Magdalena Rucka

Magdalena Rucka serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanics of Materials and Structures at Gdańsk University of Technology's Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her research focuses on advanced non-destructive testing methodologies for civil infrastructure, specializing in ultrasonic techniques for concrete fracture analysis and structural health monitoring.

Her primary research domains include acoustic emission monitoring, discrete element modeling of microcrack propagation, and sustainable construction solutions using recycled materials. Current investigations center on real-time crack localization in concrete structures, wave attenuation characterization in heterogeneous materials, and repurposing decommissioned wind turbine blades for pedestrian infrastructure. She integrates experimental methods with numerical simulations to develop innovative damage detection frameworks.

Recent publications (2025) demonstrate consistent focus on ultrasonic wave applications in structural diagnostics, with recurring themes in fracture process characterization, real-time monitoring algorithms, and sustainable material reuse. Her work bridges experimental validation with computational modeling across high-impact journals in civil engineering and ultrasonics.

Professor Rucka leads multiple National Science Centre-funded projects including OPUS grants for SMART-S2H3D (multifunctional 3D-printed composites with self-healing capabilities) and micro-macro crack analysis in concrete structures. These projects address critical challenges in structural integrity assessment and sustainable material innovation.

As department head, she oversees research in structural mechanics and non-destructive testing, fostering collaborations on wind turbine blade repurposing and cervical spine failure modeling. Her team develops methodologies for real-time fracture imaging and ultrasonic tomography applicable to concrete and masonry preservation.