Bilkent University
Mechanical Engineering Department
TÜBÝTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) - 3501 Career Program (110M661)
Start Date: April 15th, 2011
Completion Date: October 15th, 2013
The goal of this project is the development of computational contact homogenization techniques that enable the multiscale modeling and analysis of heterogeneous contact interfaces and subsequently their validation in view of existing experimental observations. With a view towards applications in technologically significant engineering problems where such techniques are needed, this proposal will concentrate on two main research themes:
(1) thermal dissipation in metallic contact interfaces
(2) coupled thermomechanics of elastomeric contact interfaces.
Within an overall research framework where the goals of each research theme support those of the other, theoretical/numerical tools from continuum mechanics, finite elements and contact mechanics will be employed in an interactive fashion. While the focus of the work will be on principles, application cases of technological interest, such as microelectronics, tire design and metal forming, will be considered. The theoretical and numerical methodologies to be developed in this project will assist in the efforts towards establishing novel thermomechanical contact homogenization techniques which are needed for pursuing multiscale analysis approaches. Such approaches will allow a shift of emphasis from experiment-based engineering to simulation-based engineering by aiding in the construction of new macroscopic models or the improvement of existing ones. Consequently, the planned research agenda will additionally contribute to the alleviation of economic and time costs associated with engineering design tasks.
The work that has been reported in the publication(s) listed below was (partially) funded by this project.