Numerical
Concrete
Finite Elements
Why it matters
Modelling the post-peak behaviour of brittle materials such as concrete is still a challenge for computational mechanics, because of the strong nonlinearities during softening and the complexity of the yield criterion under generic triaxial stress states. The project tackles the problem at the meso-scale, where the local confinement exerted on the cement paste by the surrounding aggregates becomes decisive.
What you'll do
- Develop or use nonlinear constitutive models for brittle materials.
- Develop or use cohesive contact mechanics algorithms.
- Get to know Abaqus user subroutines (UMAT) in depth.
- Get to know 3D CAD, 3D scanning and industrial tomography in depth.
- Build 3D meso-scale models with commercial FEM codes.
Prerequisites
- Knowledge of FEM simulations from the Computational Mechanics course (or equivalent).
- Basic programming skills (MATLAB or any other language) are useful if you want to take part in developing the user subroutines.
Tools
- Abaqus, for the FEM simulations.
- FORTRAN, for developing the user subroutines.
- 3D CAD, for handling the geometry of the aggregates.
- 3D scanner and industrial tomography, to acquire the real geometry of the specimens (depending on availability).
Supervisor
Prof. Gianluca Mazzucco · gianluca.mazzucco@unipd.it