveon,thecementwebuildourhouseswith,inthepaintthatcoversitswallsandsoon...Themissionofourlaboratoryistoeducatethefundamentalsofparticlescienceandengineeringthroughbasicresearch.Wefocusnowonthesmallestparticles,nanoparticles,becausetheirbasicpropertiesarequitedifferentfromthoseofbulkmaterials.Wespecializeongas-phase(aerosol)processesfortheiruniquecapacitytoformhighpurityproducts(Figure1)withcloselycontrolledsize,morphologyandcompositionaccompaniedbyfew,ifany,liquidbyproducts.Ourfocusisonproductdiscoveryandquantitativeunderstandingforprocessscale-upthroughsystematicexperimentsandsimulationsforsynthesisofnewmaterialsforcatalysis,sensorsandevenlifesciences(dental,orthopedic)tonameafew,incollaborationwithETHcolleaguesandtopuniversitiesandindustryinU.S.,Europe,AsiaandAustralia.HistorichighlightsofourresearchincludethemeasurementofthebasicoxidationrateofTiCl4vaporforsynthesisoftitaniawhichhadbeencalleda“landmarkcontributioninthepigmentindustry”.WehaddevelopedthefirstsimulatorformanufactureofopticalfiberpreformsbymodifiedchemicalvapordepositionthathasbeenroutinelyusedbyLucent-Furakawa(formerAT&TBellLabs)inmanufactureoflightguidepreformsinNorcross,GA.WehaddiscoveredandpatentedanaerosolrouteforsynthesisoffinerAlNthancommerciallyavailablepowdersincollaborationwithDow.ThatprogramwasrecognizedatDowasaprototypeforindustry-universityprograms.Wehaddevelopedalso,forthefirsttime,algorithmsforagglomerateformationandgrowthrelatingproductparticlecharacteristicstomaterialpropertiesandprocessconditionsbypopulationbalancesinparticlemassandsurfaceareaaccountingforgasphasereactionandsintering.Thesealgorithmshavebeenincorporatedinreactorprocessdesignandareroutinelyusedformanufactureoffineparticlesinindustry.

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MajorrecentadvancesintheknowledgebaseofthistechnologyatETHZurichincludeoursystematicinsitumeasurementofflametemperatureandparticlediameteralongwiththeextentofagglomerationthatwerecoupledintodetailedpopulationbalancesimulations.Thatway,characteristicsofsimple,flame-madeoxideparticlescanbepredictednowfromfirstprincipleswithoutanyadjustableparameters.Wehaveidentifiedquanti-tatively,forthefirsttime,hardandsoftagglomeratesthroughrigoroustheoryandnon-intrusivediagnostics.Thishasbeenachievedbymonitoringtheendofparticlesinteringthroughtheattainmentofanasymptoticprimaryparticlediameter,makingpossibletodistinguishthetransitionfromhard(chemically-bonded)tosoft(physically-bonded)agglomerates.

Asaresult,ithasbecomepossibletomakehighlypure,mixedceramicandnoblemetalcompositenanoparticlesleadingtomaterialsthatseemedimpossibletomakeinthegasphasejustafewyearsago.Forexample,excellentDeNOxcatalysts,thinoligomericV2O5 filmsoverTiO2particles,aremadebythistechnologyinonestep.Likewisetitania-dopedsilicacatalystsofhighselectivityforolefinepoxidationaremadeastheysolelycontaintheactive4-atomcoordinatedTisite.Noble-metalclus-ters(Pt,Pd,Ru,Au,Agetc.)onceramicsupportscanbemadeinonestepwithcloselyandindependentlycontrolledclusterandsupportcharacteristics.Forexample,theopenstructureofPt/Al2O3reducesmasstransferlimitationsresultinginmoreactivethanwet-madecatalystsforsynthesisofchiralmoleculesforpharmaceuticalsfromethylpyruvate.Thatwayone-stepsynthesisofPd/CeO2/ZrO2dopedwithPtincreasestheirrevers-ibleoxygenexchangecapacitycomparedtoundopedCeO2/ZrO2.ThestructuralidentificationatsuchsmallconcentrationsturnsouttobeimportantsinceevensmallamountsofPthaveastronginfluenceonthereductionandoxygenstoragecapacityofthatsupport.AstereoscopicarrangementoftwinflamereactorsresultsinPt/Ba/Al2O3 catalystsforunprecedentedNOxstorage-reductionbycontainingalargefractionoflow-tem-peratureactiveBaCO3.Thisisachievedbypromotingmixingat

thenanoscaleandsynthesisoftheabovecatalystratherthanmixingattheatomicscalethatresultsincatalyticallyinactiveBaAl2O4.Thegainedbasicunderstandingofparticleformationandgrowthhasguidedfurtherourdevelopmentof“smart”materi-alsbeyondcatalystswithscalableflametechnologysuchasphosphors,foodadditives,sensors,biomaterials,nanocom-positesandelectroceramics.Inparticular,wehavefocusedoncontrollingthestructureofflame-madeparticlesfromperfectlysphericalonestohighlyramifiedagglomerates.Thus,wehavemadenon-agglomeratedfumedsilicafordentalnanocompos-itesincollaborationwithEMPAandIvoclar-Vivadent.Amajorbreakthroughwasourdevelopmentofliquid-fedflameaerosolreactors(flamespraypyrolysis,FSP)thatcanprovideavirtuallyunlimitedspectrumofnewproductsfromenantioselectivecatalyststoquantumdotsathighproductionrates(upto1kg/h)whichisprobablytheworld’slargestunit(Figure3)fornanoparticlesynthesisforanacademiclaboratorycoupledtoclassicbaghousefilters(Figure4).Capitalizingonourearliersuccessonsynthesisofnon-agglomerated,puresilicananoparticles,wediscoveredaprocessforsynthesisofradioopaquebuthighlytranslucent-transparenttantalum-ytterbium-silica-basedmixedoxides.Focusingonthecontrolofrefractiveindexandradiopacityofthefiller(nanostructured,mixedceramicpowders)andthefinalpolymer-ceramicnanocomposite,optimalFSPcondi-tionshavebeenidentifiedfordentalprosthetics.Thecrystal-linityanddispersionwithinthehostsilicamatrixdeterminesfillerandresultingcompositetransparencies.Veryrecentlywehavediscoveredatotallynewprocessforthesynthesisofgassensorsthatbypassesdifficultiesassociatedwithconventionalmulti-stepwetsynthesis,slurryorpastedepositionanddrying,ofsensorlayers.Morespecificallybydirectlydepositingflame-madesemiconductingSnO2 nano-particlesonPtelectrodesenabledsynthesisofhighlyporousbutmacroscopicallysmoothsensingfilmsthatcoulddetectgasconcentrationsoffCOandethanoldownto1ppm.

Pictures from left to right:1.Nanoparticlesmadeinflames:yellowBi2O3,brownLiFe5O8,LiCoPO4(lightblueasprepared)andannealedforfourhoursat600(purple)or400C(darkblue);2.Astereoscopictwin-flameunit:TheleftflameproducesAl2O3nanoparticleswhiletherightonePt-clustersonBaOorBaCO3support

nanoparticles.ThetwoplumesmixformingthehighlydesirablePt/Ba/Al2O3catalystsforNOxstorage-reduction.3.Aflamespraypyrolysispilotandflowcontrolunitforsynthesisofupto1kg/hofmetal/ceramicnanoparticles.4.Theassociatedbaghouseunitwith12filterfingersfornanoparticlecollection

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Institute of Process EngineeringTransport Processes and Reactions LaboratoryProfessor Philipp Rudolf von Rohr

PhilippRudolfvonRohrhasbeenaProfessoratETHZurichsince1992.In1998,theLaboratoryforTransportProcessesandReactionswasfounded.Hestudiedmechanicalengineering,specializinginprocessengineeringatETHZurich,andcomplet-edhisstudiesin1978.AfteroneyearasascientificassociateattheInstituteofProcessEngineering,hestartedhisthesisatthesameInstituteatETHZurich.In1983,hereceivedhisdoctorateandastipendfromtheNationalScienceFounda-tiontostudyatMITinCambridgeMass..TwoyearslaterhereturnedtoETHandstartedasalecturerinmultiphaseflow.In1986,hebecamearesearchassociateandProjectManagerinamiddlesizedcompanywhichdeveloped,sold,anderectedprocessesandplantsintheareaofenvironmentaltechnologies.HebecametechnicaldirectorbeforehereturnedtoETHin1992tofullycommittoresearchandteaching.Sincehisreturn,hehasbeenheadoftheInstituteofProcessEngineeringseveraltimes.From1997until2000,heheadedtheDepart-mentofMechanicalandProcessEngineering.In1999,hewasaGuestProfessoratUCSantaBarbarainCaliforniaandin2006hespent8monthsatMITinCambridgeUSA.Inhisresearchhefocusesonthreemainareas,namelythetransportprocesses,theplasmaassistedprocesses,andhighpressureprocessesatdifferentscales.Hismajorachievementsareintheareaofplasma-assistedprocessesforparticles.Heisstronglyengaged

withnationalandinternationalindustriesandscientificgroups.In2007hebecameDoctorHonorisCausaattheTechnicalUniversityinBratislava.

Technologies for Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) for Particles Ourlaboratoryhasdevelopednovelprocessestomodifysurfacesofparticleswiththesupportofaplasma,gener-atedeitherbyradiofrequencyorbymicrowaves.Wecreatedaprocessinaverticalplugflowreactortomodifythesurfaceoftemperaturesensitivepolymerparticleslikepolypropyleneintoawettablesurfacewithacontactanglelessthan70degrees.Furthermore,wepatentedaprocesswhichimprovestheflowabilityofparticleaggregatesintoflowableaggregatesbymeansofaninsitucreationofnanoparticles,whichareadheredatthesurfaceoftheparticlesandtherebydecreasethevanderWaalsforces.Detailsofthisnoveltyarestillunderinvestigation.Wehavealsodonefundamentalresearchonacirculatingfluidizedbedsystemforparticlecoatings.Differentmodelsoflayerbuildingcouldbeexperimentallyconfirmed.

Technologies for Plasma Assisted Chemical Processes for Flat Substrates Withplasmaassistedreactions,glasslikesurfaceswerebeingproducedonpolymerfilmslikePETandPP.Thediffusionbar-rierforwatervaporandoxygenisimproveduptoafactorof1000.Thisallowsthefilmstobeusedforfoodpackaging.Theplasmasourceandtheposition(insituorexsitu)influencetheresult.SurfaceroughnessanddiffusionbarriervaluesarecorrelatedwhenusingacombinationofmicrowaveexsituplasmaandinsituRFplasma.Surfacespeciescompositionindicatesthestronginfluenceofthestoichiometricratiobetweenthereactingspecieshexamethyldisiloxaneandoxygen.Theprocessisnowbeingusedtocoatbiomedicaldevices(Stents).Thistreatmentinhibitscoatingwithcellsaftersurgery.

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Transport Phenomena over Complex Surfaces For13yearswehaveinvestigatedtransportphenomenawhenonephaseliquidflowsovermainlywavysurfacesinaspeciallydesignedflowchannel.Wedevelopedameasurementtoolboxtosimultaneouslydeterminetheflowandtemperaturefields.WearetherebyusingthePIVmethodfortheflowfieldandamethodbasedonliquidcrystalsforthetemperaturefield.Large-scalestructuresplayanimportantroleinthetrans-portoutsideoftheboundarylayerovercomplexsurfaces.Weworkedwithdefinedsurfaceslikewavywalls.Thestructurescouldbedetectedforthetemperatureandtheflowfield.Addi-tionally,weinvestigatedthemasstransportintheareaofthelarge-scalestructures.Theoretically,wecomputetheflowandtemperaturefieldswithLESandhybridmethods.Theaccuratepredictionoftheflowandtemperaturefieldsallowsoptimiza-tionof,forexample,heatexchangersurfaces.

Multiphase Flow and Reactions in Mini-and Micro-reactors GasliquidtwophasesystemswereinvestigatedwithopticalmeasurementsandwithatomographicmethodwithverystrongXraysfortheannularflowtype.WithmicroPIVtheflowfieldintheliquidslugshasbeenvisualized.Generalnewcorrelationstopredicttheflowfieldinmicroreactorsarebeingdeveloped.

Catalyticreactionsunderhighpressureuptosupercriticalpressureallowtheenhancementofthereactionrate.Nano-particleswithnarrowsizedistributionshavebeensynthesizedsuccessfully.

Thegapbetweenthemicroandthemacrosizedsystemsmaybeclosedbyastructuredfoam-likeplugflowreactor.Ourinves-tigationfocusesontransportphenomenaaccessedwithopti-calmeasuringsystemstogetlocallyandtemporallyresolvedresultswhicharecomparedwithCFDmodels(RANSandLES).

Processes with Supercritical Fluids Theadvantagesofusingsupercriticalfluidsincludetheimprovementofthemasstransportduetothelackofphaseboundaries.Wedevelopedaprocesswithsupercriticalwaterandaflame.Itallowsfastreactionsofundesiredwaste.Theflameitselfisbeinginvestigatedwithopticalmethodsattemperaturesofupto1500degreeCelsiusandataround300bar.Inparallel,wesimulatethereactiveflowwithCFD.

Hydrothermal Flames for Geothermal Application Ourknow-howrelatingtohydrothermalflamesisbeingusedinthedrillingindustryforminingdeepheatsourcesinboreholesbelow2.3km.Onemaincostdriverfortheseapplicationsisthecostofthedrilling.Therefore,alterna-tivedrillingmethodsarenecessarytomaketheenhancedgeothermalminingeconomicallyfeasible.

Ourflamesburnreliablyunderextremeconditions.Sizereductionofthematerialhasbeenreachedbycreatingasteeptemperaturegradientintherock.Thisleadstolocaldisintegrationofthehardrockmediumduetolocaldeficienciesinthenonuniformmaterialandduetodifferentelonga-tiongiventemperaturedifferences.Fundamentaldataarecollectedonheattransferandonmasstransportofspallsfromtheflamefrontwiththeoreticalandexperimentalapproaches.Particlesarebeingtransportedwiththehelpofnon-Newtonianfluidstothetopoftheborehole.Thenewdrillingconceptisbeingexploitedintwosteps:first,inalabfacilityandsecond,inanaccessiblepilotfacility.Hereallthedifferentprocessingstepsandthescaleupconceptsarebeingconfirmedexperimentallyandevaluatedtheoretically.

Picturesfromlefttoright:MicroreactormadefromPDMSunderinvestigationwithMicroPIV;MicroPIVsystem;ViewinanactivePlasmaReactor,opticalemissioncomesfromArgon;SupercriticalWaterReactorwithitsburningflame;

LIFinastirredtank(twice);Plasmareactionsystem

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Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems

TheInstituteofRoboticsandIntelligentSystemsconsistsoftheMulti-ScaleRoboticsLabdirectedbyProfessorB.Nelson,theAutonomousSystemsLabdirectedbyProfessorR.Sieg-wart,theSensory-MotorsSystemsLabdirectedbyProfessorR.Riener,theRehabilitationEngineeringLabdirectedbyPro-fessorR.GassertandtheBio-InspiredRoboticsLabdirectedbyProfessorF.Iida.

Multi-Scale Robotics LabTheMulti-ScaleRoboticsLabpursuesadynamicresearchprogramthatmaintainsastrongroboticsresearchfocusonseveralemergingareasofscienceandtechnology.AmajorcomponentoftheMSRLresearchleveragesadvancedrobot-icsforcreatingintelligentmachinesthatoperateatmicronandnanometerscales.MSRLresearchdevelopsthetoolsandprocessesrequiredtofabricateandassemblemicronsizedrobotsandnanometerscaleroboticcomponents.Manyofthesesystemsareusedforroboticexplorationwithinbiologicaldomains,suchasintheinvestigationofmolecularstructures,cellularsystems,andcomplexorgan-ismbehavior.

Autonomous Systems LabIntheAutonomousSystemLabresearchinterestsfocusonautonomousmobilesystems,namelyinthedesignandcontrolofrobotsoperatinginuncertainandhighlydynamicenvironments.Themajorgoalistofindnewwaystodealwithuncertaintiesandtoenablethedesignofhighlyinter-activeandadaptivesystems.Thisisdrivenbythevisionthatmachinesofthefuturewillinteractmoreandmorecloselywithhumanbeings,ascanbeseenintoday’strendsinautonomousrobots,andinsomecasesmachineswillevenmergewithhumans.Ourconceptsandtechnologiesfindtheirapplicationsinpersonalandservicerobots,unmannedaerialvehicles,advancedcars,spacerovers,inspectionro-botsandwalkingmachines.

Sensory-Motor Systems Lab TheSMSLabfocusesontheinvestigationofsensory-motorinteractionsbetweenhumansandmachines.Thismulti-disciplinaryresearchincludesthestudyofhumanmotorcontrol,thedesignofnovelmechatronicmachines,andtheinvestigationandoptimisationofhuman-machineinteraction.Akeyideaisthathumanmovementandpsycho-physiologicalstatecanbecontrolledbyrecordingmulti-sensoryphysiologicalsignalsandthendisplayingprocessedinformationbymeansofmulti-modalstimuli

(vision,sound,hapticsetc.)tothehuman.Thetechnicalsysteminteractswiththehumaninauser-cooperativeway,takingintoaccountthesubject’seffortandintentionratherthanimposinganyrigidandinflexiblestrategy.Themainapplicationsareinthefieldsofrehabilitation,sports,andmedicaleducation.

Rehabilitation Engineering Lab ResearchattheRehabilitationEngineeringLabfocusesonthedevelopmentandclinicalevaluationofdiagnostic,therapeuticandassistiverobotictoolsinordertopromotere-covery,independenceandsocialintegrationofthephysicallydisabled.Aspecialinterestliesinhandfunction,andhowhapticfeedbackcanbenefitmotorlearning,rehabilitationtherapy,andhuman-machineinteraction.Asecondfocusisontheemergingfieldofneurosciencerobotics,withtheaimofdevelopingandapplyingnovelrobotictoolsallowingustogainabetterunderstandingoftheneuralmechanismsthatunderlyhumansensorimotorcontrolandtheirreorganiza-tionwithageorafterfocalbraininjuryincombinationwithfunctionalneuroimaging.

Bio-Inspired Robotics Lab TheresearchinterestsoftheBio-InspiredRoboticsLablieattheintersectionofroboticsandbiology.Throughabstractionofthedesignprinciplesofbiologicalsystems,wedevelopcorecompetenceswhicharethedesignandcontrolofdynamicmechatronicssystems,bionicsensortechnologies,andcomputationaloptimizationtechniques.Ourmaingoalsaretocontributetoadeeperunderstandingoftheadaptiv-ityandautonomyofanimalsthroughtheinvestigationofdynamicrobots,andtoengineernovelroboticapplicationswhicharemoreadaptive,resilient,andenergyefficient.

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Institute of Robotics and Intelligent SystemsRehabilitation Engineering Lab Professor Roger Gassert

RogerGasserthasbeenAssistantProfessorofRehabilitationEngineeringatETHZurichsinceDecember2008.HereceivedhisMSc.degreeinmicroengineeringandaPh.D.degreeinroboticsandneurosciencefromtheEcolePolytechniqueFédéraledeLausanne(EPFL),Switzerland,in2002and2006,respectively.DuringhisPh.D.,whichhepartiallycarriedoutatATRInternationalinKyoto,Japan,hesystematicallyinvestigatedactuationmethodsforapplicationsinMRenvironments,anddevelopedanMR-compatiblerobotictechnologythatleadtothefirstfMRI-compatiblehapticinterfacesallowingsafeandgentleinteractionwithhumanmotionduringfunctionalMRI.ThesesystemsarenowbeingusedtoinvestigatesensorimotorcontrolandrelateddysfunctionswithpartnersinJapan,theUKandSwitzerland.Hesubsequentlyworkedonthedevelopmentandevalua-tionofroboticsystemstotrainhandfunctionafterstrokeasPostdoctoralFellowatImperialCollegeLondonandSimonFraserUniversityinVancouver,Canada,supportedbytheSwissNationalScienceFoundation.FromDecember2007toNovember2008heheadedthejointroboticslabbetweenEPFLandtheUniversityofTokyoattheRoboticSystemsLabatEPFL.Hisresearchinterestsareinrehabilitationandmedi-calrobotics,haptics,assistivedevicesandneuroscience.

Ourresearchfocusesonthedevelopmentandclinicalevaluationofdiagnostic,therapeuticandassistivetoolsinordertopromoterecovery,independenceandsocialintegrationofthephysicallydisabled.Weareespeciallyinterestedinhandfunction,andhowhapticfeedbackcanbenefitmotorlearning,rehabilitationtherapy,andhuman-machineinteraction.Toachievethesegoals,weareusingacombinedapproachofrobotics,psychophysicsandcognitiveneuroscienceandstronglycollaboratingwithinternationalteamsinthesedisciplines.

Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation of HandFunction After Stroke Afterastroke,mostsurvivorslosesomeabilitytousethearmand/orhand,whichseverelyaffectsactivitiesofdailyliving,suchaseating,manipulatingobjects,writing,etc.Ourgoalistoinducelonglastingimprovementintypicalactivitiesofdailylivinginvolvingthehand,bylettingstrokepatientsperformsystematicexercisesadaptedtotheirdis-ability,usingdedicatedroboticinterfaces.IncollaborationwiththeNationalUniversityofSingapore(NUS),ImperialCollegeLondonandMcGillUniversitywearedevelopingandclinicallyevaluatingroboticinterfacestotrainhandfunctionafterstroke.Researchinthisareainvolves(i)designandevaluationofdedicatedsensors,actuatorsandcontrolschemesforsafeandgentlehuman-machineinteraction,(ii)developmentandclinicalevaluationoftherapyprotocolsandinterac-tiveVRgamestoenhanceengagementandmotivationofsubjects,(iii)investigationoftheinfluenceofvariousfeedbackmodalitiesontherapyoutcome,(iv)evaluationoftheefficiencyofrobot-assistedtherapyofhandfunctionwiththeHapticKnobandHandCARErobots.

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Neuroscience RoboticsRoboticinterfacescandynamicallyinteractwithhumansperformingmovementsandcanbeusedtostudyneu-romuscularadaptation.Inconjunctionwithafunctionalbrainimagingmodalitysuchasfunctionalmagneticreso-nanceimaging(fMRI),thesedevicescouldallowneuroscien-tiststoinvestigatethebrainmechanismsofmanipulationandmotorlearning,givetherapistsatoolforadaptiveandpatient-specificrehabilitationtherapies,andassistmedicaldoctorsinfunctionaldiagnosticsofmotordysfunctions.However,theMRenvironmentimposesseveresafetyandelectromagneticcompatibilityconstraintsonmechatroniccomponents,andtheaccessibleworkspacearoundthesubjectislimited.WearedevelopingroboticsystemscompatiblewithfMRIandelectroencephalography(EEG).Thesedevicescangeneratevirtualdynamicenvironmentsandallowtheinvestigationofhumanmotorcontrolandrelateddysfunc-tionsinawell-controlledmannerwithrepeatablecondi-tions.Researchfocusesonthedevelopmentofsafeandcompatiblemechatroniccomponents,compatibilitytesting,performanceevaluationandapplicationofthesedevicesinneurosciencestudiesincollaborationwithourpartners.

Sensorimotor InteractionsProprioceptivefeedbackiscrucialformovementgenerationinhumans,especiallyduringmotor(re)learning.Weareapply-ingourfMRI-compatiblehaptictechnologytosystematicallyinvestigatesensorimotorinteractionsduringfingermotion,aswellastheeffectofagingandstrokeontheseinteractions,incollaborationwiththeUniversityCollegeLondon.Asimilarroboticdevicedesignedforinteractionwithwristmovementsisbeingusedtogainabetterunderstandingoftheroleofproprioceptioninmotorlearninginhealthysubjects.

Assistive TechnologyTechnologycanhelppeoplewithdisabilitiesovercomebarriers,butitcanalsocreatenewbarriers.Weinvestigatehowtechnologycanassistthedisabledintheirdailyactivi-ties,suchas,e.g.,navigationtoolsfortheblind,andhowtheinformationgatheredbythetoolcanbeconveyedtotheuserinthemosteffectiveandleastdisturbingmanner.Researchinthisareainvolvesthedesignandevaluationofassistivedeviceswithintuitive,multi-modalhuman-machineinterfacestoassistpeoplewithdisabilitiesineverydaylife.WecloselyworkwiththeAccess for allfoundationlocatedinZurichtoestablishalistofrequirementsforsuchdevicesandevaluatethemwiththeendusers.

HapticsRoboticsystemsinteractingwithhumanmotionrequirethedevelopmentofadaptedactuators,sensors,mecha-nismsandcontrolschemes.Wearedevelopingrobotictoolstoobjectivelydeterminehumanfactorsandarelettingthisknowledgeflowintothedesignandevaluationofmechatroniccomponentsforhuman-machineinteraction,suchasmulti-degree-of-freedomforce/torquesensorsforapplicationsinrehabilitationroboticsandclinicaldiagnos-tics,incollaborationwiththethick-filmtechnologygroupattheLaboratoiredeProductionMicrotechniqueatEPFL.

Pictures from left to right:fMRI-compatibleroboticfingerinterfaceusedinbehavioralstudy(CopyrightSchaffner&Conzelmann,Basel);ideminfMRIstudytoinvestigatesensorimotorinteractions;HapticKnobtherapeuticinterfacetotrainhandfunction;assistivenavigationtool

fortheblind;instrumentedobjectsforhome-basedrehabilitation;PHANTOMhapticdeviceusedinresearchandteaching

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Institute of Robotics and Intelligent SystemsBio-Inspired Robotics Lab Professor Fumiya Iida

FumiyaIidaisaSNFProfessorforBio-inspiredRoboticsatETHZurichin2009.HereceivedhisbachelorandmasterdegreesinmechanicalengineeringatTokyoUniversityofScience(Japan,1999),andDr.sc.nat.inInformaticsatUniversityofZurich(2006).In2004and2005,hewasalsoengagedinbiomechanicsresearchofhumanlocomotionatLocomotionLaboratory,UniversityofJena,Germany.From2006to2009,heworkedasapostdoctoralassociateattheComputerScienceandArtificialIntelligenceLaboratory,MassachusettsInstituteofTechnologyinUSA.In2006,hewasawardedtheFellowshipforProspectiveResearchersfromtheSwissNationalScienceFoundation,andin2009,theSwissNationalScienceFoundationProfessorship.Hisresearchinterestsincludebiologicallyinspiredrobotics,embodiedartificialintelligence,andbiomechanics,wherehehasbeeninvolvedinanumberofresearchprojectsrelatedtodynamic-leggedlocomotion,navigationofautonomousrobots,andhuman-machineinteractions.Hehassofarpublishedoverfortypublicationsinmajorroboticsjournalsandconferences,andeditedtwobooks.CurrentlyheservesontheeditorialboardofJournalofIntelligent&RoboticSystemsandFrontiersinNeuroscience(Neurorobotics),theprogramcommitteememberofinternationalconferencesandworkshops.

Vision Whileanumberofsuccessfulapplicationshavebeendevel-opedbasedonconventionalroboticstechnologies,thecapa-bilitiesofcurrentroboticsystemsarestillfarbehindthoseofbiologicalsystemsintermsofautonomy,efficiency,andadaptabilityinparticular,whichconsiderablyrestrictstheirapplicationniche.Innature,animals’motorcontrolsoftenutilizehighlymaneuverableandefficientpassivedynamics,whileflexiblyswitchingtopreciseandhighpoweractuationifnecessary.Innervoussystems,informationisprocessedinmassiveparallelnetworks,andoptimizedthroughbothrapidlearningandrelativelylong-termdevelopmentalprocesses.Basedonthesesensory-motorcapabilities,anumberofintelligentbehaviorsemergethroughmakinguseoftools,structuringenvironments,andsocialinteractionsandcooper-ation.Thesearethechallengingproblemsaheadofrobot-icsengineersandscientists,whichwetacklewithfromaninterdisciplinaryviewpointbridgingoverrobotics,computerscienceandbiologicalsciences.Morespecifically,thevisionoftheBio-InspiredRoboticsLabistocreatelife-likerobots,andthroughthesystematicinvestigationstowardthisgoal,werapidlyandincrementallyidentifywhatarethefunda-mentalproblemsandhowtheycanbesolved.Theresearchprogramconsistsoftwolargesubsetsofinvestigations:first,weexplorenoveltechnologiessuchassensory,motorandcomputationalcomponents,whichenableustodevelopmorebiologicallyplausiblephysicalroboticsystems.Andsecond,basedonourcoretechnologicalcompetences,wemakeinroadsintothefundamentalquestionsaboutwhatdiscriminatesbetweenanimalsandmachinesbyapplyinganunderstanding-by-buildingapproach.

ProjectsDesign Optimization of Underactuated Robotic SystemsPassivedynamicsplayimportantrolesinthedailylifeofani-mals,asexemplifiedbypassivekneeswingsduringwalking,

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passivefinger-objectinteractionsthroughsoftskinsurfacesforobjectgrasping,anddynamicinteractionswithfluidicenvironmentsforswimmingandflying,forexample.Incontrast,theuseofpassivedynamicsisstilloneofthemostsignificantchallengesforroboticsystemsintheworldtoday.Whiletheexploitationofpassivedynamicsinourroboticsystemsisexpectedtosignificantlyimproveenergyef-ficiency,maneuverability,andoverallrobustnessingenerat-ingmotions,itisatechnologicallydifficultproblembecauseitrequiresnonlinearsystem-environmentinteractions,high-bandwidthcontrol,andcomplexmechanicaldesignprocesses.Aimingtowardsasignificantbreakthroughinroboticsresearch,intheBio-InspiredRoboticsLabourre-searchprojectsinthisdirectionfocusonthefollowingthreechallenges.First,collaboratingwithanumberofresearchersinbiomechanicsandneuroscience,wemodelandanalyzemusculoskeletaldesignsofbiologicalsystems,andextractthebasicprinciplesofmechanicaldesignsinnature.Second,inordertoovercomethediscrepancyinnaturalandartificialdesignprocesses,weexplorebasicsensory-motorcompo-nentsandnovelmanufacturingprocessesbyinvestigatingrapidprototypingandcomputationaloptimizationmethods.Andthird,fromtheoreticalandpracticalviewpoints,weintegratetheacquiredknowledgeandtechnologiesintothedemonstrationsofanimal-likerobotic-leggedlocomotionandmanipulation.

Nonlinear Control Optimization for Dynamics ProgrammabilityNonlineardynamicsisapredominantpropertyofunderac-tuatedroboticsystems,whichappearstobeafundamentalproblempreventingconventionalrobotsfromgeneratingnaturalbehaviors.Inparticular,controlofnonlineardy-namicsplaysanimportantroleingeneratingnon-periodicbehaviorssuchashighjumpandkickingaball;ahighjumprequiresapreparationphaseofseveralprecedingsteps,andball-kickingrequiresaswingbackoftheleginaspecificway

togainthemaximummomentumatimpact.Theoretically,generatingsuchnon-periodicresilientbehaviorsinvolvesnonlinearcontrolthatrequiresacertainformofplanningbecauseeverycontrolactionhaslong-termconsequences.Inotherwords,awalkingrobotcanrealizeitwasabadsteponlyafterfallingover.Ourstrategicmethodologyinthisresearchdomainistotakeadvantageofrapidlygrowingcomputertechnologies.Byapplyingcomputationaltech-niquessuchasnumericalsimulationandmachinelearningalgorithmstocontroloptimization,wedevelopasystematicdesignframeworkofnonlinearcontrolsuchthatmechanicaldynamicscanbe“programmable”forsensiblenon-periodicbehaviors.Theapplicationdomainofthisresearchdirec-tionissurprisinglybroadandweinvestigatethisexcitingresearchtopicthroughleggedlocomotioninroughterrains,manipulationofunknownobjects,andswimmingandflyingindynamicflows.

Dynamic Embodied CognitionThecapabilitiesofdynamicsystem-environmentinterac-tionsareessentialnotonlyforgeneratingmotionsbutalsofordynamicadaptivebehaviorsofnervoussystemsinnature;animalsactivelyinteractwiththeenvironmentforthepurposeofperception,learninganddevelopment.Thisresearchdirectionexploresthequestionstypicallyinvesti-gatedinthefieldsofartificialintelligence,cognitivescience,andbrainsciencefromtheviewpointofrobotics,andthroughtheinvestigationsofphysicalrobots,wesystemati-callyexplorewhattherolesof“embodiment”inthecontextofintelligentadaptivebehaviorsinanimalsandmachinesare.Morespecificproblemsincludehowperceptionoftheworldcanbesimplifiedbyactivelyinteractingwiththeenvi-ronment,howsensoryinformationandsymbolicrepresenta-tionscanbegroundedontophysicallymeaningfulcharac-teristicsandproperties,andhowlearningprocessescanbesimplifiedbyembodiedinteractions.

Pictures from left to right:Compassgaitbipedrobotonroughterrain;Four-leggedrunningrobotPuppyequippedwithstereovision;Walkingandrunningbipedrobotwithcompliantlegs;One-leggedhoppingrobotwithacompliantleg,and

experimentalresultsofhoppingoverroughterrain

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Institute of Robotics and Intelligent SystemsMulti-Scale Robotics LabProfessor Bradley J. Nelson

BradNelsonreceivedaB.S.M.E.fromtheUniversityofIllinoisatUrbana-Champaign,anM.S.M.E.fromtheUniversityofMinnesotaandaPh.D.degreeinRoboticsfromtheSchoolofComputerScience,CarnegieMellonUniversity.HehasbeenanengineeratHoneywellandMotorolaandservedasaUnitedStatesPeaceCorpsVolunteerinBotswa-na,Africa.HebecameanAssistantProfessorattheUniversi-tyofIllinoisatChicagoin1995andanAssociateProfessorattheUniversityofMinnesotain1998.In2002,hebecametheProfessorofRoboticsandIntelligentSystemsatETHZurichinSwitzerland.HehasbeenawardedaMcKnightLand-GrantProfessor-shipandisarecipientoftheOfficeofNavalResearchYoungInvestigatorAward,theNationalScienceFoundationFacultyEarlyCareerDevelopment(CAREER)Award,theMcKnightPresidentialFellowsAward,andtheBronzeTablet.HewaselectedasaRoboticsandAutomationSocietyDistinguishedLecturerin2003and2008andhasbeenafinalistforand/orwonbestpaperawardsatmajorroboticsconferencesandforjournalsin2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,and2009.Hewasnamedinthe2005“ScientificAmerican50,”ScientificAmericanmagazine’sannuallistrecognizingfiftyoutstand-ingactsofleadershipinscienceandtechnologyfromthepastyear.Hislabwonthe2007RoboCupNanogramCompe-tition,thefirstyeartheeventwasheld.

Research OverviewProfessorNelson’sMulti-ScaleRoboticsLab(MSRL)oftheInstituteofRoboticsandIntelligentSystemspursuesadynamicresearchprogramthatmaintainsastrongrobot-icsresearchfocusonseveralemergingareasofscienceandtechnology.AmajorcomponentofMSRLresearchleveragesadvancedroboticstocreateintelligentmachinesthatoper-ateatmicronandnanometerscales.

Current Research ProjectsMicrorobotics and Nanomedicine Theintroductionofminimallyinvasivesurgeryinthe1980’screatedaparadigmshiftinsurgicalprocedures.Healthcarenowisinapositiontomakeanevenmoredramaticleapbyintegratingnewlydevelopedwirelessmicrorobotictechnolo-gieswithnanomedicinetoperformpreciselytargeted,local-izedendoluminaltechniques.Inordertorealizethiscapability,manynewtechnologiesmustbedevelopedandsynergisticallyintegrated,andmedicaltherapiesforwhichthetechnologywillprovesuccessfulmustbeaggressivelypursued.Wearedevelopingcarbonnanotube(CNT)basedrugdeliverysystems.The“nanorobots”incorpateferromagneticmaterialsothattheycanbeguidedusingexternalmagneticfieldsandhavebiomoleculesattachedatthesurface.Issuesinfabricationandmagnetic-basedguidancearebeingpursued.

Microrobotics for Ophthalmic Surgery Amajoreffortofthegroupisonthedevelopmentofun-tetheredwirelessbiomedicalmicrorobotsforin-vivomedicalapplicationswithemphasisonintraocularprocedures.Tofunc-tionalizethemicrorobotwepursueabroadrangeoftopicsin-cludingsurfacecoatingsforbiocompatibility,drugdelivery,andtissueadhesion.Themicrorobotismagneticallysteeredandvisuallycontrolledthroughindirectophthalmoscopymethods.Thesteeringmethodswearedevelopingwillincreasetheaccuracyofintraocularproceduresandallowmorepreciseoperationsonthehighlysensitivehumanretina.

Magnetic Microactuators Magneticactuatorsarecapableofgeneratinglargebi-directionalforcesoverlongworkingdistances.Theyarewidelyusedinthemacroworldandareofgrowinginter-esttothemicroworld.Theyhavetheadvantagesthattheycanbeactuatedwithexternalfields,operateinavarietyofcontaminatedordirtyenvironments,generatelargeforcesoverlargedistancesandprovidea“latching”action.Wehavedevelopedvariousprocessesfortheintegrationofhardmagneticmaterialsintomicrosystemsforactuationandsensing,includingmicromagnetassemblyformicroactua-tors,waferlevelprocessesusingscreenprinting,andnovelelectroplatingprocesses.

Artificial Bacterial Flagella Inspiredbynature’sbacterialflagella,artificialbacterialflagella(ABFs)havecomparablegeometriesanddimensionstotheirorganiccounterpartsandswimusingthesamelowReynoldsnumbernon-reciprocatinghelicalstrategy.ABFsswiminacontrollablefashionusingweakappliedmagneticfields(1-2mT)andarefabricatedfromhelicalnanobeltsbya“topdown”approachofpre-stressedmulti-layers.Thisuniquetechnologicalbreakthroughhasmanypotentialap-plications,inparticularforbiomedicalresearch.Theyprovidea6-DOFmicro-andnanomanipulationtoolformanipu-latingcellularandsub-cellularobjects,forsensingandtrans-mittinginter-andintracellularinformation,andfortargeteddrugdelivery.Keyissuesbeingaddressedaretheswimmingperformanceofthesemicro-/nanorobotsunderdifferentenvironmentalconditions,thefabricationofABFwithmate-rialsotherthansemiconductors,surfacefunctionalizationofABF,andlocalizationandtracking in vivo.

Self-Assembly and Directed Self-Assembly Dielectrophoretic(DEP)assemblyhasbeenwidelyusedforpre-ciseassemblyofmicrotonanosizedcomponentsandiswellsuitedforintegrationwithmicroandnano-electronicdevices.

TheoptimizationofmultipleprocessparametersforDEPas-semblyisamajorchallenge,andatheoreticalapproachhasbeencombinedwithexperimentstoinvestigatetheeffectofelectrodegeometryonprecisionplacementandpercentyield.

Self-assemblyresearchisalsobeingpursuedatlargerscalesandiscurrentlyfocusedonincreasingthefunctionalityofcapsuleendoscopy.Deviceswithactivelocomotionarebeingdeveloped,whosedimensionsareconstrainedbythesizeapersoncanswallowwithoutdifficulty.Oneapproachtoincreasingfunctionalitywhilestillworkingwithinthiscm-scalesizeconstraint,istobuildamodularroboticsysteminwhichcapsule-modulesareswallowedoneatatime,andthefinalassemblyisperformedwithinthegastrointestinal(GI)tract.

Micro Force Sensing and Microhandling Biologicalsystemssuchastissue,cellsandproteinfibersarehighlydeformablematerialswithmechanicalpropertiesthatareoftennotwellknown.Quantitativemeasurementsoftheforcesintheseminiaturesystemsarethebasisfortheemergingfieldofmechanobiology,investigatingforce-struc-turerelationshipsofbiologicalsystemsattheorganism,tissue,cellular,andmolecularlevels.

MEMStechnologyprovidestheopportunitytodevelopmuchsmallerandinexpensivemicroforcesensorswithahighsensitivityandbandwidth.Single-axisandmulti-axismicroforcesensingsystemsaswellasMEMSforcesensinggrippersaredesignedandfabricatedinthecleanroomsofETH.Duetotheirsmallsize,thesedevicescanberead-ilyintegratedintoexistingexperimentalsetupsprovidingasignificantlyenhanceddataacquisitiontechnologyforbiomechanicalresearch.

Pictures from left to right:1.Ourmicrorobotdockedinavein.(Copyright:IRIS);2.(Copyright:AntoineFerreira);3.MagmitedwarfedbyDrosophila(Copyright:IRIS);4a.Escherichiacolibacteriausingabundleofhelicalflagellatopropelthemselvesinliquid,4b.Ascanningelectronmicrographofanas-fabricatedartificialbacteriaflagellum.(Copyright:IRIS);5.ThefinalpositionofDEPassembledCNTSfordifferentelectrodeshapes.(a)apairofroundelectrodes.(b)ahybridelectrodepair.(Copyright:IRIS);6.Snake-typerobot,fabricatedoutofabstract

modules,thathasbeenself-assembledinanartificialstomach(Copyright:IRIS);7.ForcecontrolledmicroassemblyusingaforcesensingMEMSgripper(Copyright:IRIS);8.6-axisMEMSforcesensorwithmicronewtonresolution(Copyright:IRIS);9.SEMimageofamicroforcesensingprobeandanelectrostaticmicrogripperwithintegratedforcesensor(Copyright:IRIS)

Institute of Robotics and Intelligent SystemsSensory-Motor Systems LabProfessor Robert Riener

RobertRienerreceivedaDipl.-Ing.degreeinMechanicalEngineeringandaDr.-Ing.inElectricalEngineeringfromtheTUMünchenin1993and1997,respectively.In1993hejoinedtheInstituteofAutomaticControlEngineering,whereheconductedresearchonmodelingandcontrolofneuropros-theses.AfterpostdoctoralworkattheCentrodiBioingegne-ria,PolitecnicodiMilanofrom1998-1999,hereturnedtotheTUMünchen,wherehefinishedhishabilitationinthefieldofBiomechatronicsin2003.From2003-2006hewasAssist-antProfessorforRehabilitationEngineeringattheAutomaticControlLaboratoryoftheETHZurichandSpinalCordInjuryCenteroftheUniversityHospitalBalgrist(“double-professor-ship”).SinceJune2006,hehasbeenAssociateProfessorforSensory-MotorSystemsattheD-MAVT,stillholdingthedou-bleprofessorshipwiththeUniversityofZurich.Hisresearchinterestsinvolvehumanmotionanalysisandsynthesis,virtualreality,biomechanics,hapticdisplaytechnologies,andrehabilitationrobotics.Heauthoredandco-authoredmorethan250peer-reviewedjournalandconferencearticles,andholds18patents.HeisanassociateeditoroftheIEEETNSREandaneditorialmemberoftwointernationaljournals.HehasbeenawardedseveralprizesincludingtheISPOAcademicChallengeAward2003,theHumanTechInnovationPrize2005,andtheSwissTechnologyAward2006.

Thegeneralgoalistheinvestigationofhumanandtechnicalsensory-motorsystemsandtheinteractionbetweenthem.Multi-modalanduser-cooperativetechniquesareappliedtohumanswithmovementdisorders(rehabilitation)andhealthysubjects(basicmotorresearch)inordertostudytheneuro-logicalandbiomechanicalprinciplesofhumanmotionlearningandmotorcontrol.“Multi-modal”meansthatmulti-sensoryinformationisrecordedfromthehuman,processedanddisplayedviaamulti-channelinterface,thusexploitingvisual,acoustical,andhapticsensorandactormodalities.“Cooperative”meansthatthetechnicalsystemtakesintoaccountthehuman’seffortandintentionratherthanimposinganinflexiblestrategy.Multi-modalityandcooperativityhavethepotentialtoimprovethemotorlearningeffectsinmotortherapiesaswellasmovementtrainingapplications.

Thefundamentforthesescientifictasksisformedbybasicmethodssuchasneurophysiologicalandbiomechanicalmodeling,functionalMRI,multi-sensorydataacquisition,3Daudiovisualmotionrepresentation,motionanalysis,androboticmotionsynthesis.Theapproachesarebeingtechni-callyandclinicallyevaluatedincooperationwithpartnersfromthemedicalfaculty(UniversityHospitalBalgristandUniversityHospitalZurich)andthemovementsciencefield.Promisingtechnologiesdevelopedinthelaboratoryarebe-ingtransferredtothemarketinordertobecomesuccessfulproducts.

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Patient-Cooperative Robot-Aided RehabilitationTask-orientedrepetitivemovementscanimprovemuscularstrengthandmovementcoordinationinpatientswithneu-rologicalororthopediclesions.Wewanttoinvestigatenaturalprinciplesofhumanmotorcontrolandmotionlearning.Wedevelopnoveltechnologiesandstrategiesforrobot-aidedgaitandarmtherapy,evaluatethesemethods,andintegratethemintoclinicalpracticetogetherwithourmedicalpartners.

Specificresearchareasinclude:•Developmentofnewcooperativeman-machineinteraction methods•Studyoftheprinciplesofmotivationandmovementlearn- ingviavisualandauditoryfeedback•Provenewtechnicalevaluationmethods•ProveclinicalefficiencywitharmtherapyrobotARMin andgaitrobotLokomat

Investigation of Neurological Representation of Human MovementMakingtheabove-mentionedrehabilitationrobotscompat-ibletotheMRIscannerwillallowtrackingoftheneuralcorre-latesofspecificrehabilitativetreatmentsandinvestigationofreparativeplasticityinthesensorimotorcortex:•FunctionalMRIstudiesofmotionplanning,motor learning,neuropathologies,andneuralrestoration•DevelopmentandevaluationofnewMR-compatible devices,robots,andstrategiesthatshouldsupportthe functionalMRIstudies•Supportfindingsbyneurophysiologicalandbiomechanical modeling&simulation•TransfertootherMRIapplicationsintheareasoforthopedics, interventionalsurgery,MR-compatibleimplants

Motor Learning with Multimodal InterfacesTheMotionSynthesisLaboratoryM3wassetuptostudyhowlearningofhumanmovementcanbeinfluencedandoptimizedbyamultimodal(haptic,acoustic,visual)displayofthemovement.Ahighspeedroboticropeinterfaceguidesthemovementofasubject,whileadditional3Dsoundand3Dimagescangiveaudiovisualadviceonhowtoperformamovement.TheMotionSynthesisLabwillalsoallowaninvestigationofthehumaninteractionwithanykindofrehabilitationorsportdevice.

•UseoftheM3MotionSynthesisLaboratoryfordifferent applications:hapticdisplay(highspeedroperobot), 3Dsound(acousticwavefieldsynthesissoundsystem), 3Dgraphics(stereoprojectionson3screens). TheLabismodularandflexiblesothatanykindof movementinsportandrehabilitationcanbestudied.•Studytheinfluenceof3Dhaptics,3Dvisionand3Dsound onmotorlearning.Specialfocusisdirectedtowards sonificationandvisualfeedbackinparticularmovements suchasrowing.

Pictures from left to right:TherapyrobotARMinincludingaudiovisualdisplayforthetreatmentofstrokepatients;BrainTraintouch-sensitivetrainingsystemformedicaleducation;MR-compatiblelinearactuatorforfMRIbrainstudies;

M3rowingsimulator;High-precisionMR-compatibleforcesensor;TreadmilltrainingrobotLokomat

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Institute of Robotics and Intelligent SystemsAutonomous Systems LabProfessor Roland Siegwart

RolandSiegwarthasbeenaFullProfessorforautonomoussystemsatETHZurichsinceJuly2006.HehasadiplomainMechanicalEngineering(1983)andaPh.D.inMechatron-ics(1989)fromETHZurich.In1989/90hespentoneyearasaPostdoctoralFellowatStanfordUniversity.AfterthatheworkedparttimeastheR&DdirectorofMECOSTraxlerAGandasalecturerandDeputyHeadattheInstituteofRobot-ics,ETHZurich.In1996hewasappointedasanAssociateandlaterasaFullProfessorforAutonomousMicrosystemsandRobotsattheEcolePolytechniqueFédéraledeLausanne(EPFL).DuringhisperiodatEPFLhewastheDeputyHeadoftheNationalCompetenceCenterforReseach(NCCR)onMultimodalInformationManagement(IM2),co-initiatorandfoundingChairmanofSpaceCenterEPFLandViceDeanoftheSchoolofEngineering.In2005heheldavisitingpositionatNASAAmesandatStanfordUniversity.RolandSiegwartisMemberoftheSwissAcademyofEngineeringSciences,theResearchCounciloftheSwissNationalScienceFoundation,IEEEFellowandanOfficeroftheInternationalFederationofRoboticsResearch(IFRR).HeservedasVicePresidentforTechnicalActivities(2004/05)andasDistin-guishedLecturer(2006/07)andiscurrentlyAdComMember(2007-2009)oftheIEEERoboticsandAutomationSociety.HeisthecoordinatoroftwoEuropeanProjectsandtheco-founderofseveralspin-offcompanies.RolandSiegwart’s

researchinterestsareinthedesignandcontrolofsystemsoperatingincomplexandhighlydynamicenvironments.

Inthelasttwodecades,engineeringhasundergoneanunprecedentedrevolution.Withtheintroductionandrapiddevelopmentofmicroelectronics,mostoftoday’sproductsandsystemsmakeextendeduseofembeddedmicroproces-sorsascontrollermechanisms.Thischangeheraldedtheformationofanewengineeringdiscipline–mechatronics,whichisthesynergisticintegrationofprecisionmechanicalengineering,electronics,intelligentcontrolandsystemde-signtowardsthecreationofsmartproductsandprocesses.Ourresearchinterestisinmechatronicsandintelligentro-bots,specificallyinthedesignandcontrolofsystemsoperat-ing,inhighlydynamicenvironments.Ourvisionistocreate“machinesthatknowwhattheydo”andtofindnewandimprovedwaysofdesigninghuman-centered,highlyinterac-tiveandadaptivesystems.Thisisdrivenbytheforethoughtthatmachinesarerapidlygettingmorecomplexandclosertohumanbeings,assuggestedbytherecentprogressinautonomousmobilerobotics.Insomeinstances,theywillsooneven“merge”withhumans.Prominentexamplesofexistingsystemsincluderobotsurgeons,hearingaids,clean-ingandtoyrobots,andintelligentcars.Nevertheless,thestate-of-the-artproductsarestillverylimitedininteractiv-ityandadaptabilitytochangingenvironments.Computersthatcanunderstandandreasonaboutcomplexsituationsarenotyetavailable,andautonomousrobotsassistingusinoureverydaylifearestillfarfromreality.Themainreasonsthatmakethedevelopmentofreliableartificialsystemsparticularlychallengingaretheincompletenessofavailableinformation(limitedbysensingcapability),theuncertaintyofthisinformation,andfinallytheenvironment’scomplexityanddynamics.Ourresearchisthusdevotedtoimprovingthestate-of-the-artinmechatronicsandroboticsinanendeavortorealizeourvision.Itcanbecategorizedalongthreecloselylinkedscientificdirections:

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Design of Robotic and Mechatronic Systems that best Adapt to their EnvironmentThisdirectionincludesresearchforintegratedmechatronicdesignofintelligentsystems,environmentperception,andembeddedcontrol.Themainfocusisonintegratedsystemsdesign,inordertorealizeintelligentautonomoussystemsandrobotsthatareabletocopewithhighlycomplextasksandenvironments.Recenttestimonialstotheprogressmadeinthisdirectioninclude:wheeledlocomotionsystemsthatpassivelyadapttoroughterrainandperceivetheirenviron-mentwithtactilesensors,laserandstereovision;11interactivetour-guiderobotsthatweredeployedattheSwissnationalexhibitionexpo.02for5months;anautonomoussailingboatreadytocrosstheAtlantic;anautonomouscar;anintelligentquadrupedwalker;anautonomoussolarpoweredmicro-glider,andvariousmicro-helicopters.ThisresearchareaissupportedbytheEuropeanCommission(EU),theEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA),theSwissInnovationPromotionAgency(CTI)andotherindustrialpartners.ItinvolvesaroundadozenPh.D.studentsandPostdocs.

Navigation and Mapping in Highly Dynamic EnvironmentsThisresearchdirectionmainlyaddressesthescientificques-tionsrelatedtomobilerobotlocalizationandmap-building,obstacleavoidanceinhumanclutteredenvironmentsandhuman-robotinteraction.Realenvironmentsaretypicallyonlypartiallyperceivableandtheperceivedinformationisintrinsi-callyimprecise.Thus,theactualstateofthesystemoperatingintherealworldmustalsobeconsideredaserrorproneandinaccurate.Withthisbasis,wearedevelopingandadaptingtoolsthatallowfortheconsiderationandmodelingofuncer-taintiesforautonomousmobilerobotnavigationandinterac-tion.OurapproachismainlybasedonBayesianmathematicsandinspiredbyrecentadvancesinartificialintelligence,robotlearningandneuroscience.Allourtheoreticalmodelsare

implementedandverifiedonrealrobotplatformswithembeddedcontrol,operatinginreal-worldenvironmentsandthusproducingtangibleresults.Themostrecentresultsinthisareaarehighlyefficientlocalizationandmap-buildingalgorithmsthatallowreliablenavigationinvarious2Dand3Denvironments,andpathplanningalgorithmsthatallowautonomousmotioninhighlydynamicsettings,suchasinexhibitionareasoronurbanroads.Todoso,weexploitmul-tiplesensorinputsandfusethemformotionestimationandmappingaswellasglobalandlocalnavigation.Specialfocusisplacedonvisualsensorsthatareveryrichininformationandgettingmoreandmoreaffordableinrecentyears.Ourmainapplicationsareinvisualnavigationwithmicrounmannedvehicles(MAV),multi-modalperceptionandtrackingofdy-namicobjectsinurbanenvironments,servicerobotsforhomeenvironmentsandindustrialinspection.ThisresearchareaissupportedthroughvariousEUandSwissNationalScienceFoundation(SNF)projectsandinvolvesaroundadozenPh.D.studentsandPostdocs.

Creativity and Product InnovationWeinvestigatethefundamentalsofcreativityandinnovationtodevelopmethodsandtoolsforeffectiveandefficientprod-uctinnovation.Webelievethattheinnovativenessofindustrycanandshouldbeenhancedthroughtheimplementationofnewprocesses,methods,andtools.Weareconvincedthatanopenandsustainablecollaborationbetweenindustryandacedemiaisthekeytomutualsuccess–bothfortheuniversitythatproducesresultsandfortheindustrythatusestheminpractical,day-to-daycomplexsituations.Currentresearchandeducationalactivitiesfocusonprojectbasedlearning,creativ-itytraining,toolsandmethodologies.Thesesupportthefront-endfortheinnovationprocessandnewmeansforinnovationassessmentinsmallandmedium-sizedcompanies.ThisareaissupportedbyvariousEUandCTIprojectsandinvolvesaroundhalfadozenPh.D.studentsandPostdocs.

Pictures from the left to the right: Crab,theMarsexplorationrover;Smartter,arobotizedcarforautonomousdriving;CoaX,anautonomoushelicopterwithhighstabilitymargin;Naro,theartificialTuna;Igor,thebutlerandtheateractor;Alf,thequadrupedstartsrunning;Skysailor,asolarmicro-airplane

capableofstayingairborneindefinetly;Avalon,theautonomoussailingboat

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Institute of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Professor Konrad Wegener

Institute of Virtual Manufacturing Professor Pavel Hora

Professorship of Micro- and Nanosystems Professor Christofer Hierold

Professorship of Nanotechnology Professor Andreas Stemmer

The following pages provide an overview of institutes consisting of single professorships and professorships that are not associated with an institute.

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Institute of Machine Tools and ManufacturingProfessor Konrad Wegener

KonradWegenerhasbeenFullProfessorofProductionTechnologyandMachineToolsatETHZurichsinceOctober2003;HeisheadoftheIWF(InstitutfürWerkzeugmaschinenundFertigung)andinspireAG,anindustryinitiatedtransfercenteratETHZurich.Bornin1958,hestudiedmechanicalengineeringattheTechnicalUniversityofBraunschweigandwrotehisPh.D.thesisonconstitutiveequationsforplasticmaterialbehaviorofmetals.HebeganhisindustrialcareeratSchulerPressesGmbH&Co.KG.HepreparedandplannedtheengagementoftheSchulergroupinlasertechnology.Aftertheacquisitionofasmallcompany,hewasappointedasitsgeneralmanager,andbuiltitupfrom12employeestoover50.Underhisleadership,largeweldingmachinesforshipbuildingandconstructionofaeroplanes,weldingandcuttingmachinesforthejobshop,automotiveindustry,andfabricscutterweredevelopedandbuilt.Paralleltohisindus-trialwork,hegavelecturesontensorcalculusandcontinu-ummechanicsattheTechnicalUniversityofBraunschweigandonformingtechnologyandformingmachinesattheTechnicalUniversityofDarmstadt.

Main Research Areas Theresearchisgroupedintothreemainareas:Machines:Themainresearchtopicformachinesisthepredictabilityofthemachinetools’behaviorandtheirenhancement.Asalong-termgoal,theinstituteexploressolutionsoftheinversedesignproblem,i.e.thederivationofmachinetoolsfrompredefinedproperties.Today,theinstitutedealswithconception,drives,control,pathplanning,dynamics,calibration/errorcompensa-tion,specialstrategicmachinecomponents,heatinfluences,andmaterialsfortheconstructionofmachinetools.Futureplansincludethetopicofreliability/availability.• Theproductivityofallmachinetoolscouldbesignificantly increasedifthemachineisabletochangethebehaviorof thecontrolsystemdependingonthepositionoftheTCP. Modelbasedcontrolconceptsforpathplanningaswellas forclosedloopcontrolaredevelopedandtested.•Predictionandevaluationofamachineconcepts’behaviorona verybasicdatabaseandsubsequentoptimization.•Applicationofpolymerconcreteandthesubsequentoptimi- zationofthemachine’sfunctionalitysincethemanufacturing ofcomponentsincoldcastingoffersnewpossibilities.•Errorcompensationmethodsunderkinematic,dynamic,and thermalaspects.Developmentofmodelbasedconceptsfor thecompensation.•Reconfigurablemachinestoincreasetheflexibilityatlow costsandtoreducethesetuptimes,thustodevelopagile manufacturingconcepts.Manufacturing processes: Themainresearchtopicconcerningprocessesisthepredictionandincreaseinperformance(accuracyandtransformationrate)ofmanufacturingprocessesandtheautomaticplanningofprocesschains.Currently,theinstitutefocusesoncuttingwithgeometricallyundefinededges(grinding,hardbroaching,hon-ing),machining/chipformation,electricaldischargemachining,lasermachiningandprocesscombinations,diagnosisandproc-esscontrol,processchains,andmaterialstobetreated.

Pictures from left to right:ModelbasedconceptforthecontrolsystemofmachinetoolsanditsrealizationontheHexaglidesystem.Conceptofareconfigurablemachinesystem,inwhichthebehaviorisenhancedbymodelbasedconceptsforthermalanddynamicbehaviors.BrazedengineeredgrindingtoolanditssimulationwiththeMonteCarlomethodto

takeintoaccountthestochasticnatureofthemanufacturingprocess,andthedifferentgraingeometries,sizesandorientations.Patentdescriptionofamulti-nozzleheadformetalprintingwithmagneto-fluiddynamicactuation.Probe,calibratedballplate,andthree-dimensionalmeasurementresults.Highlyimmersivecommunicationandcollaboration.

•Developmentandlayoutofengineeredgrindingtoolsonthe basisofbrazedorplatedmetallicbonds.MonteCarlosimulation ofsuchgrindingwheelstotakeintoaccountthestochastic natureofposition,orientation,shapeofgrainsandtofind stablestates.Thesurfacepropertiesarepredicted.•Forhardbroaching,broachingwithgeometricallyundefined edges,aprocessmodelisderived,verifiedandusedforthe processlayoutonnewlydevelopedmachines.•Unterstandingofthegrindingprocess:Withthehelpofgeo- metricallymeasuredsinglegrainsbeingspecificallyoriented withrespecttothecuttingvelocity,thematerialremoval processisstudied.Agrindingmodelisbuiltupasastochastic synthesisofalargenumberofgrains.Engineeredgrinding toolsofferthepossibilitytoinfluencetheflowdirection. TheflowissimulatedandwillbeverifiedbyParticleImage VelocimetryinclosecooperationwiththeInstituteofFluid Dynamics.•Cuttingwithgeometricallydefinededges:Atestrigwas developedandverifiedtoinvestigatethecuttingpropertiesof steelbasedmaterialsinturning.Forces,speedandtemperature ofthechip,aswellastheacousticemissionsaremeasured. Withthehelpofatheoreticalmodel,thedirectionofthe shearplane,thecompressionfactor,thelengthofthechip, andthefrictionforcearederived.Forthepredictionofcutting conditionssuchasBUE(builtupedges)andwear,thetest rigandmodelwillbeexploited.•Numericalsimulationofmetalcutting:Thegoalisthepredic- tionoflocalloadsandthederivationofthecuttingtools’ wearbehavior.Anothergoalistofindcuttingconditions, forinstance,withthehelpofexternallyappliedenergiesforwhich wearandloadonthepart,aswellasaccuracyareoptimized.•Processchains:Developmentofmodelsfortheprocesschain, whichareabletopredicttheattainedaccuracyandtoopti- mizecostsorrobustness.Thefinalresultwillbeageneric planningtool.•Metalprinting:Developmentofamatrixprinterwith moltenmetalandmagnetofluiddynamicactuation.

Methods:Thegoalistodevelopmethodsandassociateddevicesfortheanalysisofmachinesandmanufacturingprocesses.Thisincludesmodelingandsimulationtechniques,aswellasmeasurementmethodsanddevices.Thetopicsare:multi-bodyandcombinedsimulationforkinematicsanddynamics,includingdrivesandcontrolproperties,processsimulation,simulationofthermalbehavior,andgeometricalandphysicalmetrology.Anadditionalresearchareaisvirtualreality,wheretoolsandmethodsforthecollaborativeandnet-baseddevelopmentprocessareresearched.•Calibrationofmachinetoolswiththehelpofanerrormodel, aspeciallydevelopedprobeandameasuringstrategy.Thus, thecalibrationcanbedonebyidentifyingtheerrorparam- etersautomatically,withorwithoutminimalrearrangement ofthemeasuringprobe.Thismeansthattheerroridentifi- cationisbasedonareducedcoverageoftheworkspace.•Developmentofanassemblykitforsimulationinthetime domainandforfastpredictionofsomemachineconcepts’ behaviors.Themodelwillbeenhancedbyfiniteelementrep- resentationasthedesignoftheconceptproceedsandcanbe reducedagainforthemodelusedinrealtimeonthemachine control.Thus,aclosedprocesschainformechatronicdesignis builtup.•Thermalsimulationkit:Developmentofamethodforrapid predictionofthethermalbehaviorofmachinetoolsbased onthermo-balancingmethodswithlargeandsimpleelements. Thisisusedforconceptevaluationandasarealtimemodel forthecompensationofthemachine’sthermalerrors.•Virtualreality:Virtualrealityisthepromisingkeystonefor theconvergenceofmodelingondifferentscales,namelyfrom microscaletoprocessscale,tomachinescale,tofactoryscale. Virtualrealityisthekeytocommunicationfordistributed developmentgroupsorproductionplannersandthekeyto thehumaninteractionwithvariousdigitalproducts.Ofparti- cularimportancearetheproductionplanningandthedeve- lopmentofenvironmentsforcreativeandintuitiveinteraction withdigitalproducts.

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Institute of Virtual ManufacturingProfessor Pavel Hora

PavelHorahasbeenanAssociateProfessorforVirtualManufacturingandFormingTechnologysinceOctober1,2004.Bornin1955inPrague,ProfessorHorastudiedattheDepartmentofMechanicalEngineeringatETHZurich,focus-ingonthermalturbo-machinesandfluiddynamics.In1990hereceivedhisPh.D.underProfessorJ.Reissnerinthefieldofnumericalfailuremodeling.In1996hewasnominatedasaTitularProfessorofETHZurich.In2005,healsobecameanAssociateMemberoftheD-MTECatETH.Followinggradu-ation,heworkedasanassistantscientistattheInstituteforFormingTechnologywithProfessorReissner.In1985hejoinedBBCinthedepartmentfortechnicalandscientificcomputa-tionalapplications,wherehewasresponsibleforthefurtherdevelopmentandapplicationofboundaryelementmethods.In1986hewasemployedattheMARCRes.Corp.inPaloAltoworkingonsoftwareprojects.Since1986,hehasheadedthegroupfornumericalsimulationsinformingprocessesattheInstituteofFormingTechnology.TheprogramAutoForm,deve-lopedduringthesepositions,becameoneoftheleadingsoft-wareproductsinthefieldofvirtualforming.Hisresearchacti-vitiesfocusonvirtualprocessmodeling,includingmathematicalconstitutivemodeling,failureprediction,numericaloptimiza-tionofmanufacturingprocesses,andstochasticalmethodsforrobustnesscontrol.Helecturesoncomputationalsciencesandthespecializationofformingtechnology.

Virtual ETG Planning Facility and Adaptive Process Control for a Robust Production of High Valued Cold Drawn Steels TheETG-materialishighqualitycolddrawnsteel,whichwillbeproducedinacomplexthermo-mechanicalprocess.Thegoaloftheprojectistodevelopavirtualplanningsystemtosupporttheprocesslayoutfornewproducts,aswellasanadaptiveprocesscontroltoachieve“zero-failure-produc-tion”quality.Scientificemphasisisonthedevelopmentofproblem-specificcomputationalgorithmswithenhancedmaterialmodels(chaboche,theodosiu),aswellasacodewithhighcomputationalefficiency,andtheimplementa-tionofanadaptivecontrolonthestraighteningunit,whichcompensatesfortheparameterfluctuationsandmakestheprocessrobust.

Intelligent Adaptive Process Control in Sheet Metal Forming, using an Eddy-Current System to Monitor the Significant Material PropertiesThefluctuationofmaterialpropertieshasasignificantim-pactontherobustnessofveryaccurateformingprocesses.Thegoaloftheprojectistodevelopaneddycurrentmeasur-ingsystemwithaspecificsoftwaremodulefortheanalysisoftheductilityparameters.Thisnon-destructivetestingtechniqueofmaterialisthepreconditionforanin-lineproc-esscontrolandanon-lineadaptiveprocessregulation.Withthissystem,a“zero-failure-production”shallbeachieved.Thesystemwillbeappliedtothinsheetformingparts(highspeedforming),aswellastothicksheetapplications(fineblanking).

Advanced Constitutive Models for the Virtual Process Modelingofsheetdeep-andstretch-formingprocesseswithTRIP,TWIP,andStainlessSteels(KTI8649.1).VirtualmodelingofformingprocesseswithTRIP,TWIP,orstainlesssteelsisdifficultbecausecurrentlytheFE-codesimplementedmaterialmodelssimplifytherealmaterialbehavior.

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Pictures from left to right:IvPFineblankingpressHLT1250(DonationFeintool).Virtualmodelingofafineblankingtool;FEMmodelingofthefineblankingprocess;X-raydiffractiongoniometer,aninstrumentformeasuringthetexturesofmetals;Dielessdrawingmachine(DLD)–New

fabricationmethodsforhighstrengthsteels–researchprojectwithSteeltec;Student’sexercisesin“ViProLab”

ThegoaloftheprojectistodevelopimprovedmateriallawsforthedescriptionofthemetastableandtemperaturesensitivematerialbehaviorforsteelsintheTRIPandTWIPfamily.Theadvancedmateriallawsandtheadvancedfailurecriteriaarerequiredforareliablevirtualcontroloftheformingbehavior.TheadvancedmaterialmodelisbasedonthePh.D.thesisofM.Hänsel(IVP,Diss.ETH12672),whichcurrentlyrepresentsthestandardconstitutivemodelforstainlessmaterials.Mean-while,theHänselmaterialmodelisimplementedincommer-cialFEMcodeslikeLS-Dyna.

Virtual Optimization of Fine Blanking SystemsDuringthefineblankingprocessamaterialseparationoccurs.Giventhestronglylocalizeddeformationstate,itssimulationpresentsseriousdifficultiesifageneralpurposeFEcodeisused.Amultiscalemodelingtechniquewasthusimplementedtoovercomethecomputationalchallenges.Thenewcodeallowsthevirtualoptimizationofprocessspecificparameterssuchasdieclearanceandcuttingedgegeometry.Anintel-ligentmetamodelingsoftwarewasfurthermoredevelopedtosupporttheearlystagesofproductionplanning.

Virtual Modeling of the Hot Forming ProcessOneofthemostchallengingtasksintheautomotiveindus-trytodayisthereductionoffuelconsumptionandconse-quentlyofthevariousemissionsofacar.Onewaytoattainthisobjectiveisthedecreaseoftheweightofthebody-in-white.Atthesametimethedemandsregardingthepassivesafetyofvehiclesaresteadilyincreasing.

Inordertoaccomplishbothpartlyconflictinggoals,thereisanincreasinguseofnewhighstrengthandultrahighstrengthmaterials.Currentlythehighestpotentialisshownbyboronalloyedsteelsthatareproducedbythesocalledpressharden-ingprocess.Inthisprocessthesheetmetalisheatedupbeforeitisinsertedandquenchedwithintheformingtools.Likethatamostlymartensiticmicrostructurewithinthesteelcanbe

obtainedshowingyieldstrengthsofmorethan1500MPa.Oneofthemaintasksofthisprojectistodevelopvirtualmodelsforoptimizationofthosecomplexthermo-mechani-calprocessestoallowarobustfabricationprocess.

Dieless DrawingInconventionalwiredrawing,thelocationandsizeofthedeformationispredeterminedbyadrawingdie.DielessDrawing(DLD)isanewtechniquetoachieveareductionofthewireorbardiameterwithouttheuseofdrawingdies.Inthisprocess,thediesarereplacedbyaninductioncoilasheatsourceandacoolingsection.Atruestrainbetween0and0.8canbeachievedthisway.Additionally,themicrostructurepropertiesofthematerialcanbeadjustedthroughanappro-priatechoiceoftheheatingandcoolingparameters.Virtualmodelingoftheformingprocessandoptimizationofthecoolingsectionisdoneforrapidprototypingandtheproduc-tionofclose-grainedsteel(KTIproposalinpreparation).

New Measurement Technique for the Experimen-tal Evaluation of Ductile Material Parameters TheyieldstrengthvalueRp0,2indicatesthestressuptowhichaplasticflowarises.Inthissense,Rp0,2isoneofthebasicmaterialparameters.Thevaluewillbeexperimentallymeasuredintensileorcompressiontests,whichneedspecialspecimensandasaresultareexpensive.Analternative,ex-perimentallylesscomplexmethod,isthehardnessmeasure-ment.However,withthismethodonlythetensilestrengthvalue(Rm)canbeevaluated-butnottheyieldstrengthRp0,2valueitself.Thispatentproposesanewtechnique,whichisclosetothehardnessmeasurementmethodbutincontrastmakestheevaluationoftheyieldstrengthpossibletoo.Withoutaneedforaspecialspecimen,thebenefitofthenewmethodisasignificantreductionoftheexperimentaltime.Thisisalsowhysignificantreductionofthequalitycontrolexpensescanbeachieved.

Professorship of Micro- and NanosystemsProfessor Christofer Hierold

ChristoferHieroldhasbeenaProfessorofMicroandNano-systemsatETHZurichsinceApril2002.HisresearchisfocusedontheevaluationofnewmaterialsforMEMS,onadvancedmicrosystems,andonnanotransducers.ChristoferHieroldisFoundingChairmanofoneofETHZurich’sinter-departmentalcompetencecenters,theMicroandNanoSciencePlatform,andheinitiatedthetrans-disciplinarymaster’sprograminMicroandNanosystems,whichisjointlyofferedbytwodepartments,namelytheDepartmentofMechanicalandProcessEngineeringandtheDepartmentofInformationTechnologyandElectricalEngineering.HeisalsoChairmanoftheManagementTeamofETHZurich’scleanroomfacility,theFIRSTlab.Inaddition,heisamemberoftheinternationalsteeringcommitteesofmajorconferencesinthefield(MEMS,TRANSDUCERS,EUROSENSORS),Co-ChairofMEMS2009,andheisamemberoftheeditorialboardsofIEEE/ASMEJournalofMicroelectromechanicalSystemsandofIoPJournalofMicromechanicsandMicroengineering,andheisjointeditorofthebookseriesAdvancedMicroandNanosystems(Wiley-VCH).ChristoferHieroldisaMemberoftheSwissAcademyofEngineeringSciences(SATW).

Turning Properties into FunctionsTheMicroandNanosystemsgrouppursuesfundamentalengineeringresearchregardingnovelmaterials,newproc-esses,anddeviceconceptsinordertounderstandandutilizetheuniquefunctionalpropertiesofmicroandnano-scaledmaterialsandtodevelopthemforsystemintegrationandfutureinnovations.Theresearchprojectscoordinatedirectlywiththeteachingprogramsandstudentprojects.Weoffercoursesthatrangefromthebasicsofprocesstechnologytoapracticalcourseforhands-onMEMSexperience.Amongothers,amaster’sPrograminMicroandNanosystemsisjointlyofferedbyD-MAVTandD-ITET.Theresearchactivitiesofourgrouparecenteredonthreefocusareas:nanotransducersandnanosys-tems,evaluationofnewnaterialsforMEMS,andadvancedmicrosystems.

Nanotransducers and NanosystemsTheconsistentdevelopmentofmicroelectromechanicalsystems(MEMS)intothenanoregimeischallengingduetounfavorablescalinglawsandthelackofreproduciblefabrica-tionprocessesfortheintegrationofnanostructuresintosys-tems.Single-walledcarbonnanotubes(SWNT)arepromisingmolecularnanostructuresfornanoelectromechanicalsystems(NEMS)withexcellentelectricalandmechanicalproperties.Beforesuchsystemswillemerge,however,fundamentalchal-lengesneedtobesolved,whichincludetheexplorationandcharacterizationofunitprocessesforareproducibleintegrationofcarbonnanotubes(CNTs)bylocalcatalyticgrowthorself-assembly.ThereforeourprojectsareaimedatthecontrolofthelocationandsizeofcatalyticparticlesforthedirectintegrationofSWNTs,thedevelopmentandevaluationofanintegratedprocessflow,andthedemonstrationandcharacterizationofSWNTsasactiveelementsinelectromechanicaltransducers.Ourmethodsandtoolsincludechemicalvapordeposition(CVD)forCNTgrowthandassembly,dispersionofCNTsfromaqueoussolutionforassembly,metalsputteringorevaporation

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ande-beamlithographyforinterconnects,AFMimagingandac-tuation,SEM,TEM,Ramanspectroscopy,andelectricalmeasure-mentsforcharacterization.ScientificresultshavebeenreportedontheintegrationofSWNTsinpolysiliconMEMS,onanovelheaterstructureforCMOS-compatibleandlocalCVDofCNTs,andonathoroughthermalinvestigationofsuchstructuresbyRamanspectroscopy,verifyingThomsonheatasasignificantheatsourceinthermalmicrostructures.DispersionofSWNTs,depositionofmetalcontactsandsacrificiallayeretchinghavebeenappliedtofabricateNEMSteststructuresfortheelectromechanicalevaluationofSWNTs.Gaugefactorsupto2900forprestrainedSWNTsaredemonstrated.AsimilarprocesshasbeenusedtoprovethefeasibilityofapressuresensorutilizingaSWNTaselectromechanicaltransducerandtoproveexcellentgassensingcapabilitiesofSWNTs.Foralistofpublications,pleaserefertotheprojectsatwww.micro.mavt.ethz.ch/publications.

Evaluation of New Materials for MEMSTheresearchareaofnewmaterialsforMEMSisfocusedontheevaluationofpolymersasstructuralandfunctionalmaterialsforMEMS.Polymershavesignificantpotentialinmicrosystemstechnologysincetheyprovideabroadvarietyofmaterialpropertiesandarecost-effective.Experimentshavebeenconductedtodeterminethemechanicalpropertiesofpolymermicrostructuresatthemicroscale,likeYoung’smodulus,stress,viscoelasticity,andhigh-cyclefatigue.Thesecomprisebulgetestingofthinpolymerlayersonwaferlevelandelectricalactuation(Kelvinpolarizationforce)ofcantileverandbridgeteststructuresforload-cycling.Inaddition,ourprojectsarefocusedonthemethodologyandsystematicevaluationofmodel-basedmaterialcharacterization.Ourmethodsandtoolsarespincoatingandmicro-structuringbyphotolithographyandhot-embossing;awhitelightinter-ferometerandavibrometerallowforhighresolutionopticalmeasurementsonmembranesandcantilevers.

MaterialsunderinvestigationarethermosettingpolymerssuchasphotosensitiveSU-8andPI,thermoplasticssuchasPMMAandPEandbiodegradablepolymerssuchasPLLandPLLA.ScientificresultshavebeenreportedonthefabricationofSU-8thinfilmsforbulgetestingandonthemeasurementofbi-axialYoung’smodulus,stressandvisco-elasticityofsuchlayers,andonaprocessflowforsuspend-edpolymercantileversandbridges,includingathoroughinvestigationontheloss/dampingmechanismsinresonantpolymerstructures.Foralistofpublications,pleaserefertotheprojectsatwww.micro.mavt.ethz.ch/publications.

Advanced MicrosystemsInadvancedmicrosystems,researchtopicsincludethede-velopmentofanewlow-costpolymer-basedbiocompatibleandoptionalbiodegradableimplantablewirelesspassivestrainsensor(WIPSS),thedevelopmentofmicromechani-calelectrostaticbearingsforuseinMEMSgyroscopes,andthedevelopmentofamicrothermoelectricgenerator.Theprojectsarefocusedonthedevelopmentandexplorationofprocessflowsforthesesystemsandtheirpropertiesandfunctions.Ourmethodsandtoolsarehotembossing,molding,andbondingofpolymermaterials.Furthermore,weusesiliconprocesstechnologytogetherwithpolymerprocessestocreateteststructuresforelectrostaticbearingsandweapplyelectroplatingforthelargescaleintegrationofthermocouples(Bi2Te3)inflexiblepolymermoldsforeffi-cientthermo-electricgenerators.ScientificresultshavebeenreportedontheWIPSSconceptandtheintegratedprocessflowofathermo-electricgeneratorinSU-8moldsanditspowerfactor.Teststructuresforelectro-staticbearingsarefabricatedtoevaluateadhesionforcesbetweensurfaces,andthesearepreparedclosetothetargetprocessflow.Foralistofpublications,pleaserefertotheprojectsatwww.micro.mavt.ethz.ch/publications.

Pictures from left to right:SinglewalledcarbonnanotubeasgrowninaMEMS;bulgetestingofpoly-mermembranes;cleanroomforphotolithographicprocesses;AFMscanningofnanostructures;surface

micromachinedMEMSchips;hotembossedspiralmicrochannelinPMMA.

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Professorship of NanotechnologyProfessor Andreas Stemmer

AndreasStemmer,anativeofBasel,studiedattheUniversi-tyofBaselwherehetookhisdegreeinPhysics.Hecontin-uedhisstudiesinMolecularBiologyattheM.E.MüllerInsti-tuteoftheBiocenterattheUniversityofBaselandreceivedcertificationfromtheSwissCommissionforMolecularBiol-ogy(SKMB).In1990heearnedhisdoctorateinBiophysics.AfterconductingresearchasVisitingScientist(1990-92)attheMedicalResearchCouncilLaboratoryofMolecularBiol-ogyinCambridge,UK,hewasAssistantScientist(1992-95)attheMarineBiologicalLaboratoryinWoodsHole,MA,USA.In1995hewaselectedAssistantProfessorofNanotechnol-ogyatETHZurich,AssociateProfessorin2001andProfessorofNanotechnologyin2004.Heteachescoursesinnanoscalescienceandengineering,measuringtechniquesforthenanoscale,andadvancedlightmicroscopy.Withhisresearchprogramheseekstoidentify,translateandintegrateintonewtechnologiesbasicprinciplesandpropertiesactingonoremergingfromnanoscaledimensions.

ProfessorStemmer’sNanotechnologyGroupcarriesoutcom-prehensiveexperimentalandtheoreticalstudiesinthefollow-ingfieldsofnanoscalescienceandtechnology:(i)imagingtoolsandtechniquestoexpandthelimitsofscanningprobeandlightmicroscopes,(ii)directedassemblyofnanoscaleobjectsandmo-lecularbuildingblockstobeincludedinmolecularelectronicsdevices,and(iii)energyconversioninbionanotechnologyaimedatthedirectconversionofmetabolicenergyofenzymesandlivingcellsintoelectricalenergyinthemicroWattregime.

Highlightsofourresearchincludethedevelopmentofelectronicmaterialcontrastinatomicforcemicroscopy(AFM).Kelvinprobeforcemicroscopymapsthelocalsurfacepotentialandprovidesqualitativeandquantitativeelectronicmaterialcontrastonabroadrangeofspecimens.Currentchallengesincludethedetectionofmolecularspeciesontechnicalsurfacesandtheanalysisofelectronicpropertiesonthenm-scale.WehavedevelopednovelAFMsetupsthatallowforpreciseandsimultaneousheightandpotentialmeasurementsonactivesemiconductordevices,dopantpro-filing,aswellasmappingofcompositionorcontactpotentialdifferencesonhardandsoftmaterials.

CollaboratingwithProfessorFrankAllgöwer,UniversityofStutt-gart,wehaveintroducedmodel-basedcontroltoatomicforcemicroscopy.Takingintoaccountthedynamicsofthepiezoscanner,ourcurrentH-infinitycontrollersallowforsubstan-tiallyhigherscanningspeedsatreducedcontrolerrors,i.e.smallerforcedeviations.ThesedevelopmentshaveledtoanR&D-contractwithascanningprobemanufacturer.Ourcurrentresearchfocusesonveryfundamentalissuesindynamicatomicforcemicroscopy,namelytheextractionofsurfacepropertiessuchaselasticity,wettability,adhesionfromtheinteractionforceencodedinthecantileversignal.Weexpectthatapplyingmodernmethodsofcontrolengineeringwillprovefundamen-talinreachingthischallenginggoal.

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Sincemanyprocessesonthenanometerscalearebestcontrolledinliquidswhereonlylightmicroscopesofferimagingaccessand,notleast,becauselightmicroscopyisanindispensableresearchtoolincellbiology,wedeveloptechniquesthatincreasetheinformationtransferbeyondtheclassicallimit.Wehavesucceededindoublingopticalresolutionto100nmlaterally(greenemission)inwide-fieldfluorescencemicroscopyusingstructuredillumination.Wehavecombinedthistechniquewithdeconvolutionmethodstoenableopticalsectioningofthree-dimensionalobjectsandalsoextendedstructuredilluminationtototalinternalreflectionmicroscopy.Ourstudiesinlightmicroscopyhaveledtoseveraleasy-to-implementstrategiesthatimproveestablishedimagingtechniques.

Inourresearchonthedirectedassemblyofnanoscalebuildingblockswestudythecontrolledassemblyoffunctionalnanoscaleobjectsintopredefinedstructuresandtheirprecisepositioningonsolidsubstrates,keyissuesinnanoengineering.Wehavedevelopedanelectricfieldbasedmethod,nanoxerography,toguidecarbonnanotubes,C60,andcolloidalparticlessuspendedinsolutionontochargepatternswrittenintothesubstrate.Carbonnano-tubes,semicondutornanowires,andmetallicnanorodsarepromisingbuildingblocksforfuturenanoelectroniccircuits.Colloidalgoldparticles,forexample,serveascatalystforthegrowthofnanowires.

Inourresearchonbiologicalmicropowergeneratorsweinvestigatethegenerationofelectricalenergydirectlyfromhumancells.Livingcellshostcomplexfunctionalnanosystems,i.e.enzymes,whichusemetabolicenergytoseparatechargecarriersacrossmembranes.Cellsalsopos-sesscomplexfeedbackmechanismstoregulateproductionandfunctionoftheseenzymes.Weinvestigatehowsuchnanosystemscanbecoupledtomacroscopicelectrodesto

harvestelectricalpowerinthemicro-Wattregimewhilekeepingthecellsalive.Ultimately,onemayenvisionmedicalimplants,suchassensors,pacemakersorhearingaids,tobepoweredwithelectricityextracteddirectlyfromthesur-roundingtissueratherthanbatteries.

Pictures:Impressionsofthelaboratory

ContactETH ZurichDepartment of Mechanical and Process EngineeringSonneggstrasse 38092 ZurichSwitzerlandwww.mavt.ethz.ch

Links to Web-sites of Professors or InstitutesInstitute of Biomechanics www.biomech.ethz.chInstitute for Dynamic Systems and Control www.idsc.ethz.chInstitute of Energy Technology www.iet.ethz.chInstitute of Fluid Dynamics www.ifd.mavt.ethz.chInstitute of Mechanical Systems www.imes.ethz.chInstitute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems www.iris.ethz.chInstitute of Process Engineering www.ipe.ethz.chInstitute of Machine Tools and Manufacturing www.iwf.ethz.ch Institute of Virtual Manufacturing www.ivp.ethz.chProfessorship of Micro- and Nanosystems www.micro.mavt.ethz.chProfessorship of Nanotechnology www.nano.ethz.ch

Concept and OrganizationUlrike Schlachter-Habermann, Margot Fox-Ziekau

Realizationdigitworks

PhotosMaurice Haas, Ruth Erdt, Masha Roskosny and others

PrintingAbächerli Druck AG, Sarnen

© Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering2009, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

D-MAVTDepartment of Mechanical and Process Engineering

Research

Departement Maschinenbau & VerfahrenstechnikDepartment of Mechanical & Process Engineering

DMAV TETH ZurichDepartment of Mechanical and Process EngineeringSonneggstrasse 38092 ZurichSwitzerlandwww.mavt.ethz.ch ETH

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