Multiscale Modeling of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes in Design and Development of Lightweight Structures

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From reduced operational costs to improved environmental impact, design using lightweight structures (LWS) is critical to success in many industries including aerospace, biomedical, and nuclear. Whether it is designing a lighter airframe to improve aircraft fuel efficiency or increasing the strength-to-weight ratio of biomedical implants and prosthetics, LWS play a significant role in the development of future technologies. The proposed research that will be conducted involves the expansion of current as well as the development of new multiscale simulation methods for dynamic high temperature modeling of advanced materials and manufacturing processes in the design and development of LWS. Multiscale simulation involves solving problems that have important features at multiple length and time scales in order to accurately model the system from the molecular to the component level. Multiscale modeling of novel LWS technologies is becoming essential as LWS are increasingly being associated with advanced manufacturing methods involving additive manufacturing and nanofabrication. These methods build component level geometries through processes that occur on the macro- and nanoscales and thus require a multiscale approach to accurately predict the resulting component properties and behaviour. Design for LWS through multiscale modeling, along with the advent of new processes for advanced manufacturing of LWS, represents a technological advancement that is currently in a critical stage of research and development. To grow this area, there is a need to develop innovative simulation techniques that can account for the unique and complex physical effects that act on multiple length and timescales, while reducing the current reliance on time consuming and expensive experiments. However, a number of existing issues within the field of multiscale modeling persist. These issues include timescale restrictions associated with dynamic atomistic-to-continuum scale modeling, seamless transfer of thermal properties between length and time scales, adaptive resizing of concurrent multiscale model domains, and bridging nano- to micro-scale modeling with micro- to macroscale simulations. To meet these needs, the proposed research program will develop novel dynamic multiscale modeling techniques, together with proven multiscale techniques already established within the applicant's research lab at UofT, to investigate the mechanical behaviour of advanced materials and manufacturing methods used in the design and development of LWS. The growing demand along with the increased integration of advanced material and manufacturing processes in aerospace, biomedical, and nuclear industries will ensure that design and implementation of LWS through accurate multiscale modeling techniques will help promote economic growth in Canada and countries with a strong presence in these industries.