22.07.2024

Priority Programme “DaMic – Data-driven alloy and microstructure design of sustainable structural metals”

Deadline: 18.11.2024

Production and processing of metallic materials currently account for 40% of all industrial greenhouse gas emissions. The extraction of the associated minerals also produces several billion tons of by-products every year, some of which are harmful. It is therefore imperative that future metallic materials become more sustainable. In the Priority Programme 2489, essential scientific foundations for this development are created and a contribution is made to establish a new field of research at the interface of digitisation and sustainability.

The aim of DaMic is to develop digital methods for inverse materials design and to use them to create new, sustainable and recycling-adapted structural metals. Alloys with a reduced number of elements, in particular critical elements, and thus better compatibility, so-called lean alloys, and material systems with a high tolerance to impurities from the use of secondary raw materials in the sense of the science of dirty alloys are of particular relevance for improving recyclability and sustainability. Possible negative effects of the modified alloy compositions are to be minimised through targeted alloy, microstructure and process design so that the resulting properties are comparable with currently available construction materials. 

The projects clustered in DaMic will conduct coherent research into the development and application of data-driven methods for exploration and materials design. Inverse design approaches based on digital Process-Structure-Property (PSP) linkages are to be applied. In view of the complexity and the interacting influences on the mechanical properties, the combination of experiment and simulation in particular opens up the possibility to identify suitable constellations with regard to alloy composition, process parameters, microstructure and properties. In the first funding period, the foundations of the prediction and inversion of the PSP linkages for digital materials design will be created. The second funding period will then focus on the development of end-to-end, fully automated workflows for the quantitative alloy and microstructure design of sustainable metallic structural materials.

Interested researchers are invited to participate in a preparatory meeting to network potential sub-projects. The one-day meeting will take place on 2 October 2024 at Frankfurt Airport. The presentation of the respective project ideas during the meeting is mandatory.

Proposals must be written in English and submitted by 18 November 2024. 

The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.

For scientific enquiries please contact the Priority Programme coordinator:
Professor Dr.-Ing. Markus Kästner
Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Festkörpermechanik,
Professur für Numerische und Experimentelle Festkörpermechanik
01062 Dresden,
phone +49 351 463-43065
markus.kaestnerspam prevention@tu-dresden.de 

Questions on the DFG proposal process can be directed to:
Programme contact: 
Dr. Cosima Schuster
phone +49 228 885-2271
cosima.schusterspam prevention@dfg.de

Administrative contact:
Bettina Frohn
phone +49 228 885-2241
bettina.frohnspam prevention@dfg.de 

More Information:
https://www.dfg.de/de/aktuelles/neuigkeiten-themen/info-wissenschaft/2024/ifr-24-48