Since its foundation in 1877, TU Darmstadt has played its part in addressing the urgent issues of the future with pioneering achievements and outstanding research and teaching. TU Darmstadt focusses on selected, highly relevant problem areas. Technology is at the heart of all our disciplines at TU Darmstadt. The Natural Sciences as well as Social Sciences and Humanities cooperate closely with Engineering. In order to expand its expertise strategically, TU Darmstadt maintains a variety of partnerships with companies and research institutions. It is a vital driving force in the economic and technological development of the Frankfurt-Rhein-Neckar metropolitan area. The TU Darmstadt participates mainly with its Chair of System Reliability and Machine Acoustics SzM.
The System Reliability, Adaptive Structures, and Machine Acoustics SAM at Technische Universität Darmstadt was founded in 2001 addressing the development of methods and procedures for the evaluation of reliability of complex electromechanical systems. In 2005, the Machine Acoustics group of TU Darmstadt has been merged with the SAM. Combined with 40 years of machine acoustics experience and expertise in the fields of sound generation, transmission, and radiation as well as engineering noise control, this competence is extended with regard to quieter and more reliable products. SAM currently has approximately 45 employees, of which approximately 35 are researchers and PhD students. Courses are held in adaptronics (=smart structure technology), structural durability, reliability and system reliability as well as in machine acoustics (fundamentals and applications). SAM is associated with the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF, also located in Darmstadt.
SAM participates in bi-lateral industry-funded research projects (contract research; sectors: automobile industry, household appliances, electric tools, ….) as well as in publicly funded bi- and multi-lateral research projects funded by the EU (e.g., EU projects SPURT, InMAR, eVADER), by the German Research Foundation DFG, by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF or by the German federal state of Hessen.
