Keywords: constitutive equations, damage mechanics, composite materials, nano-composites, aircraft structures

 

By formulating different material systems based on the same micromechanical foundations, more efficient development of their constitutive equations and faster implementation to real structures and systems will be enabled. The main problem to be addressed is the numerical cost of developed algorithms: is it possible to solve them with the available computational equipment and what is the effort to be put into algorithms optimization in order for models to be applicable on real structures and within acceptable timeframe. Models based on physically realistic assumptions, contribute to greater efficiency of composite structures, more reliable stress/strain analysis and, due to favourable strength (stiffness) vs. mass ratios, significant reduction of airplane structural weight. Application of damage mechanics through evaluation of damage initiation and propagation by means of internal state variables will enable prediction of the residual mechanical properties of composite structures, as well as residual load carrying capacity. Micromechanical principles are to be applied as the basis for definition of constitutive equations in biological materials, enabling creation of biomimetic analogies and transfer of design concepts from living into technical environment. The basic research of prospective nano-composites applications in the future aircraft structures will be initiated. Successful completion of tasks within the project will enable better cooperation with European scientific community, where some of the most important areas are aeronautics and nano-technology, also one of the long term strategic research goals in Croatia.

 

Collaborators: Prof. Dr. Sc. Ivica Smojver (head and principal investigator), Prof. Dr.Sc. Tanja Jurcevic-Lulic, Prof. Dr. Sc. Tomislav Filetin, Darko Ivancevic, MAE