About us
Our department brings together dedicated academics, researchers, and staff committed to advancing structural engineering through teaching and research.
History and development
The Department of Steel Structures and Structural Mechanics (CMMC) was established in 1948 under the leadership of Academician Professor Emeritus Dr. H.C. Dan Mateescu.
In 1961, the current department building and the Steel Structures Laboratory, located at 1 I. Curea Street, Timișoara, were inaugurated.
Between 1981 and 1985, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Eng. Ioan Munteanu, the department was renamed the Department of Steel Structures and Structural Mechanics (CMMC), a name that has been preserved to this day. After 1990, in accordance with the University Charter, the department became the Department of Steel Structures and Structural Mechanics.
Scientific conferences and international events
Since 1973, the CMMC Department has organised the Conference on Steel Structures every three years. Initially held as a national event with international participation, the conference became an international event starting in 1997.
In 2006, the 11th International Conference was organised under the title “Steel – A New and Traditional Material for Construction”, taking place on 20–22 September in Poiana Brașov, together with the Annual General Meeting of the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS).
International research conferences
In 1992, the department initiated the series of international conferences on Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures (CIMS).
In 1994, it launched the series of international conferences dedicated to Steel Structures in Seismic Areas (STESSA).
In 1999, Timișoara hosted the Eastern European Session of the International Colloquium on Stability and Ductility of Steel Structures (SDSS).
Professional associations and international cooperation
Through the Department of Steel Structures and Structural Mechanics, Politehnica University Timișoara became a founding member in 2001 of the professional engineering association Romanian Association for Steel Construction, affiliated with the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS).
Between 2005 and 2006, the department director, Prof. Dr. Eng. Dan Dubina, served as President of the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS).