Expertise

Ghent University attracts over 50,000 students. We are a top 100 university founded in 1817. The university is one of the fastest growing European universities in terms of research capacity and productivity. Our research activities in automotive are spread over several departments and business development clusters. In each of the clusters activities range from fundamental to applied research, strongly connected to regional and international stakeholders.

The Machineries & Factories cluster (150FTE) works a.o. on smart motion products incl. drive trains for vehicle applications as well as on factories of the future. Our activities include (i) innovative electrical machines and their power electronics implementing sensorless, fault-tolerant machine level control strategies; (ii) advanced cooling incl. 2-phase; (iii) AI supported control strategies for hybrid & full-electric drive trains; (iv) modelling approaches for digital twins; (v) elasto-hydraulic-lubrication modelling; (vi) operator support systems and factory organisation; (vii) quality monitoring and assurance using e.g. AI. www.ugent.be/m-f/en

The Metals cluster (120FTE) develops solutions aimed at developing durable materials and realizing rational material use and at the development, characterization (metallurgic, mechanic, tribologic, electromagnetic) and design, construction and exploitation of industrial constructions and machines offering optimal functionality and durability. Metals is targeting sectors wherein metals and/or metals in combination with other materials play an important role, including the automotive. https://www.ugent.be/metals/en

The AM & Composites cluster is the industrial gateway to all composite and AM related research at Ghent University. We focus on 4 research lines (1) Simulation and testing of the mechanical behavior through a combined approach of instrumented experimental testing and numerical modelling; (2) Additive Manufacturing; (3) Monitoring and NDT of composite materials; (4) Processing and recycling of thermoplastics. We work very closely with a.o. Siemens Industry Software, Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi Rayon in the SIM-M3 program (http://www.sim-flanders.be/ research-program/m3) . http://www.compositesconsortium.ugent.be/en/

Participation in EU Projects and International Activities

• HEu CLIMAFLUX [coordinator, the future axial flux machines]

• HEu ICONIC [coordinator, classical control merged with AI for mechatronic systems]

• HEu MSCA-IDN-EMByAM [additive manufacturing for electric machines]

• HEu HIGHSCAPE [Power Electronics solutions for automotive applications]

• HEu HARMONY [use of recycled permanent magnet materials in electric motors]

• HEu METAFACUTRING [using AI to link production parameters with quality]

• HEu ALPHEUS [drivetrain development incl. control for hydropower]

• H2020-EXTREME

• H2020-PolyCE H2020-3DRepair

• H2020-EIT RACE-TP: Lightweight recyclable Lightweight Recyclable Automotive thermoplastic CompositE structural parts for large series production (https://eitrawmaterials.eu/project/race-tp/)

• H2020 Grade2XL: multi-material wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) for large scale structures (https://www.grade2xl.eu/)