Maly Kharitonyevsky pereulok, 4, 101830, Moscow, Russia.

tel. (095) 928 87 30

Machinery Research Institute of A.A.Blagonravov's name (IMACH) was set up in 1938 under the auspices of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Department of Engineering Sciences. The history of IMACH is closely related with the formation and development of Soviet and Russian engineering science, with creation of new design of machines, with development and perfection of various branches of engineering. IMACH took the lead in organisation of machines sciences in Russia.

The first director of IMACH was academician Ye. Chudakov, one of the founders and creators of the Russian school of engineering. Academician A. Blagonravov headed the institute from February 1954 for more than 20 years. He was the outstanding specialist in mechanics, automatic systems, artillery, missiles and space technology.

Fundamental scientific schools have been created in the institute by academicians I.Artobolevsky, N. Bruyevich, V. Dikushin, Yu. Rabotnov, S. Serensen, V. Kononenko.

At present research at the institute is conducted in the following main directions:

Development of theoretic and analytical methods of synthesising drive-mechanism-control complexes with optimised properties such as structural, power, mass, metrology, velocity, resource and control characteristics; development of mechatronic systems theory; methods of technical diagnostics and certification of machines and mechanisms; development of computer methods for optimisation of the structure of technological equipment on the basis of imitation modelling; development of new principals of module construction of manufacturing lines; research in the field of complex mechanical systems dynamics and control. IMACH developments in the field of dynamic systems control allows to solve such problems as creation of: adaptive manual control system of MIG21BIS aircraft; adaptive system of automatic approach landing for MIG29 aircraft.

Development of: approaches, criteria and methods for ensuring safety of machines, constructions, complex engineering systems, as well as people and environment; methods, algorithms and programs for calculation of strength, reliability and service life of engineering systems with consideration of real conditions of loads, non-linear effects and maintenance risk; testing benches apparatuses for experimental substantiation of designs and engineering solutions for creating and maintaining the existing and entirely new high risk machines and constructions. IMACH researchers contributed a lot to substantiation of reliability, life service and safety of major power engineering machines, such as:

• unique hydraulic and thermal turbines of 200-1200 MVt power for thermal and hydraulic power stations;
• reactors on thermal neutrons for atomic power stations (VVER-440, VVER-1000);
• Energia-Buran space rocket systems.

Development of methods for ensuring reliability and means of driving forecasts of life service and reliability of friction units of machines under wear- criteria and criteria of energy losses by friction; development of the theory of boundary, hydrodynamic and contact hydrodynamic lubrication; creation of high quality lubricants including magnetoreologic, liquid and powder ones; development of methods of physical and mathematical simulation of tribologic processes, accelerated testing of friction units and creation of testing equipment; development of methods for increasing contact strength of machine parts by means of improving joints configuration. In particular laser technology of application metal-ceramic coats on friction surfaces of joints and machines, working under strong abrasive affect and high loads.

Development of analytical models and computer simulations for research of dynamic man-machine-environment systems; search for most efficient algorithms of complex technical systems control to ensure the most comfortable conditions for the operator; analyses and employment of vibrotactil effects for transferring information to man as well as for prophylactics, treatment and rehabilitation; development of the basic theory for controlling catastrophic dynamic processes, which simulate real technogenic and natural disasters, to minimise damage; development of methods for managing dynamic characteristics of mechanical acoustic systems, such as a truck body, to improve ergonomic characteristics such as noise or vibration levels at the operator place; development of testing and measuring devices for the assessment of the operator condition affected by various factors; development of principles and creation of experimental samples of innovative systems of operator and machine protection from vibration including space equipment. A mathematical simulation of vibration loading and dempening of spaceships elements was proposed.

Development of scientific basis for less noisy machines and constructions; development of theory of farming machine vibroacoustic fields, and methods of vibration control in the sources of acoustic waves and on the ways of their spreading; development of engineering methods for vibroacoustic designing of machines, mechanisms and constructions; development of methods and means for active and passive protection from vibration, development of methods of vibroacoustic detection of defects in elastic structures; creation of complex constructions for research of static and dynamic load of elements of kinematics pairs of heavily loaded machines in experimental and natural conditions.

The institute participates in many government programs and projects (machines and technologies of the future, new materials, technology of the North, etc.), in developments in the field of space technology, aviation, power engineering (including nuclear power), robotics, new technological processes. IMACH has initiated and is the developer and scientific co-ordinator of the state scientific and technological program on protection of population and industrial enterprises against the risk of natural and manmade disasters.

IMACH takes an active part in the activities of the task group under RAS President on analysis of risk and safety problems, as well as in the RAS Council for the joint action with Moscow government.

Besides, IMACH has done and is doing research under state scientific and technological programs, resolutions and plans of joint work of a number of ministries and departments such as:

• the complex program called Fundamental Research on Problems of Engineering, Mechanics and Control Processes;
• the state scientific and technical program Research and Development in Priority Trends of Science and Technology for Civil Purposes;
• the state scientific and technical program Technologies, Machines and Industries of the Future;
• the state scientific and technical program New Technologies and Materials;
• the state program State support of Integrating Higher Education and Fundamental Science 1997-2000;
• the international scientific and technical project Modern Methods of Ensuring Wearless Friction in Sliding Joints;
• the international scientific and technical project Extension of Service Life of Machines and Instruments. Methods of Evaluation of Strengthened Surfaces;
• the problem of Space Physics of Metals;
• the plan Complex Forecast on the Problems of Engineering, Mechanics and Control Processes;
• the program Development of Laser Technology in Engineering and Metal Processing.

IMACH is extensively engaged in publishing activities. Numerous books are written on fundamental problems of engineering. Noteworthy is a two volume reference book "Machine Designing"; a six volume encyclopaedia "Vibration in Technology"; a forty volume edition of engineering encyclopaedia. IMACH supervises the edition of such periodicals as Problems of Engineering and Reliability of Machines and an international journal Problems of Engineering and Automatization.