Modeling
In the field of modelling, various topics are investigated in close cooperation with other working groups at the MRM. In addition to access to the university's own computing cluster, three multi-core workstations and various FEM software packages are available.
Material modeling
Especially for the material class of fibre composites we investigate new calculation methods to consider the influence of the material microstructure. Depending on the problem, either homogenization approaches or direct multiscale approaches are applied. The focus is on the one hand on the further development of effective material models for fiber-reinforced materials, but also on the detailed description of the fracture process. In addition to other approaches, methods for the direct extraction of characteristic features from volumetric measurement methods are also being pursued.
Test methods
For the optimization of evaluation algorithms and for a better understanding of the test methods used, these are accompanied numerically. Particularly for the analysis of highly dynamic phenomena (e.g. acoustic emission analysis), computational approaches have been developed which allow a detailed description of the process. This often requires the mapping of different physical processes, e.g. coupled mechanical and thermodynamic or electrodynamic processes. Various validated calculation approaches are available to map non-destructive testing methods such as ultrasonic testing, acoustic emission analysis, thermography or electromagnetic emission. In the field of mechanical testing methods, calculation approaches for the representation of micromechanical testing methods such as single fiber push-out or fiber fragmentation are also available.
Design
We use established calculation approaches for the design of test fixtures as well as for the design of test specimens. In addition to classical stiffness calculations, we also carry out analyses of buckling stability and self-resonance analyses. These are mainly used for dimensioning and evaluation of internally designed test fixtures.