Niels Leergaard Pedersen

Niels Leergaard Pedersen is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). His research focuses on machine elements optimization, including gear design, bolt-plate assemblies, and multibody system simulations. He specializes in structural optimization techniques to enhance dynamic characteristics like eigenfrequencies and stress distribution. Pedersen’s work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy through advancements in wind turbine gear systems.

He supervises PhD students such as P. J. D. Freitas (Structural Optimization for Modularization) and S. S. Madsen (Flexible Pavement Dynamics). His research projects span topics like shaft-hub connections, bolt thread optimization, and topology design of vibration modes. Pedersen is affiliated with DTU’s Solid Mechanics research group and maintains websites at mek.dtu.dk and construct.dtu.dk.

His recent publications emphasize optimal design solutions for mechanical systems, including preloaded bolts, shaft-hub joints, and Chladni pattern-based vibration control. Pedersen’s interdisciplinary approach bridges mechanical engineering fundamentals with computational simulation tools for real-world applications in energy systems and infrastructure.