2016

E.J. Wehrle (TU Munich)

The use of structural design optimization to ascertain optimal topology of structures under transient nonlinear behavior, exemplified by automotive crash, remains a challenge. This is due to both computational effort of the simulation and handing of the system responses. Developments in efficient optimization algorithms as well as increased computer speed and capacity has now enabled the examination of optimal topology of structures undergoing crash and impact. Different methods are currently be investigated for varying loading and degrees of nonlinear behavior. These can be categorized in two general families:

1. efficient optimization algorithms to reduce the number of nonlinear simulations needed
2. single or multiple linear elastostatic replacement loads to approximate the true system

In this presentation, methods being analyzed and expanded at the Associate Professorship of Computational Mechanics (Prof. Duddeck) of the Technical University of Munich will be shown. For the former, structural design optimization using hybrid cellular automata will be introduced and results shown. For the latter, three methods to represent a transient nonlinear structural model with a linear elastostatic model and their application in topology optimization will be addressed: single replacement loads, multiple replacement loads and multiple replacement loads with updating. To conclude, a comparison will be drawn in addition to providing an outlook to these methods.

R. Lackner (University of Innsbruck)

The benefits of incorporating finer-scale information into material modeling are threefold:

1. Chemical and physical processes within the material can be considered at the scale of their occurance, enabling a more realistic description of the underlying processes.
2. As the finer-scale information is linked to the macroscopic material behaviour via homogenization techniques, quantification of the effect of the aforementioned chemical and physical processes on macroscopic properties becomes accessible.
3. Finally, with this link between finer scales and the macroscale being established, goal-oriented optimization of materials and structural members becomes possible.

The basis of this so-called multiscale approach in material modeling is the proper characterization of material properties at various length scales. The respective experimental results may either serve as input data describing the behaviour of material phases at finer length scales or provide experimental data for validation of underlying homogenization schemes. Accordingly, the first part of this presentation is devoted to the NanoLab at University of Innsbruck, installed as Core Facility of the University of Innsbruck in 2008, exclusively serving the purpose of multiscale characterization. Within this presentation, available experimental equipment and techniques will be addressed.

Within the second part of the presentation, a recently started joint research project on the optimization of FRC components is presented. This project, covering several lenght scales in material modeling strongly benefits from the available infrastructure at the NanoLab. This presentation will provide first insight into the obtained research results as regards both experimental characterization and multiscale modeling & simulation of FRC.

T. Seifert, I. Rekun (Offenburg University of Applied Science)Components of rocket engines as actively cooled combustion chambers must withstand high pressure as well as severe and complex thermal transients. To assess the mechanical behaviour of such components during design via finite-element calculations, constitutive models are necessary that describe the time and temperature dependent plasticity of the material appropriately.

Advanced models account for viscoplastic deformations including isotropic and kinematic hardening, recovery and ratcheting. However, the models contain a relatively large number of temperature dependent material properties that must be determined on the basis of data of material tests. The determination of the properties is a non-trivial task because it is not clear which loading history must be applied in the tests for a certain material to obtain stable and robust (i.e. objective) material properties. Thus, methods for the assessment of the stability and robustness of the properties are presented and results obtained in a project funded by the European Space Agency ESA are shown for material data of copper in the temperature range from 300 to 700 Kelvin.

D. Fleischhacker (SinusPro GmbH, Graz)In the last decades the focus of engineering departments, especially in the automotive and aviation industry, is set on weight reduction. In order to reach the competitive weight targets different approaches are developed. These problem-solving approaches cover a wide range starting from material optimization up the optimization of the design in terms of mass. On top of that, the mass of the system is decreased by increasing the functional requirements for single components to reduce the number of required parts. As a result of the enlargement of the required functionality, the complexity and especially the amount of loading situations have increased. However, this strategy increases the complexity of the identification of the optimum in terms of weight. Therefore an optimization procedure is applied. The aim of optimization approaches is the identification of the optimum design for different target parameters, like weight.

Starting from simple optimization of framework structures up to the optimization of shapes with the use of topography optimization approaches and the optimization of volume structures with the help of topology optimization. Beyond that, the mathematical models that are embedded in the optimization procedures have developed, so that nowadays it is possible to identify the optimum design for defined multiple loading situations in terms of more than one target parameter. Especially topology optimization is an appropriate procedure, because it can handle a wide range of different optimization problems.

One special topology optimization approach is the bionic topology optimization. Another trend in the field of engineering is the analysis of the behavior of the nature, that has advanced structures, such as trees, for thousands of years and to deduce ideas for the optimization of mechanical structures. One outcome is the local adaption of mass of a component to reach the optimization target like weight. These ideas and the topology optimization approach is combined to the bionic topology optimization. For this approach components are optimized concerning weight and additional targets like a constant stiffness of the part. Based on this procedure various components, form interior elements up to engine cases have already been optimized respecting the determined optimization target.

F. Lukasch (Liebherr-Components Biberach GmbH), B. Ernst (Teufelberger GmbH, Wels)

The practical requirements of cranes with increasing hoisting heights and maximum load capacities require a realignment in the rope and crane design. In several years of cooperation Liebherr and the Austrian rope manufacturer Teufelberger have devel- oped a new high strength fiber rope for hoisting applications. Through the use of the fiber rope, with a weight saving of approximately 80% compared to the steel rope, the payloads of the crane can be increased considerably. In addition, advantages in life time, transport weights as well as the elimination of maintenance intervals will be achieved.

B. Goller (INTALES GmbH)For the determination of material parameters based on experimental data, a vast amount of optimization algorithms are available. The objective function is usually formulated as the sum of the squared differences between measurement and analysis, which is then minimized.

In this presentation, a so-called Bayesian model updating procedure will be employed for parameter fitting. As opposed to classical optimization algorithms, which are geared towards the identification of one optimal solution, the employed approach provides a set of solutions together with their probability. Hence, Bayesian model updating allows for the consideration of uncertainties and also information with respect to the uniqueness of the obtained solution can be gathered.

The approach will be applied to a viscoplastic material model including isotropic and kinematic hardening, recovery and ratcheting, where material data of copper in the temperature range from 300 to 700 K are used.

M. Schwarz (University of Innsbruck)We propose a new approach to analyze the propagation of disturbances in engineering structures in the presence of spatially distributed random imperfections. The applicative targets are reliability analysis, damage detection, system identification, and calibration of models in the presence of randomly perturbed structures in elasticity and strength of materials. The set-up applies to wave propagation in random media, i.e., materials with stochastic ally varying properties.

The approach is done by a top down method. Instead of solving the direct problem, one uses Stochastic Fourier Integral Operators to model both the propagation and the material properties.

M. Köchl (University of Innsbruck)

A theoretical model needs quality assessment to verify its robustness and accuracy. For that purpose two approaches are proposed. First a Kriging predictor is used to compare experimental with theoretical values obtained from the model. Secondly a Monte-Carlo based sensitivity analysis is adopted to see how small disturbances in the input affect the output. The methods are applied to a static test model of a winglet, developed by INTALES.