Recommendations for Materials Modelling Translators and Business Users

The expert meeting of the EMMC project took place in Hamburg. Dr. Natalia Konchakova: in the middle with red dress. Photo: HZG/Jan Rasmus Lippels

Before and while new processes or materials are tested, they are simulated with material science models. Material properties can be calculated, simulated and modified using a large number of different computer models. But which model is the right one for a specific requirement?

While in large materials companies entire departments are busy with simulation calculations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lack this know-how. For this reason, training is to be provided for translators who bring users in industry together with the appropriate scientists or institutions. In order to establish the best procedure for this, an international meeting of experts will take place on 27th March in Hamburg.

A core competence at Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht is the development of new materials and processes for lightweight construction, energy and environmental protection. Modelling the behaviour of the new materials is an important tool in this process. The scientist Dr. Natalia Konchakova, for example, deals with the simulation and testing of crack growth in magnesium alloys and multi-materials structures. She is one of the organisers of the meeting.

"We meet to discuss training requirements and recommendations for translators and thus optimize the transfer of knowledge between basic and applied research in materials science and industrial application," explains Dr. Natalia Konchakova.

EMMC has been funded by the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation "Horizon 2020" in 2016. The focus of the coordination and support action is to identify any gaps in the effective integration of materials modelling into European industry and propose ways for them to be filled. Since the project was set up, the 16 partners have been working on advancing the applications of material modelling in industry and thus accelerating the process of launching the end products onto the market. The aim of the expert meeting now taking place is to improve the approaches on the development of the translation process in European industry. It provides an overview of the basic recommendations, performance, standards and training of translators and the process in general. The expert meeting inputs would provide contribution to the EMMC Roadmap 2019.

"In the long term, our EMMC project will act as a point of contact for any potential company in Europe wishing to make better use of materials modeling to improve their materials. Translation process and Translators are plaing an important role in this," says Natalia Konchakova.

The HZG's project tasks focus on the development of concepts and methods for translaters and translation processes, the creation and organisation of focused workshops for the training of potential intermediaries, the organisation of tailor-made training units for industrial requirements and the establishment of a trainer network. Website: https://emmc.info/