Thanasis D. Papathanasiou
Associate Professor
Research Area
Project Overview
I. Structure-oriented Computational Modeling with Applications to Composites
Synopsis: The overall aim of this project is to develop predictive models that link the internal structure of composite materials to their methods of fabrication and to their final properties. The project uses high performance computing to conduct real-microstructure-based simulations under the framework of continuum mechanics. The results of these simulations provide a basis for developing hierarchical, structure-based computational approaches as well as for an evaluation of analytical approaches or variational bounding methods for composite properties. A direct result of this research is the development of quantitative structure-property correlations for the permeability of fibrous media.
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II. Microstructure Characterization and Image Analysis of Composite Structures
Synopsis: The aim of this project is to identify as well as to quantify the meso-scale structures that are characteristic of various classes of manufactured composites. Specific interest is in the areas of liquid molding and pultrusion. This research features the use of large area automated microscopy to capture a large-scale picture (O(cm2)) of the topology of a polished composite surface. Such information provides the necessary basis for multi-scale, real-structure-based computational modeling and can also be linked to experimental property measurements to provide a connection between materials, method of fabrication and the final properties of a manufactured component.
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