Motivation

I-FRC typically consist of an elastomer matrix, an integrated active material (e.g. a dielectric elastomer actuator) and embedded fiber reinforcement structures. The functionality of I-FRC mainly depends on the interaction between matrix, external stimulation and the mechanical response of the integrated active material. According to the specific active material selected for a composite structure, stimulation is based on the induced thermal, electrical and magnetic field. In order to predict the response behavior of this highly homogeneous material taking into consideration the interaction of different fields, suitable mathematical solutions for the constitutive behavior and efficient computational simulation approaches must be developed.

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State of the art and preliminary research

The numerical modeling of the multiphysical behavior of structural components is based on a thermo-electro-mechanical constitutive model and a corresponding finite element environment that was developed within the 1st cohort and includes various multiphysical couplings between thermal, mechanical and electrical fields [1-4] (see image). The description of the imperfect bond between different components and resulting delamination is based on a thermo-mechanical interface element. The foundation for numerical structural simulation of composites is multi-physical homogenization that provides effective material properties and the transition between various length scales in an efficient manner (decoupled homogenization [5]). This fundamental approach [5] has not yet been developed for three-field-homogenization or the previously mentioned fields (thermal, electrical, mechanical). The 2nd cohort will be aimed at closing this research gap.

Scientific questions and project objectives

One objective of SP 6 involves the development of a homogenization approach for thermo-electro-mechanical field parameters. The multi-scale and multi-physical transition between length scales for the three-field-issue requires efficient computational methods. The already existing (over the length scales) decoupled (thermo-mechanically fully coupled) two-field-approach is extended by a third (electrical or magnetic) field. The damage evolution at the interface between matrix and reinforcement structure will be taken into account by a suitable interface formulation. Therefore, in a first step, a macroscopic material model is generated that can adequately describe the fully coupled material response as well as effective properties including all relevant physical phenomena. Moreover, boundary conditions for a yet to be defined representative volume element (RVE) for the homogenization of heterogeneous characteristica will be established. Finally, the properties of the macroscopic material model will be identified using the homogenization of RVE to realize effective structural simulations on a large length scale. In addition to the two-scale thermo-electro-mechanical approach, a magneto-mechanical extension will be developed for both models and simulation approaches.

References

Contact

Institute of Structural Analysis (ISD), Faculty of Civil Engineering, TU Dresden

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head of the institute

Name

Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Michael Kaliske

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