Methods of modeling and
simulation of technical systems

In many areas of engineering, the modeling and simulation of technical systems is an important part of research and teaching. In the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the modeling and simulation of materials, structures and processes has been used in all subject areas for many years as an important interdisciplinary method for analysis and behavior prediction. This has resulted in numerous research projects in the specialist areas.

Research is carried out in the following areas, among others:

• Development and numerical simulation of mechanical models of technical structures and systems
• Modeling of mechanical systems for the realistic recording of load-bearing structures
• Modeling and simulation of road traffic, environmental pollution through immissions, water currents and socio-technical systems
• Earthquake effects on the load-bearing behavior of spatial structures
• Predicting the load-bearing capacity of foundations
• Analysis of construction processes in building construction and civil engineering
• Modeling and simulation of flow processes in hydraulic engineering.

Modeling and simulation is also used in teaching in all subject areas. This makes structures and processes clearer for students and illustrates their behavior in a practical way.
Characteristics of the joint research focus on modelling and simulation of technical systems are the cross-material modelling and simulation methods (wood, concrete, steel, glass, soil), continuum mechanical and structural mechanical modelling, finite element method for spatial discretization, time integration for solving dynamic processes, but also the stochastic discrete or continuous simulation of logistics, traffic areas, hydraulic behaviour and construction processes for forecasting dynamic behaviour and process management.

The simulation of technical systems is an interdisciplinary research focus within the University of Kassel. The described activities of the departments of the faculty can also be integrated into this focus.

The interdisciplinary orientation of this focus is made clear, among other things, by the specialization "Modelling, Simulation and Structural Technologies" in the international continuing education online master's degree "Wind-Energy-Systems", which is anchored in the department.