Czech Republic

Purpose and focus of the Pilot Centre

The primary aim of the PC is to support the engagement of the Czech research groups in the international research projects and to coordinate their activities in the ERCOFTAC, especially in Special Interest Groups. As well the PC stimulates collaborative programmes and research projects between academician research institutions and industrial partners.

Organisational structure

The seat of the Czech Pilot Centre is the Institute of Thermomechanics AS CR. The PC is headed by the coordinator and by the board formed by representatives of Czech ERCOFTAC members. Prof. Tomáš Bodnár is the coordinator, Prof. Jiří Fürst and Prof. Oldřich Vítek are members of the Scientific Programme Committee as representatives for research and for industry respectively.

The Czech Pilot Centre has currently five members from academic institutions: Institute of Thermomechanics CAS (contact person: Dr. David Šimurda); Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Josef Božek Research Centre of Engine and Automotive Technology, Prague (contact person Prof. Oldřich Vítek), Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno (contact person Prof. Pavel Rudolf), Institute of Mathematics CAS (contact person Prof. Tomáš Vejchodský) and Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics CAS (contact person: Prof. Stanislav Pospíšil).

Research and other activities of ERCOFTAC members

a) Institute of Thermomechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences

b) Czech Technical University, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Automotive and Aerospace Engineering – Josef Božek Research Centre of Engine and Automotive Engineering

The Josef Božek Research Centre of Engine and Automotive Technology has been established as a part of the Czech Technical University in Prague using the support of the Ministry of Education for years 2000-2004 and 2005-2009. The Centre provides research and development of spark ignition and diesel engines in the field of thermodynamics, aerodynamics, turbocharging, emissions, motor management, engine dynamics and structural strength applied to the design optimisation. The Centre collaborates in engine aerothermodynamics with VW AG, John Deere, Renault, Mercedes Benz Engineering, and many Czech Companies (ŠKODA Auto, ČKD MOTORY –large bore diesel and NG engine manufacturer, TEDOM – NG co-generation units, turbocharger manufacturers, etc.).

Department of Technical Mathematics

Besides teaching in bachelor's, graduate and doctoral study programmes, the Department of Technical Mathematics deals mainly with problems of numerical mathematics, especially with qualitative properties of numerical solutions PDE describing flow problems (finite difference, finite volume, and finite element methods), and with qualitative properties of Navier-Stokes equations for compressible and incompressible flows. Numerical simulations are concentrated on solution of various physical and engineering problems of fluid dynamics. CFD methods based on modern numerical schemes of FVM and FEM are applied for solution of incompressible turbulent flows in mechanical engineering and biomechanics, internal and external transonic flows in power engineering and aeronautics, and problems of atmospheric boundary layer. All numerical simulations are carried out using in-house developed numerical codes.

c) Institute of Power Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology, Brno 

Two departments of the Institute of Power Engineering are focused on study of fluid flow and combustion: the Viktor Kaplan Department of Fluid Engineering and the Department of Thermodynamics and Environmental Engineering.

Viktor Kaplan Department of Fluid Engineering

Research activities of the Dept. of Fluid Engineering are concentrated on flow not only in hydraulic machines (water turbines and pumps), but also in various applications including jetting technologies, waste water treatment devices (multiphase flows), and biomechanics of cardiovascular system. The Department has a long tradition dating back to invention of Kaplan turbine in 1910 in Brno. Particular success, meaning return to these traditions, was achieved with the design of a new type of hydraulic turbine – swirl turbine – suitable for low heads up to 3 meters which was recently developed and patented. First prototypes have already been manufactured and putin operation, while research has been going on aiming on further increase of efficiency and specific speed. The Department of Fluids Engineering has a strong orientation towards cooperation with industry and provides research and development services toal most all companies producing hydraulic machines and equipment in the Czech Republic. The theoretical research comprises study of flow instabilities (study of vortex rope in draft tubes of hydraulic turbines), flows with moving boundaries (artificial heart) and fluid structure interactions. The commercial software (FLUENT, FIDAP) as well as in-house codes for flows with moving boundaries are used for simulations. The Department disposes of heavy laboratory for testing hydraulic machines and laboratories of fluid structure inter action and biomechanics. 

Department of Thermodynamics and Environmental Engineering.

Research activities at the Dept. of Thermodynamics and Environmental Engineering are focused on problems of industrial and residential ventilation, ducting and heat exchangers, fuel injectors and spraying systems, special exhaust system (reinforced or Aaberg exhaust system), dispersion of pollutants in city micro-scale (vehicular tunnels,street canyons, intersections, etc), as well as on use of solar energy for HVAC systems (double skin facade, solar air collectors, solar chimney) and on research of high efficiency recuperators for microturbines and of continuous casting. The research is supported by experimental (LDA,PDA, Mach-Zehnder interferometer) and computational (work stations, computer cluster, various CFD codes) equipment.

d) Institute of Mathematics, Czech Academy of Sciences

The Institute was established on 14 Ferbuary 1947 as the Institute for Mathematics of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts (Česká akademie věd a umění). In 1950 it was reorganized to form the Central Mathematical Institute, which was incorporated into the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences on 1 January 1953 as the Mathematical Institute. The principal activity of the IM is to support fundamental research in the fields of mathematics and its applications, and to provide necessary infrastructure for research. The IM contributes to raising the level of knowledge and education and to utilising the results of scientific research in practice. It acquires, processes and disseminates scientific information, issues scientific and professional publications (monographs, journals, proceedings, etc.). In cooperation with universities, the IM carries out doctoral study programmes and provides training for young scientists. The IM promotes international cooperation, including the organisation of joint research projects with foreign partners and participation in exchange programmes. The IM organises scientific meetings, conferences and seminars on the national and international levels.

Research in the Institute focuses on mathematical analysis (differential equations, numerical analysis, functional analysis, theory of function spaces), mathematical physics, mathematical logic, complexity theory, combinatorics, set theory, numerical algebra, topology (general and algebraic), optimization and control, differential geometry, and didactics of mathematics.

e) Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences

The Institute was established as Research and Testing Institute of Materials and Structures under the Czech Technical University in Prague Prague in 1921, thanks to the initiative of the Prague university professor and later academician, František Klokner. The Institute bore Klokner’s name from 1947 to 1953, when it was incorporated into the newly established Czechoslovakian Academy of Sciences and renamed to Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM).

ITAM works on scientific research in the field of solid phase mechanics, oriented particularly on micromechanics, biomechanics of solids, statistical dynamics of systems and media, nonlinear mechanics of systems, processes of failure of materials, mechanics of multifunctional materials, mechanics of particulate media, and computer and numerical mechanics. The research is also concerned with the economic assessment of structures, buildings, etc. incl. proposals for new methodologies for special-purpose buildings and structures and the assessment of environmental and territorial effects, particularly in the safeguarding and evaluation of historical buildings and settlements.

Centre Telč - Climatic Wind Tunnel

CET - Centre Telč is a part of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Science, which was build with financial support from the European Union and the Czech Republic through the structural funds and the state budget allocated to the Operational Programme Research and Development for the period 2007 – 2013. The CET studies materials, constructions and historical sites and is equipped with a unique infrastructure for research on basic topics as well as for verification of application and innovation potential of newly developed technologies for diagnostics, extension of lifespan, preventive protection and safeguarding of long-term sustainable use of cultural heritage as well as the current building fund. CET is founded on and further develops research activities supported by the European Commission within the ARCCHIP Centre of Excellence.

The climatic wind tunnel at CET is designed as a closed circuit with controlled wind velocity and temperature conditions. It consists of climatic and aerodynamic parts. While the aerodynamic part provides well-fitted conditions to study wind effects on scaled model of prototypes, an equipment of the climatic part is suited for investigation of influences of weather including the wind, temperature, rain and heat radiation. Using the cooling/heating exchanger, cycle temperature changing of the airflow is available in the whole tunnel within the range of -10 to 30 C in relatively short time period. Integral part of the tunnel equipment consists of instruments for airflow diagnostic, data acquisition system, direct pressure surface measurement, precise thermometry and of many other types of handy accessories for instant use. Workshops for manufacturing of testing models are available in the same building.