An academic lecture will address the application of theoretical mechanics in the analysis of extreme processes and the development of optimal solutions

On May 26 at 15:00, online on the MS Teams platform, Professor of the RTU Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering and corresponding member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Jānis Vība will deliver an academic lecture titled “Application of Theoretical Mechanics Methods in the Analysis of Extreme Processes and the Development of Optimal Solutions.” The lecture by J. Vība will conclude this academic year’s series of academic lectures.

In the lecture, the professor will focus on the importance of theoretical mechanics in building a foundation of fundamental knowledge in education and science, emphasizing that it is precisely fundamental knowledge in any field that develops the ability to think critically, promotes the emergence of new insights, and helps to operate effectively in a changing world. It will be explained that theoretical mechanics, as a subfield of physics, studies the laws of motion and interaction of material bodies based on Newton’s laws, and its subdisciplines — statics, kinematics, and kinetostatics — form the basis for many branches of engineering, including strength of materials, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, mechatronics, and numerical methods (FEM), among others.

The lecture will also address the role of theoretical mechanics in the creation of mathematical models for real physical systems, which is essential in scientific and research work. The professor will provide an overview of the development of teaching materials for theoretical mechanics courses in Latvian universities during the post‑war period, including highlighting his own involvement in the publication of textbooks, as well as comparing the level of engineering mechanics courses in Latvian and U.S. universities.

The lecture will also highlight the role of RTU scientists in developing a new method for analyzing processes of oblique collisions of bodies using theoretical mechanics methods. It will be proposed to supplement the course of theoretical mechanics with a section on the description of optimal control of objects and interaction processes.

In the practical part, the professor will demonstrate the application of mechanics methods in the analysis of extreme processes, presenting examples from complex expert assessments in mechanics, physics, chemistry, and medicine, as well as expert evaluations of monumental buildings in Riga carried out by RTU. Specific examples will be used to illustrate expert analysis of extreme processes in engineering, technology, and everyday situations. The latest research in mechanics will also be presented in three directions: simultaneous collisions of objects at multiple points, optimal control in vibro‑impact systems, as well as analysis and synthesis of non‑stationary motion of flying and diving objects. The lecture will be supplemented with visual examples.

Join the academic lecture on MS Teams (meeting ID: 399 289 070 063 079; access code: w4JD6ae6).

Students, researchers, academic staff, and other interested parties are invited to participate in the event. Participation in the academic lectures is free of charge and does not require prior registration.

The RTU Council of Academicians is an advisory body composed of current and former RTU employees — academicians and corresponding members of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. The Council was established to promote the exchange of views among academicians and the transfer of experience. Its Chair is Latvian Academy of Sciences academician Leonīds Ribickis.