Material and calculation mechanics
Models of the mechanical behaviour of materials are important for finite element analyses where the influence of materials in structures and the behaviour of materials themselves are studied. Materials are modelled at the continuum level or micro level, depending on the application.
The picture shows the bending field around a hole in a loaded plate: to the left using non-contact measurement methods, and to the right as calculated by finite element analysis.
Materials that are investigated are metallic materials, polymers, ballast, concrete and rock materials. Non-contact methods enable measurement of local strain fields and determination of different material parameters to be determined.
Micro-level modelling is used to investigate aspects such as the grain structure of a metal and the metal's various phases. Multi-scale models, investigating several scales sizes at the same time, make it possible to design the microstructure of a material in order to achieve desired macro-scale properties.
Material modelling requires tests in order to obtain data for the material parameters for use in the model, and also in order to decide what type and complexity of material model is optimum in cost terms.