About Machine Design and Medical Engineering Section | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at the Gdańsk University of Technology

The traditions of the Section of Machine Design and Medical Engineering Section date back to 1945 and are associated with the establishment of the Gdańsk University of Technology and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. In the organizational structure of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, among the 17 Departments, there were also two Departments - the Department of Machine Elements and the Department of Technical Drawing, from which the current Section of Machine Design and Medical Engineering operating within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ocean Technology originates. In addition to teaching activities focused on the basic components of mechanical engineer’s knowledge, such as Engineering Graphics, Fundamentals of Machine Design, as well as Computer Aided Design and Tribology taught at various courses, the Section carries out scientific research as well as RD projects in the field of mechanical engineering. Particular emphasis is put on bearing engineering, tribology, machine operation and diagnostics. The basis for the research work is a laboratory extensively equipped with unique machines for testing bearings of our own design and, from 2022, RTEC MFT-5000 tribometer - the first such well-equipped device installed in Poland. The employees of the Section participate in the research grants funded by the National Science Center and the National Center for Research and Development, but also at the request of companies, often the foreign ones, such as GE, Kluber or Schaeffler. Ecology occupies an important place in the research. The eco‑friendly bearings which are tested are lubricated with environmentally friendly lubricants, e.g. water instead of harmful lubricants. Such changes, however, require serious design modifications and the use of unconventional bearing materials. In addition to experimental research, we also conduct advanced computer analyzes based on FEM and CFD software. Recently, research has also been conducted in the field of medical engineering - research and modeling of soft tissues and bones. That is why our activities are extensive and diverse.

The Head of our Section is Michał Wasilczuk, Prof., DSc Ph.D., Mech.Eng.