Project start: 1.10.2025.

The project focuses on the experimental investigation of the mechanical behavior of lightweight, functional, and sustainable materials in both as-manufactured and degraded states, with an emphasis on quantifying the effects of environmental factors such as UV radiation, humidity, and chemical corrosion. The study will address selected aluminium alloys, stainless steels, conventional and biodegradable polymers, 3D-printed functional materials, and biodegradable composites. The objective is to quantify and deepen the understanding of changes in functional and mechanical properties caused by degradation and to develop reliable, repeatable, and applicable experimental datasets and predictive models. Advanced digital measurement technologies will be employed, particularly Digital Image Correlation, which enables high-precision, three-dimensional recording of sample deformations and comprehensive digital archiving of each test. This approach facilitates repeated and multipurpose use of experimental data in both scientific and industrial contexts without the need for additional physical testing, thus achieving a high level of reproducibility, transparency, and efficiency in research of material behavior. The development of dedicated digital databases for storing experimental results, metadata, and analytical outputs is also planned. These databases will further support the reuse of data for developing predictive models of material behavior, based on both conventional approaches and machine learning techniques. This opens possibilities for more efficient computational modelling of material behavior in research and its broader applicability in engineering practice, and provides the foundation for new applied projects in collaboration with industry and associated knowledge transfer.