Fundamental studies of the modeling and analysis of the mechanical behaviour of advanced materials

在开发、设计或测试新结构的创新理念时，“构建”一个模型通常比测试实际结构本身更便宜、更方便。基本上有两种类型的模型：物理模型（通常按比例构建）和理论模型。理论模型用数学的语言描述所考虑的结构，即将结构的物理特性转化为数学，分析后再转化为真实的物理信息。因此，理论模型可以用来预测和分析实际物理结构的行为。然后获得的信息使工程师能够设计和开发最有效和最具成本效益的结构用于特定目的。在设计和制造从生物医学到纳米技术等应用中使用的新型先进材料时，这一程序特别有效。在这项研究中，申请人将继续发展和扩展他在分析技术方面的专业知识，以研究现有的和新的理论模型，特别是描述先进材料的力学行为的模型，例如，由不同弹性（柔性）固体制成的复合材料。特别地，申请人将关注分析复合材料对用于将两种或多种材料连接在一起的层的力学响应。例如，在纤维增强复合材料的制造中，该层可以是放置在纤维和周围材料之间的软（胶）层。这里感兴趣的是分析材料之间的剥离、滑动或开裂造成的损伤，以及这些损伤如何影响复合材料的整体机械性能。这项工作的结果将在预测以这种方式制造的先进材料的响应方面具有重要意义。

When developing, designing or testing innovative ideas for new structures, it is often less expensive and more convenient  to 'build' a model instead of testing the actual structure itself.  There are basically two types of models: physical (usually built to scale) and theoretical.  Theoretical models describe the structure under consideration using the language of mathematics, that is, physical characteristics of the structure are translated into mathematics, analyzed and then translated back into real physical information.  A theoretical model can thus be used to predict and analyze the behaviour of a real physical stucture. The information obtained then allows engineers to design and develop the most efficient and cost-effective structure for a particular purpose. This procedure is particularly effective when designing and manufacturing new advanced materials used in applications ranging from biomedical to nanotechnology.In this research, the applicant will continue to develop and extent his expertise in analytical techniques to study existing and new theoretical models, in particular, models describing the mechanical behavior of advanced materials, for example, composite materials made from different elastic (flexible) solids. In particular, the applicant will be concerned with analyzing the mechanical response of a composite to the layer used to join two or more materials together. For example, in the manufacture of a fibre-reinforced composite, the layer can be a soft (glue) layer placed between the fibre and the surrounding material. Of interest here, is the analysis of damage due to debonding, sliding or cracking between the materials and how these impact the overall mechanical properties of the composite. The results of this work will be significant in predicting the response of advanced materials manufactured in this way.