The Materials Technology Institute comprises the following six research programmes: Polymer Technology dr.ir. L.C.A. van Breemen, dr.ir. L.E. Govaert, M. Hütter, prof.dr.ir. H.E.H. Meijer, prof.dr.ir. G.W.M. Peters, dr.ir. P.J.G. Schreurs, The research is aimed at bridging the gap between science and technology in the area of polymer processing and design, through the use of experimental and computational tools in the modeling of the full thermo-mechanical history of material (elements) during their formation, processing and final design, to quantitatively predict properties of processed objects Mechanics of Materials dr.ir. W.A.M. Brekelmans, dr. V.S. Deshpande, dr.ir. J.A.W. van Dommelen, prof.dr.ir. M.G.D. Geers, dr.ir. J.P.M. Hoefnagels, dr.ir. V. Kouznetsova, dr.ir. R.H.J. Peerlings, dr.ir. O. van der Sluis, The research activities concentrate on the fundamental understanding of various macroscopic problems in materials processing and forming, which emerge from the physics and the mechanics of the underlying material microstructure. The main challenge within this programme is the accurate prediction of mechanical properties of materials with complex microstructures, with a direct focus on industrial needs. The thorough understanding and modelling of `unit' processes that can be identified in the complex evolving microstructure is thereby a key issue. Structure and Rheology of Complex Fluids prof.dr.ir. P.D. Anderson, dr.ir. M.A. Hulsen, prof.dr.ir. G.W.M. Peters, prof.dr.ir. J.M.J. den Toonder, dr. H.M. Wyss, Soft Tissue Biomechanics & Engineering prof.dr.ir. F.P.T. Baaijens, prof.dr. D.L. Bader, prof.dr. C.V.C. Bouten, dr. A. Driessen - Mol, dr.ir. C.W.J. Oomens, dr. D.W.J. van der Schaft, Living tissues show an intriguing, active response to mechanical loading. Not only is the intrinsic mechanical response complicated, the ability of living tissues to adapt to mechanical loading by changing their structure and composition is fascinating. For example, tissue proliferation and differentiation is significantly affected by mechanical loading. A quantitative understanding of these phenomena, through experimentation and numerical modeling, is of crucial importance for many biomedical applications. Cardiovascular Biomechanics dr.ir. P.H.M. Bovendeerd, prof.mr.dr. B.A.J.M. de Mol, prof.dr. N.H.J. Pijls, dr.ir. M.C.M. Rutten, prof.dr.ir. F.N. van de Vosse, We focus on model-based biomechnical analysis of the cardiovascular system, as relevant for pathophysiology, diagnosis, intervention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The research that mostly originates from questions arising from clinical practice is fundamental in its nature and based on models based on classical disciplines (physics, mathematics, and mechanics). We develop and use advanced experimental and computational techniques in order to validate and analyze models of the complex cardiovascular system. Orthopaedic Biomechanics dr. C.C. van Donkelaar, dr.ir. J.M.R.J. Huyghe, prof.dr. K. Ito, dr.ir. B. van Rietbergen, Musculoskeletal tissues are produced, maintained and adapted by cells as a response to their biophysical environment in health and disease. Of the latter, degenerative diseases have become more prevalent with an increasing socioeconomic impact in our ever aging population. With increased longevity and a higher level of activity, current treatment methods with purely synthetic devices may be limited. In this section, the disciplines of engineering and biology are combined to expand our understanding of the biomechanical function of musculoskeletal tissues as well as their adaptive developmental and physiological nature. The current goals are to investigate the mechanisms of degenerative diseases and to develop regenerative treatment strategies as applied to three musculoskeletal tissues, i.e. bone, articular cartilage, and the intervertebral disc.