Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM

From Aviation Pioneers to Curved Tubes – Quirin Hoesch's Path to a Doctorate at the Fraunhofer ITWM

Introducing: PhD Student Quirin Hoesch

Quirin Hoesch has been a doctoral student in the »Mathematics for the Digital Factory« department at Fraunhofer ITWM since January 1, 2023. Two years after starting, he has reached the halfway point of his doctorate – a good time to introduce him and his research in more detail: 

»I completed a Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering and then a Master's degree in computational engineering, both at Munich University of Applied Sciences,« says the 28-year-old. »I'm an engineer by background and at the beginning, not only Kaiserslautern, but also the math world of the institute was new to me. The terminology in particular was a challenge and I first had to find my way around.«

However, the topics were not completely foreign to him. The 'Computational Engineering' course focuses on precisely those methods that also play a central role at the Fraunhofer ITWM – from digital twins to artificial intelligence. Today, product development is primarily carried out using virtual methods and modern mathematics is the basis for innovations and simulations in the trending topics of Industry 4.0 or machine learning.

Searching for Clues with Simulations: Was Gustav Weisskopf the First?

»In principle, my Master's thesis was also applied mathematics and physics, but it was historical,« enthuses Quirin, explaining: »The question of who made the first powered flight is not clearly answered.« The German museum attributes the first motorized flight to the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1903. But there is an alternative theory: Gustav Weisskopf (also known as Gustave Whitehead) is said to have flown successfully as early as 1901 – two years earlier. Quirin wanted to clarify precisely this question with simulations: Was Whitehead's plane even airworthy? 

Among other things, the focus was on the »structural-mechanical analysis« of the wings, but also on the bamboo construction material that Weißkopf used for the wings. Would the wings have been able to bear the aerodynamic loads? Quirin thus incorporated very different dimensions into his simulations. After completing his work, his supervisor recommended that he consider a doctorate. However, as exciting and relevant as the topic was for experts, there was no financial support for a doctoral thesis. 

Old Pressure in New Tubes Between Kaiserslautern and Darmstadt

»I wanted to learn more, deepen my knowledge and better understand complex relationships.« The right topic had to be found first. The doctoral position at the Fraunhofer ITWM in Kaiserslautern came at just the right time. Without knowing the city beforehand, he applied – even after the application deadline. »It was a stroke of luck: the advertised doctoral position had already been filled. But I was still allowed to start at the institute as a doctoral student. A completely new doctoral position was created for me, which dealt with an open research topic.« From the simulation of historical airplanes to curved hoses – the leap seems big. But in both cases, it's about mathematical models, physical loads and the simulation of complex structures.

Now it's no longer about powered flight, but today he is working on the complex deformations of fiber-reinforced hoses. Since 2023, he has been researching in the Palatinate how these structures can be mathematically described and simulated – a challenge that demands at least as much pioneering spirit from him as his foray into aviation history.

Interview Quirin Hoesch
© Fraunhofer ITWM
Doktorand Quirin Hoesch erzählt über seine Forschung zu faserverstärkten Schläuchen. Die Untersuchung der mathematischen Modelle und Verformungen stellt eine echte Herausforderung dar.

Valuable Insights for the Doctorate – And Advice for Students

The exact title of his thesis is »Analysis and simulation of preformed, fiber-reinforced hoses under internal pressure – 3D continuum and rod models«. He is currently not only the only doctoral student, but also the only scientist in his department who is explicitly working on the simulation of hoses – a situation that presents challenges: »You are often very alone with your research during a doctorate, you have to be very independent, but this also gives me the freedom to organize my work and time myself,« explains Quirin. The topic arose from questions from a previous project. The main goal: to identify relevant deformation effects from the knowledge gained and analyze their transferability to the existing mathematical models of the software for cable and hose simulations. »Many areas of application could benefit from this – from cars and commercial vehicles to excavators, trains and airplanes. Although I treat hoses as flexible components, some aspects can also be transferred to the behavior of components in pressure vessels. It's very wide-ranging.«

Research also means pressure – and not just in the scientific sense. Quirin advises students who are considering a doctorate: »If you want to learn a lot professionally, deepen your knowledge and develop personally, then a doctoral thesis is the right way to go,« says Quirin. »But you shouldn't expect there to be ONE right, prescribed solution. If you want to do a doctorate, you need a certain amount of dialectical thinking. You shouldn't do it just for the title, just for career reasons. You have to enjoy working independently and be able to tolerate frustration.«

Between Three Cities and Many Interests

It is not only the Fraunhofer ITWM that accompanies Quirin's path: his doctoral supervisor, Dipl.-Phys. Henning Müller, teaches continuum mechanics at the TU Darmstadt. This makes Darmstadt the third city, alongside Kaiserslautern and Munich, that has become an integral part of his everyday and private life. He also has a wide range of interests outside of research: »As I no longer live in Munich, I only play sporadically in my band. My instruments are the tenor horn and occasionally the ukulele. Music has always played a role in my life – my parents are both professional orchestral musicians.« In addition to music, his hobbies include soccer, running and reading – a welcome balance to his doctorate.

Whether in science or music, Quirin brings patience, perseverance and the will to understand structures and develop them further. And who knows? Perhaps he will stay at the Fraunhofer ITWM after his doctorate and continue to work on making the world of hoses even more predictable and simulatable.

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