Institute for General Mechanics Aachen

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Main building of RWTH Aachen University, seat of the chair until 1964
Theodore von Kármán , professor from 1912 to 1933
Collective Building for General Sciences; Headquarters of the institute since 1964

The Institute for General Mechanics , IAM for short , is one of the oldest research institutes at RWTH Aachen University and was headed by several prominent scientists in its early years.

history

The Chair of Mechanics at RWTH Aachen University was established at the same time as the university was founded in 1870. For almost 30 years it was headed by August Ritter , who gained fame through Ritter's cutting technique . In 1900 Arnold Sommerfeld took over the chair, six years later he was replaced by Hans Reissner , from whom Theodore von Kármán took over the chair six years later, in 1912 . He held the chair for 20 years and published important works in the field of aerodynamics at that time . When Theodore von Kármán, who was of Jewish descent, left Germany in 1934, Wilhelm Müller , who was a member of the NSDAP , took over the chair.

In 1941 Fritz Schultz-Grunow became the holder of the chair for mechanics; he was to head the institute until 1975. When the Second World War reached Aachen in 1944, teaching ceased and the institute's books and machines were brought to Raeren , where they were destroyed.

Reconstruction of the institute began in 1946, two chairs were spun off from the institute in 1957 and 1964, and in 1968 it was given its current name, Institute for General Mechanics . Other chair holders were Gerhard Adomeit and Dieter Weichert , who each headed the IAM for almost 20 years. Since 2013 has Bernd Markert held the chair.

Research and Teaching

The Institute for General Mechanics now has around 20 scientific staff , around 20 non-scientific staff and around 120 student assistants . Today's research focuses on solid mechanics, structural mechanics and biomechanics ; a mechanical workshop, an electrical workshop and a laboratory are available for this purpose. In addition, various courses are offered, mainly for courses with a focus on mechanical engineering .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b The history of the institute. Website of the Institute for General Mechanics, accessed on February 22, 2015.
  2. Holistic view of the mechanics. Website of the Institute for General Mechanics, accessed on February 22, 2015.
  3. courses. Website of the Institute for General Mechanics, accessed on February 22, 2015.