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Material simulation

The Computational Mechanics and Materials Lab (CMM) of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg focuses on research at the interface of materials and components within the framework of ICME (Integrated Computational Material Engineering). To this end, modeling approaches are developed to describe the influence of materials on component behavior under complex loading conditions using numerical tools and data analysis.

The improved understanding of material and mechanical behavior should lead to more intelligent, multifunctional, safe and sustainable component systems. Major topics include structural mechanics, fracture, damage and microstructure modeling, optimization, multi-scale component analysis, fatigue, fluid-structure interaction and biomechanics.

Services

Shear specimen (left) and tensile specimen (right) - simulation vs. experiment
Shear specimen (left) and tensile specimen (right) – simulation vs. experiment

Test options and measurement methods

  • Validation of design and calculation by experimental testing under operating conditions
  • Mechanical characterization of materials using modern high-performance measurement technology
  • Coupling to FE structural analysis
  • Selection of test geometries based on component operating conditions

    • Stress state effects
    • Application of common standardization

    Application-specific test conditions

    • Mechanical anisotropy
    • Thermal test conditions
    • Strain rate effects
    • Cyclic load types

Modeling and simulation capabilities

  • Consideration of nonlinear deformation behavior
  • Crack propagation simulation by damage mechanics models
  • Finite element based multi-physics simulation
  • Computational lifetime analysis
  • Topology optimization
  • Mesh generation for the use of CT data in FE simulations
  • Development of multi-scale model approaches for component design
  • Modeling

    • Discretization of the component geometry
    • Model generation based on CT data and derivation of FE meshes
    • Mapping of the operating and load conditions

    Selection of linear or non-linear material models, formulation of constitutive equations.

    • Thermal effects
    • Strain rate effects, viscosity
    • Mechanical anisotropy
    • Stress state effects
    • Application of damage mechanics models for ductile and brittle failure

    Fluid simulations

    • Mapping of fluid mechanical loads in pressure vessel and pipeline applications
    • Calculation of complex thermodynamic processes during the decompression of multi-phase gases

    Multi-physical models

    • Transient load transfer of dynamic pressure distributions
    • Bidirectional Fluid Structure Analysis

    Identification of the model parameters

    • Numerical optimization methods
    • Inverse parameter determination

    Design optimization of components

    • Parametric optimization
    • Topology optimization
Simulation vs. experiment of a notched bar impact test
Simulation vs. experiment of a notched bar impact test
Fluid-structure interactions during the bursting of a pipeline
Fluid-structure interactions during the bursting of a pipeline
Stent expansion: simulation (left) and experiment (CT scan, right) in comparison.
Stent expansion: simulation (left) and experiment (CT scan, right) in comparison.
Simulation of the stent crimping process and subsequent balloon expansion
Simulation of the stent crimping process and subsequent balloon expansion
Simulation of balloon expansion in an arterial model.
Simulation of balloon expansion in an arterial model.
Simulation of a BDWT (Batelle Drop Weight Tear Test)
Simulation of a BDWT (Batelle Drop Weight Tear Test)

Computational component safety verification

Fracture mechanical evaluation of components and welded structures

  • Determination of characteristic values: strength and toughness values by standardized laboratory tests
  • Computational exclusion of failure cases
  • Evaluation and impact of existing weak points and cracks

Service life analyses under cyclic operating conditions

  • Analysis of fatigue behavior (crack propagation rate) in the LCF and HCF range.
  • Numerical mapping of the fatigue behavior

Materials and questions

Materials

  • Steel and aluminum alloys from various manufacturing processes (heavy plates, thin plates, additive manufacturing, foams)
  • Soil material
  • Simple and rich natural gases, CO2 mixtures, H2 mixtures, room air, water

Typical questions

  • How can a material-compatible component design be achieved?
  • Which material parameters provide information on component safety under operating conditions?
  • What is the load-bearing capacity of the component after cracking or with a defect in place?
  • Can the material properties be better exploited by optimizing the topology of a component?
  • What laboratory tests and test conditions are needed to parameterize the numerical models?
  • At what level of detail are multi-physical load cases to be mapped?
  • What material effects must be considered to adequately represent the loading case?
  • Which material model is suitable for describing the material behavior in the application?

Industries & Partners

Medical Technology

Processing, design, aortic stents, coronary stents.

Projects: NewGen Stent, Aortic Gen-i Stent

Construction

Solid and steel construction

Mechanical Engineering

welded constructions, pressure vessel construction

Power Engineering

Pipelines, pressure vessel applications, decompression behavior

projects: Crack propagation in pipelines

Automotive

Crash simulation, deep drawing

Resources

High-performance computer with current hardware equipment

Software packages:

  • Simulation tools: ANSYS, ABAQUS, MSCOne and LS-Dyna
  • Thermodynamics: GERG-2008
  • Structural optimization: TOSCA
  • CAD Tools: Catia, Solid Edge, CREO
  • 3D image processing and model generation: Simpleware ScanIP

Peripherals for extending the software packages with special material, fluid and load models

In cooperation with other testing institutes:

  • Electro-mechanical universal testing machine Zwick Inspektdesk 250kN with climatic chamber
  • Servo hydraulic testing machine for dynamic material testing
  • micro, macro CT

Projects

Publications

55 entries « 1 of 11 »

2025

Qiao, Y.; Grad, M.; Nonn, A.

Toward an Efficient and Robust Process–Structure Prediction Framework for Filigree L-PBF 316L Stainless Steel Structures Werkstoffsimulation Journal Article

In: Metals, vol. 15, no. 7, 2025, ISSN: 2075-4701.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

2024

Nonn, A.; Marx, P.

Validated Multiphysics Modeling For Advanced Pipeline Integrity Management Werkstoffsimulation Conference

ADIPEC, November 4–7, 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2024.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Marx, P.; Nonn, A.

Advancing CO2 Pipeline Safety: Innovative Predictive Approaches and their Application in On- and Offshore Ductile Fracture Assessment Werkstoffsimulation Proceedings Article

In: Proceedings of Pipeline Technology Conference 2024, 2024, ISSN: 2510-6716.

Abstract | BibTeX

2023

Nonn, A.; Kiss, B.; Pezeshkian, W.; Tancogne-Dejean, T.; Cerrone, A.; Kellermayer, M.; Bai, Y.; Li, W.; Wierzbicki, T.

Inferring mechanical properties of the SARS-CoV-2 virus particle with nano-indentation tests and numerical simulations Werkstoffsimulation Journal Article

In: Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, vol. 148, 2023, ISSN: 1751-6161.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Wiesent, L.; Stocker, F.; Nonn, A.

Investigating the influence of geometric parameters on the deformation of laser powder bed fused stents using low-fidelity thermo-mechanical analysis Werkstoffsimulation Journal Article

In: Materialia, vol. 28, pp. 101774, 2023, ISSN: 2589-1529.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

55 entries « 1 of 11 »

Team