The year 2025 marked an important stage in the development of cooperation between NTU «KhPI» and RWTH Aachen University, Germany, one of the strongest technical universities in Europe. The team of the Department of Mathematical Modeling and Intelligent Computing in Engineering conducted a series of scientific and teaching visits to Aachen within the Erasmus+ KA171 program, worked in modern RWTH laboratories, participated in research and teaching, deepening the partnership between the two universities.
Throughout 2025, representatives of the Department of Mathematical Modeling and Intelligent Computing in Engineering of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Computer Modeling, Applied Physics and Mathematics within the Erasmus+ KA171 program made a series of scientific and educational visits to RWTH Aachen University, Germany. The cooperation included joint research, teaching, laboratory work, and the formation of new joint scientific initiatives.
As part of the spring stage of the program, working visits to RWTH Aachen University were made by the director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Computer Modeling, Applied Physics and Mathematics of NTU «KhPI» Professor Oleksiy Larin, associate professors Ksenia Potopalska and Mariia Shapovalova, as well as graduate student Nataliia Fomenko. Professor Oleksiy Larin met with German scientists to discuss joint research in the fields of biomechanics and vibration analysis of structures, conducted a series of experiments with materials for 3D printing, and participated in the preparation of a joint scientific publication. He also took part in the educational process at Aachen University, giving a lecture and practical workshop on modeling free vibrations of mechanical systems and teaching a separate course on nonlinear dynamics for graduate students.
In addition, at the RWTH laboratories, researchers Ksenia Potopalska and Mariia Shapovalova conducted experiments with 3D printing and investigated the properties of aerogels and quasi-zero stiffness systems — an important technology for modern vibration isolation systems, while graduate student Nataliia Fomenko spent two months conducting experimental research in the field of symbolic regression for constructing nonlinear viscoelastic models of materials. In the autumn, Ksenia Potopalska and Mariia Shapovalova returned to RWTH Aachen University as lecturers: they conducted laboratory classes on 2D and 3D design modeling, taught a course on software for finite element modeling (Practical Introduction to FEM Software), and gave a lecture on the use of the ANSYS ACP software package for the analysis of composite materials.
During the visits, the team of scientists presented the scientific developments of the Department of Mathematical Modeling and Intelligent Computing in Engineering, in particular the application of artificial intelligence for material modeling and the department’s participation in international EURIZON projects. «The joint work of our researchers and colleagues from Aachen University has laid a solid foundation for new scientific articles, engineering developments, and future joint projects in the fields of complex materials mechanics, composite structures, vibration isolation systems, and modern methods of engineering simulations,» said Professor Oleksiy Larin of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute.»
The National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» expresses its gratitude to its partners at RWTH Aachen University, in particular Professor Mikhail Itskov and the university’s research team, for their support of Ukrainian scientists and the development of a joint international scientific school.
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The Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen University) is Germany’s leading technical university and one of the most prestigious European higher education institutions. Founded in 1870, RWTH Aachen is a member of the TU9 group, which brings together the country’s strongest technical universities. Today, the university has about 44.000 students, and its educational programs cover 9 faculties and about 260 institutes. RWTH Aachen consistently ranks high in global rankings: in 2025, RWTH Aachen University ranked 92nd in the world according to THE (Times Higher Education World University Rankings). The university has a particularly high reputation in the fields of computer science, mechanical engineering, economic engineering, and electrical engineering — areas that determine the level of technical education in Europe.
The National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» is one of the leading and largest technical higher education institutions in Ukraine, founded in 1885. Today, NTU «KhPI» consists of 10 educational and scientific institutes and 103 departments, where more than 15.000 students study. Kharkiv Polytechnic is among the top 5 universities in Ukraine and is included in prestigious international rankings. In 2010, NTU «KhPI» acquired the status of a national research university.
The partnership between NTU «KhPI» and RWTH Aachen has been going on for many years. In October 2022, Rector of NTU «KhPI» Yevgen Sokol and representatives of RWTH Aachen signed a number of new agreements and extended existing cooperation agreements, which became the basis for the active development of academic mobility, joint research, and international scientific projects.