Full-time study

4 years

prof. Ing. Jiří Burša, Ph.D.

Chairman :
prof. Ing. Jiří Burša, Ph.D.
Councillor internal :
prof. Ing. Luboš Náhlík, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Jaroslav Katolický, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Jindřich Petruška, CSc.
prof. Ing. Miroslav Raudenský, CSc.
prof. Ing. Ivo Dlouhý, CSc.
doc. Ing. Robert Grepl, Ph.D.
prof. RNDr. Michal Kotoul, DrSc.

The study programme in Applied Mechanics is focused on the preparation of highly qualified experts with the prerequisites for scientific work, mastering modern computational and experimental methods in the field of body mechanics, including specific areas of mechatronics and biomechanics. The aim of the study is to provide students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the field of mechanics corresponding to the topic of doctoral studies. To achieve the set goals and profile, students complete the subjects prescribed by their Individual Study Plan, which creates a theoretical basis for mastering the topic at the highest level. They then prove their practical mastery of the topic by passing the State Doctoral Examination and preparing and defending the Doctoral Dissertation.

Graduates of the doctoral program Applied Mechanics have highly specialized professional knowledge and competencies, especially in modern computational and experimental methods in the field of applied mechanics, or mechatronics or biomechanics, and their use in research and development in technical and medical. At the same time, it has professional adaptability, which gives great chances for employment in research and development, as well as in the field of technical calculations and managerial positions. This is evidenced by graduates working not only in academia and private research, but also in small computer and software companies, including leadership and management positions in design, computing and development departments or sales offices of international companies. With the penetration of computer modelling and support into the field of medicine, the application of biomechanics can be expected not only in this interdisciplinary sphere of research and development, but also in newly emerging positions of computer support in hospitals and clinical workplaces.

The graduate of the doctoral programme in Applied Mechanics has highly specialized professional knowledge, but also professional adaptability, which gives great opportunities for employment in research and development, as well as in the field of technical calculations and managerial positions. This is evidenced by graduates working not only in academia and private research, but also in small computer and software companies, including leadership and management positions in design, computing and development departments or sales offices of international companies. With the penetration of computer modelling and support into the field of medicine, the application of biomechanics can be expected not only in this interdisciplinary sphere of research and development, but also in newly emerging positions of computer support in hospitals and clinical workplaces.

See applicable regulations, DEAN’S GUIDELINE Rules for the organization of studies at FME (supplement to BUT Study and Examination Rules)

The rules and conditions of study programmes are determined by:
BUT STUDY AND EXAMINATION RULES
BUT STUDY PROGRAMME STANDARDS,
STUDY AND EXAMINATION RULES of Brno University of Technology (USING "ECTS"),
DEAN’S GUIDELINE Rules for the organization of studies at FME (supplement to BUT Study and Examination Rules)
DEAN´S GUIDELINE Rules of Procedure of Doctoral Board of FME Study Programmes
Students in doctoral programmes do not follow the credit system. The grades “Passed” and “Failed” are used to grade examinations, doctoral state examination is graded “Passed” or “Failed”.

Brno University of Technology acknowledges the need for equal access to higher education. There is no direct or indirect discrimination during the admission procedure or the study period. Students with specific educational needs (learning disabilities, physical and sensory handicap, chronic somatic diseases, autism spectrum disorders, impaired communication abilities, mental illness) can find help and counselling at Lifelong Learning Institute of Brno University of Technology. This issue is dealt with in detail in Rector's Guideline No. 11/2017 "Applicants and Students with Specific Needs at BUT". Furthermore, in Rector's Guideline No 71/2017 "Accommodation and Social Scholarship“ students can find information on a system of social scholarships.

The doctoral study programme in Applied Mechanics is a continuation of the currently accredited follow-up master's study programme in Applied Mechanics and Biomechanics. However, it focuses more generally on graduates of subsequent master's degree programmes in various fields of mechanics and mechatronics, or mathematical, physical or materials engineering, the graduates of which are able to continue in the third stage of study and obtain the scientific degree of Ph.D. demonstrate the ability of scientific work.

1. Development and experimental verification of deformation model of steel strip during continuous heat treatment

   Nowadays it is trend to produce high-grade steels without the need for a large percentage of expensive admixtures such as nickel, chromium, titanium, copper, aluminum, etc. This is achieved by appropriate heat treatment in continuous steel production. During the heat treatment, there is a significant but undesirable deformation of the steel, in which the phase changes (changes in the metallographic grid) occur during this process. The steel deforms during the heat treatment and the resulting product often does not reach the required geometry - most often flatness. Poor flatness causes, among other things, major problems in post-processing such as surface treatment, or causes problems in passing through the conveyor system. The aim of this work is to create a complex model that will describe in detail the processes that occur during continuous heat treatment of steel sheets. This model will allow to better understand the processes that occur here and will help optimize cooling to achieve better flatness of the final sheets. During the work, the measurement and simulation of the heat transfer coefficient during cooling of hot plates, measurement of the impact forces from the cooling nozzles, the study of the coolant flow on the curved surface and its effect on the cooling change are expected.

   Tutor: Pohanka Michal, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Fatigue Failure of Welded Joints in Thermoplastic Structures

   Thermoplastics are repeatedly meltable plastics, a property widely utilized for joining plastic components. Plastic pipes are commonly welded using butt fusion or electrofusion fittings. Flat thermoplastic components can be joined using extruders, which deposit molten plastic directly into the weld area. This process creates geometric details similar to those found in steel sheet joints. Unlike metals, thermoplastics do not undergo significant structural transformations during heating and solidification. Additionally, no filler material with a different composition is introduced into the weld. However, the properties of such joints may still differ from those of the base material. Welds are often geometrically complex areas where discontinuities, defects, and stress concentrations can occur factors that must be considered in structural design. Currently, there is no comprehensive methodology for assessing the fatigue properties of ther-moplastic welded joints. The proposed thesis will focus on the durability and failure mechanisms of these joints, aiming to develop a systematic evaluation approach. The research will combine experimental work – measuring fatigue properties and crack propagation – with numerical simulations.

   Tutor: Hutař Pavel, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Heat transfer from the interaction of external fluid flow with porous structures

   Exposure of metals to the ambient atmosphere results in the formation of metal oxides on their surface. This process is further enhanced at elevated temperatures, and the resulting microstructure is a porous structure filled with voids of varying sizes and shapes. Metal oxides are inevitable in many metallurgical processes. Knowledge of the thermal behavior of such a porous material is therefore essential. The student will develop a strategy to process CT images of the porous material into a 3D geometry suitable for modeling of physical phenomena using FVM. The student will develop a multiphase CFD model to investigate how the external fluid flow interacts with the porous structure. The numerical results will be supported by experimental investigations by his colleagues using their heat transfer measurement metric.

   Tutor: Boháček Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Lifetime Prediction of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Structures

   One of the main advantages of additive manufacturing is the ability to produce highly complex geometries. This makes it possible to consider the use of shape – optimized components or custom – designed solutions in various fields, including biomechanics and metamaterial structures. While conventional manufacturing methods still surpass additive technologies in terms of speed and cost – effectiveness for mass production, many of these intricate shapes cannot be produced by traditional means at all. For the broader application of additively manufactured components, it is crucial to understand their behavior under long – term loading and the mechanisms of failure so that these factors can be accounted for during the design phase. However, knowledge in this area remains limited. The situation is further complicated by the wide variability of materials used and the significant sensi-tivity of mechanical properties to specific manufacturing conditions. The proposed dissertation will focus on the fatigue properties and failure mechanisms of additively manufactured polymeric components. The research will be based on a combination of experimental methods, primarily targeting long – term mechanical properties, and numerical simulations of specific structures.

   Tutor: Hutař Pavel, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

5. Optimization of the water nozzle for cooling cylindrical surfaces

   Several years of studies have shown that there are no water nozzles on the market that are optimized for cooling cylindrical surfaces. The goal of the work is to optimize the internal geometry of the water nozzle in order to achieve an effective distribution of water on the cylindrical surface, and thus the most efficient cooling. The optimization will require simulation of single-phase flow inside the nozzle and two-phase flow when the liquid flows in free space (in air). Prototypes will be made for the designed nozzles, which will then be verified using laboratory experiments. The distribution of impact pressure from water falling on a flat surface will be measured using the experimental equipment that the laboratory is equipped with, and thus the correctness of the calculation model will be verified. The effectiveness of the cooling of the cylindrical surface will be verified on an experimental device that the laboratory is also equipped with. During optimization, the use of an industrial tomograph to study the internal structure of the water jet is also assumed.

   Tutor: Pohanka Michal, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

6. Phase changes during thermal processes in micro-channels: Challenges and their solutions

   Polymer heat exchangers with micro-channels are a competitive alternative to conventional metal devices. In addition to lower weight, they also offer a significantly lower carbon footprint. Heat transfer through polymer exchangers can be advantageously intensified by using the phase change of the working medium. The student will examine in detail the processes of phase changes in polymer micro-channels and their influence on heat transfer. He will identify limits and solve technical problems in implementing the system in a real application.

   Tutor: Boháček Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

7. Role of Residual Elements from Recycled Scrap on a Heat Transfer

   Transitioning to zero-carbon steelmaking requires a comprehensive understanding of the surface-related impacts of this shift. The surface quality of advanced steel grades is essential for mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, aesthetics, and downstream processes, all dependent on precise control of alloying and processing conditions. However, incorporating residual elements from recycled scrap—driven by circularity requirements—introduces complexities that alter oxide scale behavior during steel processing. The presence of oxides with a low thermal conductivity is generally considered as a thermal barrier on a steel surface. However, in a certain industrial application, it was observed that the oxide layer unexpectedly changed a cooling intensity. The goal of the thesis is to describe the influence of scrap residual elements on heat transfer by characterization of the average Thermal insulance coeffcient.

   Tutor: Hnízdil Milan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.