Cracks are a hidden threat for mechanical systems and one of the major causes of failure in solid materials. Fracture mechanics is a field of mechanics studying initiation and propagation of cracks. Our mission is to develop novel in situ and real-time monitoring systems for online diagnostic of components and/or structural materials. In this field, our mission is twofold.

• First, get fundamental understanding of crack growth.

• Second, develop new in situ and real-time monitoring systems to detect defects and predict the remaining lifetime for components and/or structural materials used in industry.

Selected projects

• 3D reconstruction of cracks propagation

• Multi-wire sawing of crystalline solar cells

• Grinding of single crystal sapphire

Selected publications

• Shevchik S.A., Meylan B., Violakis G., and Wasmer K., “3D Reconstruction of Cracks Propagation in Mechanical Workpieces Analyzing Non-Stationary Acoustic Mixtures”, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Vol. 119, Issue March 2019, pp: 55-64, 2019,
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2018.09.022

• Wasmer K., Bidiville A., Van der Meer M., and Ballif C., "Wire-Sawing Processes: Parametrical Study and Modelling", Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 132, pp: 392-402, 2015,
  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2014.09.019

• Bidiville A., Neulist I., Wasmer K., and Ballif C., "Effect of Debris on the Silicon Wafering for Solar Cells", Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 95, Issue 8, pp: 2490-2496, 2011,
  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2011.04.038

• Wasmer K., Pochon P.-M., Sage D., and Giovanola J. H. “Parametric Experimental Study and Design of Experiment Modelling of Sapphire Grinding“, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 141, pp: 323-335, 2017.
  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.09.031