ZwickRoell Science Award

For more than ten years, the ZwickRoell Science Award has honored current, outstanding science projects that make a valuable contribution to broadening the understanding of materials testing in various scientific disciplines. Through interaction and discussions with scientists we are continuously gaining valuable insights into where research progress is currently being made within the field of materials and components testing. Even we are continuously surprised to find new ways in which materials testing machines are being used. These insights help us to provide better solutions for our customers.

Science Award 2023 Winner 2022 Winners Photo gallery Project submission FAQs

First place ZwickRoell Science Award 2023

Quality Improvement in Automotive Engineering: What is the Material Behavior of Sheet Metal in the Event of a Crash Load?
1st place of the ZwickRoell Science Award for the development of a testing methodology to determine more precise characteristic values in crash simulation

First place in the ZwickRoell Science Award (prize money:

5,000 euros) this year goes to Chongyang Zeng from the University of Siegen. He developed a method for measuring the material behavior of sheet metal at high load speeds, as can occur in the event of a crash load. This measurement method ensures accurate results at high speeds without the interference of vibrations. The automotive industry benefits from the results in the development of increasingly high-quality materials. This year's award ceremony will take place in Ulm-Einsingen as part of testXpo 2024, our International Expo for Materials Testing (October 21-24).

Chongyang Zeng from the University of Siegen impressed the judges this year and took first place (5,000 euros) in the international ZwickRoell Science Award. By developing new geometric shapes for material specimens and using a measurement and evaluation method that eliminates interfering vibrations, more precise force measurements can be carried out—even at load speeds of up to 10 m/s and strain rates of up to 1000 s-1 on special servohydraulic testing machines for high-speed tests. This enables a more precise determination of the material behavior of sheet metal required as input for crash simulations in automotive engineering. The publication that won the ZwickRoell Science Award 2023 “Specimen Geometry Design for Plasticity and Fracture Characterization of Sheet Metal Under High Testing Speed and Various Stress States” was published in Thin-Walled Structures 186 (2023).

Chongyang Zeng of the University of Siegen — Young scientist Chongyang Zeng from the University of Siegen is the winner of the international research prize ZwickRoell Science Award (Image: University of Siegen)

Chongyang Zeng and Prof. Dr. Xiangfan Fang — Excited winner of the ZwickRoell Science Award: Chongyang Zeng (l.) and Prof. Dr. Xiangfan Fang from the Siegen Chair of Lightweight Vehicle Construction with the newly developed geometric specimen shapes: They enable precise force measurements under crash load (Image: University of Siegen)

Universities and research institutes are important customers and partners for ZwickRoell, for whom we develop customized solutions. Every year, the award ceremony brings together the fields of science and industry and promotes an exciting exchange of ideas. This is one of the reasons why it always creates a special atmosphere and helps us to develop new, practical solutions in collaboration with our customers.

Christine Dübler, Board Member for Sales and Service at ZwickRoell

Researchers from 35 countries participate

This year's winners will present their projects in short presentations during testXpo (October 21-24) on the ZwickRoell company campus in Ulm-Einsingen, Germany. More than 160 scientists from 35 countries submitted their work from various areas of materials testing this year. The research prize sponsored by testing machine manufacturer ZwickRoell recognizes, now for the 15th time, outstanding scientific work that makes a valuable contribution to expanding the understanding of mechanical testing in various scientific disciplines.

The other 2023 award winners

Second place (2,000 euros): Dr. Akshat Agha from FADI-AMT LLC, USA for his publication “A Method for Measuring In-Plane Forming Limit Curves Using 2D Digital Image Correlation” in the SAE International Journal of Material Manufacturing Volume 16, Issue 3 (2023).
Third place (1,000 euros): Dr. Carolina Furtado of the University of Porto in Portugal for her publication “Combined Bearing/Pull-Through Failure Envelope of Composite Joints: Experimental Setup and Numerical Validation“ in Composites: Part A Volume 175 (2023)

Winner of the 2022 Science Award

The ZwickRoell Science Award was presented during Academia Day at the Møller Institute at the renowned Cambridge University (United Kingdom). This year, a total of 212 researchers and scientists submitted their papers on topics from different areas in materials testing. The winners gave short presentations on their innovative testing concepts.

First place (5,000 euros) went to Dr. Diego Misseroni from the University of Trento (Italy) for his publication in Extreme Mechanics Letters, entitled “Experimental Realization of Tunable Poisson's Ratio in Deployable Origami Metamaterials.”
Second place (2,000 euros) went to Dr. Sergio Medina Escobar from the University of Girona (Spain) for his publication “Guided Double Cantilever Beam Test Method for Intermediate and High Loading Rates in Composites”, in the International Journal of Solids and Structures.
And third place (1,000 euros) was awarded to Peter Hetz from the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg for his contribution published in CIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology 71, entitled “Characterization of Sheet Metal Components by Using an Upsetting Test with Miniaturized Cylindrical Specimen.”

Photo gallery of presentation of the ZwickRoell Science Award

Science Award 2018

Presentation of the ZwickRoell Science Award at Tongji University in Shanghai, which is particularly renowned for engineering, economics and architecture.

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Academia Day 2019

Impressions of Academia Day 2019 in Shanghai and presentation of the Science Award

Science Award 2017

On May 15, 2018 at Sapienza University, the winners were chosen out of over 100 entries submitted by 70 participants from 17 countries.

Science Award 2016

Over 70 participants from 20 countries submitted 100 entries, presenting the judges with a difficult task. On May 26, 2017, the awards were presented during Academia Day at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Science Award 2015

On April 26, 2016, the winners received their awards in the course of the seventh ZwickRoell Academia Day, held at the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. The three winners were chosen out of 160 entries from 26 countries.

Science Award 2014

An international audience gathered at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich on June 2, 2015, to celebrate the winners of the prize for the most innovative use of a materials testing machine in a scientific context. During Academia Day, the award winners had the opportunity to present their work to an international audience of experts.

Science Award 2013

The winners of the ZwickRoell Science Award were honored on April 9, 2014 at the fifth Academia Day at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid. The total of 119 papers submitted and the Academia Day scientific lecture series provided a comprehensive overview of important and current issues in materials testing.

Science Award 2012

On April 17, 2013, the winners of the 2012 ZwickRoell Science Award received their awards at the fourth ZwickRoell Academia Day, held this year at Manchester University, England. In addition to various expert presentations on the subject of materials in challenging environments, they also had the opportunity to present their own technical articles. A total of 72 scientists from 17 different countries took part in the ZwickRoell Science Award.

Science Award 2021

This year the esteemed ZwickRoell Science Award ceremony took place in the magnificent dome hall at the Vienna University of Technology: „Linking Microstructure with Macroscopic Properties – with Special Focus on Additive Manufacturing“

ZwickRoell Science Award 2024

Have you published interesting scientific work in the area of materials testing? ZwickRoell awards this distinction to authors of scientific papers on the most innovative uses of materials testing machines. Submission deadline is January 31, 2025.

Prizes

1st place: Paul Roell Medal and €5,000
Second place: € 2,000
Third place: € 1,000

You can find more information on the ZwickRoell Science Award in our flyer. We look forward to your submissions!

Science Award Flyer

You are welcome to submit your publication in writing via e-mail or to the following mailing address:

ZwickRoell GmbH & Co. KG
August-Nagel-Str. 11
89079 Ulm, Germany
E-mail: scienceaward@zwickroell.com

Frequently asked questions about the ZwickRoell Science Award

Who can participate?

The first author of a scientific paper (regardless of whether he/she is still working at the university or research institution). Either you are currently working on you PhD or you have had you PhD for no more than 10 years.

Which type of scientific paper can be submitted?

You can participate with almost any type of composition, e.g. research and conference articles, posters and scientific papers (already published or still in progress). You can only submit one paper.

What documents do I have to submit if I want to participate?

The journal essay and a brief autobiography.

Does a ZwickRoell testing machine have to be used for purposes of the research?

No, the manufacturer of the machine does not matter.

How old can the composition be?

The year of publication must be 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024.

How is the winner determined?

A panel of judges (ZwickRoell Expert Committee and three internationally recognized professors) will determine the winner.

Have you published interesting scientific work in the area of materials testing?

We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact us

Industry brochure: Academia PDF 4 MB
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Academia Day

Over the years, ZwickRoell Academia Day has become an important event for science and industry where new opportunities and possibilities in intelligent materials testing are discussed.

to Academia Day