DENISS MIRONOVS will defend his doctoral thesis “Development of structural health monitoring system for structures in operational conditions”

DENISS MIRONOVS will defend his doctoral thesis: “Development of structural health monitoring system for structures in operational conditions” at the open meeting of the RTU P-06 promotion board of the Construction and Transport Engineering branch of Riga Technical University, on November 3, 2023 at 14.15, Riga, Ķīpsalas 6A, room 342,  for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Science (Ph.D.).

Reviewers:

– assoc. prof., dr. sc. Eng. Līga Gaile, Riga Technical University, RTU P-06 reviewer of the promotion board;

– assoc. prof., dr. sc. Eng. Andrzej Katunin, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland;

– assoc. prof., dr. sc. Eng. Miroslaw Wesolowski, Technical University of Koszalin, Koszalin, Poland.

The doctoral thesis and summaries can be found on the websites of RTU Science resources Doctoral theses: https://ortus.rtu.lv/science/lv/publications/doctoral_thesis/, in the National Digital Library of Latvia, on the e-book platform: https://ebooks. rtu.lv/, as well as electronically on the RTU website http://www.rtu.lv (For doctoral students → Promotion → Promotional theses).

64TH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF RTU

The Plenary Session of the Conference will be held on 13 October at 10.00 a.m. at the Domus Auditorialis auditoria centre, 8 Zunda krastmala, Rīga.

64th International Scientific Conference of RTU

EDUARDS SKUKIS will defend his doctoral thesis “Vibration Correlation Technique for Cylindrical Structural Safety Assessment”

Riga Technical University clarifies the official publication “Latvijas Vēstnesis” of December 13, 2022, issue no. 241, OP 2022/241.PM1, the published notice, moving the date of the defense of Eduardas Skukais’s doctoral thesis from January 20, 2023 to March 17 at 14.15 at Riga Technical University’s Construction and Transport Engineering Promotion Council “RTU P-06” open meeting in Riga, Ķīpsalas 6A room 342.

EDUARDS SKUKIS will defend his doctoral thesis: “Vibration Correlation Technique for Cylindrical Structural Safety Assessment”, for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Science (Ph.D.).

Reviewers:

– Prof., Dr.sc.ing. Dmitrijs Serdjuks, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Riga Technical University, Latvia;

– Prof., Ph.D. Haim Abramovich, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel;

– Prof., Ph.D. Chiara Bisagni, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands.

 

The doctoral thesis and summaries can be found on the websites of RTU Science resources

Doctoral theses: https://ortus.rtu.lv/science/lv/publications/doctoral_thesis/;

in the National Digital Library of the State, on the e-book platform: https://ebooks. rtu.lv/;

as well as electronically on the RTU website http://www.rtu.lv (For doctoral students → Promotion → Promotional theses).

5th International Conference “Innovative Materials, Structures and Technologies” (IMST 2022) in Riga 28th-30th September 2022.

The Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Riga Technical University is pleased to invite engineers and scientists from all over the world to attend the 5th International Conference “Innovative Materials, Structures and Technologies” (IMST 2022) to be held in Riga on 28th-30th September 2022. Conference is organized by Faculty of Civil Engineering, RTU in collaboration with EIT RawMaterials Baltic HUB.

The conference aims to promote and discuss the latest results of industrial and academic research on analysis and design of advanced structures and buildings; innovative, ecological and energy efficient building materials; development of maintenance, inspection and monitoring methods; structural management; sustainable and safe transport infrastructure. The conference is intended for scientists, engineers, students, managers and professionals of the construction sector providing a possibility to share the latest achievements, discuss recent advances and highlight the current challenges. Participants will be given an excellent opportunity for networking as well as meeting colleagues and friends.

All accepted abstracts will be included in the printed conference abstract book. Full papers will be peer-reviewed, and the accepted papers are planned to be published in IOP Conference Series: Material Science and Engineering indexed by SCOPUS and Web of Science.

Get moore on web site imst.rtu.lv

Riga Technical University Development Foundation invites everyone to support Ukrainian students and teachers

The Development Fund of Riga Technical University (RTU AF) is involved in providing support to Ukraine. We invite RTU employees, students and cooperation partners to donate funds to Ukrainian students and teachers. We will use the donations to provide financial support to the immigrants to cover their daily expenses and to start studying and working in Latvia. RTU AF together with cooperation partners will also offer paid internships for Ukrainian students in the summer.

Since the start of the war, more than 2 million refugees have fled Ukraine, including undergraduate and graduate students, who have been left homeless, have no means of subsistence and have the opportunity to continue their studies. RTU has received letters from several students asking for help: “I am writing this letter from a bomb shelter. [..] I am extremely passionate about computer science and engineering. I wholeheartedly want to continue my studies, so please consider my application to continue your studies at Riga Technical University. ”

We invite everyone to support Ukrainian students and teachers with their help!

Beneficiary: Riga Technical University Development Fund
Registration number: 40008067097
Purpose of the donation: Support for Ukrainian students and teachers

Bank accounts for donations:

AS «SEB banka»: LV35UNLA0050001320294
AS «Swedbank»: LV44HABA0551032123394

The whole world has joined hands to help Ukraine. You can also participate and support the Ukrainians. Don’t be indifferent and give a helping hand to those who need it so much right now!

In Memoriam. Rolands Rikards (15.12.1942–02.02.2022)

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Rolands Rikards, a respected scientist, professor and politician. He passed away on February 2, 2022 at the age of 79. A funeral service will be held at Riga Crematorium on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 12:00.

Rolands Rikards was born on December 15, 1942 in Riga. In 1966 he graduated from Riga Polytechnic Institute. From 1966 to 1981 he worked at the Polymer Mechanical Institute as a leading researcher.

In 1970, Rolands Rikards defended his Candidate of Technical Sciences degree and continued his work at Riga Polytechnic Institute as an assistant professor at the Department of Resistance of Materials.

Rolands Rikards defended his doctoral degree in technical sciences in 1983 at Moscow Institute of Electronics Engineering. A few years later, he became a professor at the Department of Strength of Materials.

From 1994, Rolands Rikards was a professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of Riga Technical University (RTU). In 2001, he was assigned the duties of the Director of the RTU Institute of Materials and Structures.

From 1990 to 1992, Rolands Rikards was the editor of the Baltic co-operation magazine Revue Baltique.

In 1997, he became a full member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

Rolands Rikards’ research interests were related to the mechanics of composite and polymer materials, optimisation and identification of material properties, fracture mechanics of composite materials, shell theory and finite element method.

He is the author of more than 300 scientific papers, including five monographs.

Rolands Rikards cared about the future of Latvia. In 1988, he was one of the founders of the support group of the Popular Front of Latvia at Riga Polytechnic Institute. From 1990 to 1993, he was a member of the Supreme Council. As one of the four original authors of the Declaration ‘On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia’ adopted on May 4, 1990, he has made an invaluable contribution to the rebirth of independent Latvia.

Rolands Rikards worked on The Law on the Restoration of Citizenship of the Republic of Latvia, The Law on Immigration, the Constitutional Law on Human and Civil Rights and The Saeima Election Law (on Elections to the 5th Saeima). He was active in the European Movement in Latvia. From 1993 to 1994, Rolands Rikards was an adviser to the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Latvia Egils Levits.

Rolands Rikards was awarded The Commemorative Medal for Participants of the Barricades of 1991. In 1996, he received the Friedrich Cander Prize for his research in the mechanics of composite materials. In 1997, he was awarded the Medal of Honour, the First Class, of the Order of the Three Stars for his merits in scientific work. In 2000, Rolands Rikards also received the Order of the Three Stars the Third Class.

Latvian science has suffered a heavy loss, the life of a bright scientist and politician is over. Riga Technical University expresses its deepest condolences to Rolands Rikards’ relatives, friends and colleagues.

RTU extends the deadines for study semesters

With the Rector’s order, Riga Technical University (RTU) extends the deadline for the end of the spring semester up to 14 August, whereas a new academic year will start on 14 September. Such a decision has been taken in order to enable students to perform all study assignments and laboratory works, which have been delayed due to the emergency situation caused by Covid-19, in a qualitative way.

The extension of the study semester does not at all mean that all students of RTU will have mandatory studies until 14 August. RTU study programmes differ — some of them can be completed earlier, possibly even in June, whereas for others, especially programmes in engineering sciences, it is required to perform laboratory works, which, unlike lectures, cannot be performed remotely.

The RTU diploma confirms that the university prepares high-skilled engineering and high-tech specialists and, therefore, even in extraordinary circumstances, the RTU study process should be carried out in full volume and students should acquire practical skills in working with special equipment, in order to be fully prepared for the labour market.

To achieve this, the set examination session period scheduled from 25 May to 21 June has been cancelled, and the nine faculties of RTU will have flexible planned schedules for lectures and exams to allow students completing this semester as soon as possible.

The deadlines currently set for the semesters can still be changed, depending on the deadlines and conditions prescribed by the government for the emergency situation.

All lectures at Riga Technical University are cancelled

In accordance with the decision of the Government of Latvia all  classes at Riga Technical University are cancelled from 13.03. to 14.04. due to the COVID-19 concerns.

Please follow updates on ORTUS about how the distance studies will be organized.

Please refrain from travelling abroad, only in case of emergency, and always inform FSD in case if you need to travel.

Please follow the information on the situation about COVID-19 at the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) homepage: https://spkc.gov.lv/en

Study Forum «Digitalisation in the Study Process»

What will the study environment look like in five years time? Can digitalisation improve the study process and how? Why would it be useful to overcome the fears and prejudices of new opportunities and to learn and use them? The RTU Studies Department and the Student Parliament invite the academic staff and students to discuss these and other issues on March 5, when the RTU Scientific Library will be open from 10am to 10pm. 11.00 – 15.00 forum «Digitalisation in the study process».

Various digital tools are already available that can be used by faculty and students in the study process, making it more interactive and effective. Some of them will be available in the forum. Leonard Budnik, lecturer at the Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Management at IEVF, will talk about his experience in using digital tools in the study process. He is not afraid to experiment, and his passion for diversifying the study process has proved his worth. In 2018, L. Budņiks received the “New Teacher of the Year honor” and has been repeatedly recognized by students as one of the best teaching staff by awarding the Student Parliament of the Year Award.

In order to inspire and encourage the use of modern methods and tools in the study process, RTU lecturers’ courses in the ORTUS e-learning environment will be demonstrated and positively evaluated by the students and the authors themselves as they improve study results and facilitate their work. In the practical part of the forum, those who are on the digital world with “you” will also be able to try different digital tools and make sure their use is neither complicated nor time consuming.

Forum Program:

10.30 Registration and Interactive Activity

11.00 Opening

11. 20 Summary of Interactive Activity

11.25 Students’ summary of the current situation in the ORTUS E-learning environment

11.55 Good examples of ORTUS E-learning environment

12.25 Why use digital tools in the study process?

13.00 Coffee break

13.30-15.00 Practical exercise

For attending the conference, participants will receive a certificate of professional development for five academic hours.

Login to forum

RTU scientists help to improve the equipment of Latvian luge athletes

Latvian luge athletes this season, starting at home and on international tracks, carry the name of Riga Technical University (RTU), as the RTU logo appears on athlete’s sleigh. This confirms that the Latvian toboggan team’s sleds have been improved at RTU Design Factory with the support of RTU scientists. The RTU logo will be displayed on the sleigh on December 28, when luge athletes will fight for the Latvian Cup in Sigulda.

The Latvian Basketball Federation has been cooperating with RTU since 2017 in the development and technical development of sports sleighs and special equipment. During this time, 3D laser scanning and modeling has been carried out at the RTU Design Factory to improve the aerodynamics and mechanical properties of the sleigh, tailored individually for each athlete.

The RTU Design Factory also prints out individual parts mounted on sleighs and acting as vibration damping elements using 3D printers. “It helps athletes to maintain stability on the track, and makes sleighs easier to control during the ride and, thus, more accurately steered,” says Martins Rubenis, Olympic medalist and now Latvian national team coach and mechanic.

Ultrasound tests have been carried out with Kaspar Kalniņš, a scientist at the RTU Faculty of Civil Engineering, Institute of Materials and Structures, to optimize the interaction of sleigh construction materials. RTU has also tested various materials that may be more suitable for sledge jointing.

Latvian sledging team RTU improved its equipment also in 2018 in preparation for the start of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. At that time, the Design Factory created the so-called penguins – special needle caps that are attached to gloves at the tips of the fingers to help athletes kick off the ice more forcefully.

The sleigh RTU is continuously improved, even during the same season between races, as each improvement gives athletes a hundredths of a second, which is crucial for athlete performance.

The next step, together with scientists from the RTU Institute of Design Technology, is to begin developing customized overalls for athletes, using a body scanner and creating accurate patterns.