Biography: Dr. Alexander Khmaladze received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from the University of South Florida in 2008. Having been trained as a physicist who specializes in microscopic imaging and spectroscopy, Dr. Alexander Khmaladze has gradually expanded his work into the domains of chemistry and biology. During the last several years, he has published a number of papers on holographic phase unwrapping, hyperspectral imaging of live cells via CARS Microscopy and Raman spectroscopic analysis of cells, tissues and nanofibers. Due to interdisciplinary nature of my work, it usually involves researchers and students from various scientific backgrounds and interests.

Topic: Characterization of Nanofibers for Tissue Engineering: Chemical Mapping by Confocal Raman Microscopy

Abstract: Nanofiber scaffolds are used in bioengineering for functional support of growing tissues. To fine tune nanofiber properties for specific applications, it is often necessary to characterize the spatial distribution of their chemical content. Raman spectroscopy is a common tool used to characterize chemical composition of various materials, including nanofibers. In combination with a confocal microscope, it allows simultaneous mapping of both spectral and spatial features of inhomogeneous structures, also known as hyperspectral imaging. However, such mapping is usually performed on microscopic scale, due to the resolution of the scanning system being diffraction limited (about 0.2 – 0.5 micron, depending on the excitation wavelength). In this talk, I discuss various ways to characterize nanofibers by SEM, TEM and XRD. I will concentrate on applications of confocal Raman microscopy to hyperspectral mapping of nanofibers, where nanoscale features are resolved by means of oversampling and extensive data processing, including Classical Least Squares (CLS) decomposition and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) techniques. In many cases, this is the only way to confirm the spatial distribution of different chemical components within multi-component nanofibers.

Biography: Dr. Horst E. Friedrich studied engineering at the Technical University of Munich. After working in the engineering and consultancy sectors, he took up a senior management position in the aeronautical industry in 1986. He was responsible for new methods of construction and new materials, aircraft engines and optimising product development times. In 1996, Prof. Friedrich joined Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg as head of vehicle research, where at least he was head of Group research for materials technology and vehicle concepts. He specialised in innovative materials and construction methods and concept vehicles for future vehicle specifications. Here he worked on the projects of vehicles with electric drive: high performance batteries and fuel cells, new lightweight structures with magnesium and carbon fiber construction and the first “1 litre car”. Since 2004 he is Director of the Institute of Vehicle Concepts at the German Aerospace Center in Stuttgart. At the same time he became professor for vehicle concepts at the University of Stuttgart and he is lecturer at the Technical University of Berlin.

Topic: Solutions for Next Generation Car’s Lightweight Requirements Based on Magnesium Concepts and Integrated Functions

Abstract: New vehicle concepts with electric drivetrains and autonomous drive for people movers, passenger or goods cars will change the paradigms of new use cases for mobility. With respect to these requirements also weight saving is a must during an early phase of the concept and structural development process. Addressing energy efficiency, economic and production targets weight saving remains being a must and Magnesium solutions could show here more potentials: casted structures with integrated functions, peeling mode mechanisms or foam filled profiles are examples developed and demonstrated in DLR’s metaproject for Next Generation Car (NGC). Mg extrusions with polyurethane core show up to 3 times better specific energy absorption compared to hollow DC04 steel. Light and cost attractive Mg structures are shown with integrated A-pillar demonstrators, bringing together 20 single parts within one big casting that provides the advantage of 50% weight reduction. Challenges like modularisation strategy and life cycle assessment have to be met. For greenhouse gas emissions over the whole life cycle our comparison gives evidence that different Mg production routes determine the final result and that modern processes are advantageous even compared to an aluminium reference. An overview about optimized a/o new applications will be discussed and shown. Challenges and potentials for next generation lightweight design will be shown and solutions as well as results from the DLR project Next Generation Car.