The Institute has been founded in 1956 (with its first organisational structures in 1953). It was destined to conduct fundamental research in the area of principles of operation, design, construction and developemnt of machinery for energy conversion in flows. Presently, the investigations are being carried out in the following fields: fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, thermodynamics and heat transfer, plasma physics, laser technique, machine mechanics, tribology and diagnostics of power sector machinery.

In its structure the Institute has four departments divided further into 18 scientific groups.
Apart from the fundamental research, the Institute offers its services in the area of practical engineering applications such as: turbines, pumps and hydrokinetic couplings, ventillators, marine propellers, solar collectors; their design, calculation and technical expertise; development of unique equipment and apparatus.

The IMP-PAN carried out research in fields of fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, thermodynamics, heat transfer, machine mechanics, tribology, diagnostics of power sector machinery, steam gas and wind turbines, SHM, intelligent materials. Department of Mechanics of Intelligent Structures works theoretically and experimentally in: SHM (based on fibre optic sensors, guided waves, infrared thermography,), vibration control, structural dynamics, intelligent and composite materials. Department of Transonic Flows and Numerical Methods perform experimental and numerical investigations of the physics of shock wave and boundary layer interaction. Transonic and subsonic wind tunnels will be used for wind turbines models measures. IMP is supervised by the Polish Centre of Accreditation, the IMP standards comply to ISO 9001:2000. International cooperation with DLR, ONERA, CIRA and the universities of Karlsruhe and Cambridge.

Key Facilities and Infrastructure

Transonic and Subsonic Lab.: Intermittent wind tunnel (25 sec run time; 5 min interval), (100 mm x 350 mm) for supersonic and transonic flows. Well equipped with pressure measurement and optical methods. Wind tunnel (up to 100 m/s) in closed loop, continuous work, (400mm x600mm). Lab. of Active Materials and Smart Structures: 3D laser scanning vibrometer, test set-up for wave propagation.