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Modeling Interface Interactions in Complex Structures and Materials

Speaker
Professor Ghadir Haikal, North Carolina State University
Date
Location
Room S105
Abstract

The discipline of computational mechanics has
witnessed significant advancements that have greatly improved our
ability to model complex phenomena, ranging from large scale
engineering and nanoscale systems to environmental and economic
processes With improved methods and more powerful computing, it
has become possible to gain new insights into the behavior of civil,
mechanical and biomechanical systems under conditions that cannot
be replicated in a laboratory, and often at reduced cost compared to
experimental testing Many challenges, however, remain in the
development of computational models for complex infrastructure
systems and composite materials where multiple components interact
through an interface Interfaces are critical pathways for load carrying
mechanisms that contribute to life long performance and structural
resilience, and it is crucial for the computational model to capture the
interface kinematics and force transfer processes accurately,
particularly in the presence of geometric and material nonlinearities,
damage and friction.
This presentation discusses the challenges and applications of
interface modeling for coupled problems in engineering I will
introduce a new class of interface formulations that can efficiently
handle complex interactions with large deformations, plasticity and
friction, and that supports the multi scale simulation of composite
materials I will present example applications where physics based
computational modeling of interface interactions leads to accurate
prediction of bond behavior in materials such as reinforced concrete
and reveals new insights into test standards and damage retardation
techniques These new and robust interface formulations enable the
modeling of complex structures for purposes of health monitoring and
life cycle management and open exciting opportunities for the
development of emerging materials and novel approaches for
enhanced structural resilience.

About the speaker
Ghadir Haikal is an Associate Professor in
Structural Engineering and Mechanics in the Department of Civil,
Construction and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State
University She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from
Tishreen University, Syria and M S and Ph D degrees from the
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, also in Civil Engineering
Prior to her current position, Dr Haikal led the Computational
Materials Integrity group in the Department of Materials Engineering
at Southwest Research Institute SwRI and was an Assistant Professor
of Civil Engineering at Purdue University Dr Haikal’s research
focuses on developing advanced computational models for complex
structures and composite materials She is a Fulbright Fellow and is a
member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Engineering Science
and the United States Association for Computational Mechanics.