We have an open position as a PhD student in the area of fracture mechanics of fibre composites. The focus of the position is to develop element test specimens, i.e., test specimens that are purposely-designed with the aim of checking the accuracy of model predictions of damage evolution (two or more damage types) in composite structures subjected to static and cyclic loading
See the full advertisement here: https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/vacant-positions/job?id=a5554a64-b00d-446a-a19e-6dfe428860a8
Over the last years, UGent-MMS has developed the stand-alone BladeMesher software for generating finite element models of large wind turbine blades. The software reads in the material data and airfoil data of the wind turbine blade, and automatically constructs the geometry and finite element mesh for the blade. In a next step, the nodal and element information of the finite element mesh is written out to an input file for a commercial finite element solver (Abaqus in this case). As such, all features of a state-of-the-art finite element solver can be used to simulate the mechanical behaviour of the composite blade.
The concept of the BladeMesher software is described in the journal paper "Peeters, M., Santo, G., Degroote, J. and Van Paepegem, W. (2018). High-fidelity finite element models of composite wind turbine blades with shell and solid elements. Composite Structures, 200, 521-531" (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2018.05.091).
The BladeMesher software is programmed in the Python language and counts more than 30,000 lines of code.
In this project, the BladeMesher software is further developed to include additional features for detailed modelling of adhesive joints (with cohesive elements). Further the computational mechanics of thick adhesive joints will be studied by finite element modelling. The properties of the bulk adhesive and interaction with the composite substrates will be included in the FEM models.
The project is funded by FWO-Vlaanderen and is a collaboration between Ghent University, Free University of Brussels (VUB) and EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland). The researcher at Ghent University will be closely collaborating with two other PhD students at VUB and EPFL.
The research study at Ghent University is purely numerical, while the experimental work will be done at the two other universities.
Only candidates with a Master degree should apply. The candidate should have a strong interest in software development and finite element modelling. The candidate should have strong programming skills and computational mechanics background.
More information can be found on:
https://composites.ugent.be/PhD_job_vacancies_PhD_job_positions_composit...
Dear iMechanicians,
Please find below a paper, co-authored with Ivan Cuesta and Norman Fleck, on the mode II fracture of elastic-plastic sandwich layers. The paper is part of the special issue in the Journal of Applied Mechanics dedicated to John Hutchinson's 80th anniversary and the Century Fracture Mechanics Summit.
E. Martínez-Pañeda, I.I. Cuesta, N.A. Fleck. Mode II fracture of an elastic-plastic sandwich layer. Journal of Applied Mechanics, 87(3): 031001
The shear strength of a pre-cracked sandwich layer is predicted, assuming that the layer is linear elastic or elastic-plastic, with yielding characterized either by the J2 plasticity theory or by a strip-yield model. The substrates are elastic and of dissimilar modulus to that of the layer. Two geometries are analyzed: (i) a semi-infinite crack in a sandwich layer, subjected to a remote mode II K-field and (ii) a center-cracked sandwich plate of finite width under remote shear stress. For the semi-infinite crack, the near-tip stress field is determined as a function of elastic mismatch, and crack tip plasticity is either prevented (the elastic case) or duly accounted for (the elastic-plastic case). Analytical and numerical solutions are then obtained for the center-cracked sandwich plate of the finite width. First, a mode II K-calibration is obtained for a finite crack in the elastic sandwich layer. Second, the analysis is extended to account for crack tip plasticity via a mode II strip-yield model of finite strength and finite toughness. The analytical predictions are verified by finite element simulations, and a failure map is constructed in terms of specimen geometry and crack length.
The Section of Composites and Materials Mechanics at the Department of Wind Energy, the Technical University of Denmark seeks a resesearcher for experimental (e.g. determination of cohesive laws) and modelling (finite element simulation using cohesive zone modelling) work. Apply electronically no later than May 13th via http://www.dtu.dk/english/career/job?id=bd1b6714-648d-48b5-823b-f818133fe388