Sunergolab Inc. — Department of Energy STTR Phase I: 02b

Description

<p>Existing research and commercial software that apply the Finite Element Method to solve the equations of classical continuum mechanics have received widespread acceptance for structural analysis of traditional macroscale materials. Challenges persist in the modeling of complex phenomena in new advanced materials with heterogeneous structure. Such materials can revolutionize the aerospace and automotive industries by providing means to build lighter, stronger and more fuel-efficient systems for the aerospace, automotive, and defense applications. Critical limitations of the traditional finite element structural analysis will be addressed in this Phase I project by combining the Finite Element Method and Peridynamics to develop innovative analysis software. Peridynamics is a novel mathematical theory that unifies the mechanics of continuous media, cracks and discrete particles. The proposed software will provide the best of both worlds: Peridynamics will be applied in regions susceptible to material failure, while the Finite Element Method will be applied elsewhere. Sunergolab Inc. teamed with academic and industrial partners in this Phase I project to initiate the hardening of research peridynamic code for industry use. The proposed work will demonstrate the feasibility of innovative software to drive combined finite element and peridynamic simulation. This will include the construction of a preliminary framework for coupling research peridynamic code with commercial Finite Element Method software, and the documentation of results of validation and demonstration studies. Commercial applications and other benefits The plan for the Phase II and Phase III work is as follows: (a) Create a user-friendly, highly extensible prototype software that shrink wraps research peridynamic code into mainstream finite element software, (b) further demonstrate and validate combined peridynamic/finite element modeling for computer aided engineering and scientific research, (c) develop a web-based application to provide remote access to new software, (d) build a suite of test cases in collaboration with industrial partners and their existing customers. The proposed new software will be used as a computer-aided engineering tool to design advanced composite materials and components with damage tolerance exceeding that of current materials and components. Sunergolab has identified multi-billion aerospace and automotive composite market segments as the target market for this new software.</p>