Bachelor- or Master thesis
Topic of the work:
Plastics can be mixed with a filler such as fibers to improve their mechanical properties. Depending on the processing method, however, a typical material morphology results at the micro level, which strongly influences the macroscopic properties. For the prediction and investigation of these properties, finite element models are used, which represent the matrix material and the inclusions in the micro level. However, the solution of such models with implicit calculation methods is very time-consuming and cost-intensive due to the required model size, as these solution methods scale quadratically with the degrees of freedom and thus the number of elements of the model. With the fast Fourier transform (FFT), a mathematical method was developed that shows a solution methodology for this problem class that scales only slightly with the number of elements of the model. This means that stress and distortion analyses can also be carried out for large models in a reasonable amount of time.
With a thesis at IKV, you have the opportunity to acquire comprehensive knowledge in the field of numerical problem solving and to implement the knowledge acquired during your studies in a practical way.
© IKVThe work is related to this research project:
The mechanical properties of multiphase plastics resulting from the manufacturing process cannot yet be fully described. This is mainly due to the fact that the interactions of the constituents at the micro level are difficult to characterize experimentally. However, the models required to analyze these interactions cannot be solved in a reasonable amount of time, so that some effects such as material fatigue or the formation of residual stresses can only be taken into account with a high degree of certainty during component development. As part of the working group, you will contribute to research into mechanical interactions and thus support IKV in making the use of plastics as a construction material safe and sustainable.
Objective:
The aim of the project work is to implement a solution methodology that enables the solution of the constitutive equations for nonlinear distortion and stress analysis using the FFT. This implemented solution methodology should be able to process the FE models generated by the existing RVE generator. The results are to be validated by comparing the calculated stress and distortion values with the conventional, implicit FEM.
Your task:
| For a Bachelor's thesis you will work on the following tasks | For a Master's thesis you will work on the following tasks |
| Familiarization with and literature research into the finite element and FFT methods as well as existing micro-models | Familiarization with and literature research into the finite element and FFT methods as well as existing micro-models |
| Research and implementation of a solution methodology for nonlinear material behavior in an already existing FFT solver | Research and implementation of a solution methodology for nonlinear material behavior in an already existing FFT solver |
| Validation of the calculation results for small micromechanical models by comparing them with the implicit FEM | Validation of the calculation results for small micromechanical models by comparing them with the implicit FEM |
| Code optimization for the calculation of large models using techniques such as multithreading and parallelization |
Your profile:
- Enrolled student of a STEM subject
- Independent and quality-conscious way of working
- Interest in programming and simulation
- Ideally initial experience in solver development
Has this vacancy piqued your interest?
Then apply!