Dr. Serena Gambarelli from the Materials Behavior and Modeling Department of the Department of Mineral Building Materials, is accepted into the elite program for postdoctoral scientists of the Baden-Württemberg Foundation with her research project "3D hygro-thermo-mechanical meso model for wood".
The aim of the research project is to contribute to a better understanding of the complex hygro-thermo-mechanical behaviour of wood. For this purpose, a fully coupled mesoscale 3D model is developed and the most important mechanical damage and transport processes in wood are investigated. Based on the proposed model, useful information for the durability analysis of wooden objects and structures exposed to environmental and mechanical stress will be provided. The results obtained will provide useful teaching material for a new master's degree program.
With the Elite Program for Postdoctoral Researchers, launched in 2002, the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung supports excellent scientists on their way to professorship by funding research projects that they apply for and manage on their own responsibility, thus enabling them to become independent at a comparatively early stage in the academic world.
We congratulate Dr. Gambarelli on this great success!