Ulrich Jansen

Scientific Cooperation Engineering in the Cluster of Excellence Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries at RWTH Aachen University

Interdisciplinary scientific cooperation plays a decisive role for the generation of new knowledge. The augmenting dynamic and complexity of scientific forms of cooperation require new approaches for interlinking people and knowledge from different disciplines to enable people for succeeding in interdisciplinary cooperation. Concerning the case of the cluster of excellence Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries at RWTH Aachen University this challenge is addressed by cross sectional processes (CSP). CSP are supporting networking processes and strategic cluster development by means of learning and knowledge management. Through cross-sectional activities, a new method for knowledge and organizational development was identified – scientific cooperation engineering. It aspires to support the transfer of highly complex, dynamic and interdisciplinary research cooperation into sustainable and robust structures. The design of scientific cooperation engineering will be outlined in this position paper.

Towards integrative computational materials engineering of steel components

This article outlines on-going activities at the RWTH Aachen University aiming at a standardized, modular, extendable and open simulation platform for materials processing. This platform on the one hand facilitates the information exchange between different simulation tools and thus strongly reduces the effort to design/re-design production processes. On the other hand, tracking of simulation results along the entire production chain provides new insights into mechanisms, which cannot be explained on the basis of individual simulations. Respective simulation chains provide e.g. the basis for the determination of materials and component properties, like e.g. distortions, for an improved product quality, for more efficient and more reliable production processes and many further aspects. After a short introduction to the platform concept, actual examples for different test case scenarios will be presented and discussed.

Enhancing Scientific Cooperation of an Interdisciplinary Cluster of Excellence via a Scientific Cooperation Portal

In the Cluster of Excellence (CoE) “Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage countries” at RWTH Aachen University, scientists from different institutions investigate interdisciplinary ways to solve the polylemma’s tradeoffs between scale and scope as well as between plan and value oriented production. Next to the CoE’s four scientific subfields – the Integrative Cluster Domains (ICDs) – there are three additional subprojects performing cross sectional research and providing means for physical and virtual cross-linkage, the Cross Sectional Processes (CSP). Scientific cooperation in such a large and diverse consortium – as a meta-structure to the structures present in the member institutes – poses many challenges. To tackle these, an online learning and collaboration platform is developed, called the “Scientific Cooperation Portal”, to optimize the cluster-wide cooperation process. Technically building on the Liferay framework, the portal provides basic features like a member list and an event calendar as well as functionalities to help cluster members to gain a deeper understanding of the CoE’s current state regarding the diversity in interdisciplinary terminology, patterns in publication relationships, knowledge management and developed technologies.

Scientific Cooperation Engineering Making Interdisciplinary Knowledge Available within Research Facilities and to External Stakeholders

In this paper we introduce the Scientific Cooperation Portal (SCP), a social enterprise software, and how it is integrated into our process of Scientific Cooperation Engineering. This process is applied in a large-scale interdisciplinary research cluster to ensure and manage the success of the interdisciplinary cooperation of over 180 researchers in different qualification levels. We investigate the influence of shared method competencies as an exemplary driver for collaboration. From the results we address both offline and online measures to improve interdisciplinary collaboration. We show how the knowledge generated from offline measures such as colloquia are transferred to the SCP and connected with other data available on the portal. This includes the handling of interdisciplinary terminologies, the disposability of publications and technology data sheets. The portal fosters knowledge exchange, and interdisciplinary awareness within the research cluster as well as technology dissemination both within the cluster, across the university, and into industry. The effectiveness of the approach is continuously assessed using a traditional balanced scorecard approach as well as additional qualitative measures such as interviews and focus groups.

Virtual Production Systems

The use of simulation systems is of significant importance for companies in high-wage countries as the requirements of product- and process quality are generally higher than in low-wage countries due to conditions of the market. Since the implementation of simulation tools is not value-adding in the first place, the performance of virtual product development chain must therefore be continuously increased in terms of greater planning efficiency. Research in the field of virtual production systems therefore addresses the following issue.

Advanced trim-cut technique to visualize melt flow dynamics inside laser cutting kerfs

Instabilities of the laser cutting front cause loss of quality due to the formation of striations on the cut flank. The mechanisms of striation generation during laser cutting are still not yet fully understood. To visualize the laser cutting process, the trim-cut technique was invented many years ago and is being continuously improved by different authors in the last years as well as in current studies. During a trim-cut, the laser beam is moved in-parallel along an existing sheet flank and cuts off a stripe of less than a standard kerf width. The cutting front and the transition to the resultant cut flank are directly visible. Without additional measures, the cutting gas jet expands during trimming in the half space freed by the lack of a second cutting edge. To maintain a guided supersonic gas jet path along the melt film and simultaneously enable the in-situ-observation of the cutting kerf with high-speed imaging, the missing cut flank is simulated by a transparent substrate, e.g., made of synthetic f...

In situ visualization of multiple reflections on the cut flank during laser cutting with 1 μm wavelength

Instabilities of the laser cutting front cause loss of quality due to the formation of striations on the cut flank. The mechanisms of striation generation during laser cutting are still not yet fully understood. In this paper, the frequently disputed and not completely clarified effect of multiple reflections in the cut kerf during laser cutting with 1 μm wavelength is investigated during cutting of 6 mm thick stainless steel using a laser power of 5 kW and nitrogen assist gas. To visualize the laser cutting process, the trim-cut technique was invented many years ago and has been and still is continuously improved by different authors. During a trim-cut, the laser beam is moved in parallel along an existing sheet flank and cuts off a stripe of less than a standard kerf width. The cutting front and the transition to the resultant cut flank are directly visible. In order to maintain a kerf-guided supersonic gas jet along the melt film and simultaneously enable the in situ observation of the cutting kerf with high-speed imaging, the missing cut flank is substituted by a transparent substrate made of quartz glass. The existence and the effect of multiple reflections and their manipulation are demonstrated during laser cutting by means of an automated in situ trim-cut test bench with versatile control features. Depending on the focus position, the behavior of the melt flow and of laterally extended cutting fronts due to multiple reflections is visualized. Moreover, measurable results such as the profile of the cut flanks of trim-cuts and the corresponding real reference cuts are presented and discussed. The theoretical intensity distribution on the flank of trim-cuts is calculated taking into account multiple reflections during the beam propagation in the interaction zone and compared with corresponding high-speed videos.Instabilities of the laser cutting front cause loss of quality due to the formation of striations on the cut flank. The mechanisms of striation generation during laser cutting are still not yet fully understood. In this paper, the frequently disputed and not completely clarified effect of multiple reflections in the cut kerf during laser cutting with 1 μm wavelength is investigated during cutting of 6 mm thick stainless steel using a laser power of 5 kW and nitrogen assist gas. To visualize the laser cutting process, the trim-cut technique was invented many years ago and has been and still is continuously improved by different authors. During a trim-cut, the laser beam is moved in parallel along an existing sheet flank and cuts off a stripe of less than a standard kerf width. The cutting front and the transition to the resultant cut flank are directly visible. In order to maintain a kerf-guided supersonic gas jet along the melt film and simultaneously enable the in situ observation of the cutting kerf wit...

FlowChart Tool for Decision Making in Interdisciplinary Research Cooperation.

A common understanding of the state of a research project is vital for project planning and decision making in interdisciplinary research cooperation. Surveys in a production technology based environment shows, that project planning and decision support tools exist and are known, however they are not used in practice. Interviews indicate that the poor usage of such tools originate from the complexity of the tools and that there is no perceptible added value for the performing researcher in using these tools. A requirements analysis is performed to extract the non-functional and functional requirements of a web-based project planning tool, which is developed and tested in an interdisciplinary research cooperation, called the Cluster of Excellence for production research at the RWTH Aachen University. User interviews show that the acceptance of such tools is strongly related to the presence of all features that are considered vital by the user for project planning and decision support.

Scientific Cooperation Engineering

Scientific Cooperation Engineering researches, fosters and supports scientific cooperation on all hierarchical levels and beyond scientific disciplines as a key resource for innovation in the Cluster of Excellence. State-of-the-art research methods—such as structural equation models, success models, or studies on success factors—that are frequently used in IS research are applied to create profound knowledge and insights in the contribution and optimal realization of scientific inter and trans-disciplinary communication and cooperation. A continuous formative evaluation is used to derive and explore insights into interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation processes from a management perspective. In addition, actor-based empirical studies are carried out to explore critical factors for interdisciplinary cooperation and intercultural diversity management. Based on these results, workflows, physical networking events and tailor-made training programs are created and iteratively optimized towards the cluster’s needs. As Scientific Cooperation Engineering aims to gain empirical and data-driven knowledge, a Scientific Cooperation Portal and a prototypic flowchart application are under development to support workflows and project management. Furthermore, data science methods are currently implemented to recognize synergetic patterns based on bibliometric information and topical proximity, which is analyzed via project terminologies.