Applied Micromechanics of Complex Microstructures explains the fundamental concepts of continuum modeling of various complicated microstructures, covering nanocomposites, multiphase composites, biomaterials, biological materials, and more. The authors outline the calculation of effective mechanical and thermal properties, allowing readers to understand the step-by-step modeling and homogenization of complicated microstructures, and the book also features a chapter on microstructure hull and material design. Modeling of complex samples with nonlinear properties such as neural tissue, bone microstructure, and liver tissue is also explained and analyzed. Explains the core concepts of continuum modeling of different complex microstructures, including nanocomposites, multiphase composites, biomaterials, and biological materials Provides detailed calculations of eff ective mechanical and thermal properties allowing the audience to understand the modeling and homogenization of complex microstructures Covers several methods for designing the microstructure of heterogeneous materials

Applied Micromechanics of Complex Microstructures explains the fundamental concepts of continuum modeling of various complicated microstructures, covering nanocomposites, multi-phase composites, biomaterials, biological materials and more. The authors outline the calculation of effective mechanical and thermal properties, allowing readers to fully understand the step-by-step modeling and homogenization of complicated microstructures, and the book also features a chapter on microstructure hull and materials design. Modeling of complex samples with nonlinear properties such as neural tissue, bone microstructure, and liver tissue is also explained and analyzed.

The strength of metallic materials determines the usability and reliability of all the machines, tools and equipment around us. Yet, the question about which mechanisms control the strength and damage resistance of materials and how they can be optimised remains largely unanswered. How do real, heterogeneous ma- rials deform and fail? Why can a small modification of the microstructure increase the strength and damage resistance of materials manifold? How can the strength of heterogeneous materials be predicted? The purpose of this book is to present different experimental and computational analysis methods of micromechanics of damage and strength of materials and to demonstrate their applications to various micromechanical problems. This book summarizes at a glance some of the publications of the Computational Mechanics Group at the IMWF/MPA Stuttgart, dealing with atomistic, micro- and meso- chanical modelling and experimental analysis of strength and damage of metallic materials. In chapter 1, the micromechanisms of damage and fracture in different groups of materials are investigated experimentally, using direct observations and inverse analysis. The interaction of microstructural elements with the evolving damage is studied in these experiments. Chapter 2 presents different approaches to the - cromechanical simulation of composite materials: embedded unit cells, multiphase finite elements and multiparticle unit cells. Examples of the application of these models to the analysis of deformation and damage in different materials are given. Chapter 3 deals with the methods of numerical modelling of damage evolution and crack growth in heterogeneous materials.

An overview of the micromechanics of materials methods and approaches that can be used for the modelling of wind turbine blade composites is given in this chapter. Using the various modelling methods reviewed here, the strength, stiffness and lifetime of composite materials can be predicted and the suitability of different groups of materials for applications in wind turbine blades can be analysed. The effects of interface and matrix properties, fibre clustering and nanoreinforcement on the strength and lifetime of composites are studied in a number of simulations, and some examples of the analysis of microstructural effects on the strength and fatigue life of composites are provided.

Mechanical properties of composite materials can be improved by tailoring their microstructures. Optimal microstructures of composites, which ensure desired properties of composite materials, can be determined in computational experiments. The subject of this book is the computational analysis of interrelations between mechanical properties (e.g., strength, damage resistance stiffness) and microstructures of composites. The methods of mesomechanics of composites are reviewed, and applied to the modelling of the mechanical behaviour of different groups of composites. Individual chapters are devoted to the computational analysis of the microstructure- mechanical properties relationships of particle reinforced composites, functionally graded and particle clusters reinforced composites, interpenetrating phase and unidirectional fiber reinforced composites, and machining tools materials.

Almost all materials are inhomogeneous at the microscale. Typical examples are fiber- and grain structures made of anisotropic phases. These cannot be accounted for in detail in engineering calculations. Instead, effective, homogeneous material properties are used. These are obtained from the inhomogeneous structures by homogenization methods. This book provides a structured overview of the analytical homogenization methods, including the most common estimates, bounds, and Fourier methods. The focus is on linear and anisotropic constitutive relationships, like Hookean elasticity and Fourier’s law for thermal conduction. All sections are accompanied by example calculations, including program code that is also available online.

The 22nd International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ICTAM) of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics was hosted by the Australasian mechanics community in the city of Adelaide during the last week of August 2008. Over 1200 delegates met to discuss the latest development in the fields of theoretical and applied mechanics. This volume records the events of the congress and contains selected papers from the sectional lectures and invited lectures presented at the congresses six mini-symposia.