All known construction materials can be simulated regarding their deformation and failure behavior in components and during production. The range of the materials examined so far reaches from steel in power plants, offshore structures and vehicles over aluminum and magnesium with applications in the automotive industry, over glass and plastics up to fibre-reinforced composite materials with integrated piezoelectric properties.

Important aspects in the simulation of structures are the evaluation and optimization of the appropriate joining techniquesas well as the evaluation of surface coatings. The experimental determination and description of the appropriate material properties is an essential part of the works performed at IWM (material characterization).