Finite Element Methods

• We utilize the finite element method (FEM) to predict the state of materials subjected to elastic-plastic loading, possibly including residual stresses. For example, before testing a fracture specimen, we will model the body in three dimensions and simulate test conditions using FEM. This helps us to design the experiment. Following testing, we can use these codes again to estimate unmeasureable material response (for example crack-tip stress and plastic strain) and map failure phenomena to a critical material state.

Software

• Solid models are constructed using PATRAN.
• Finite element analysis is performed using either ABAQUS or Warp3D, depending on the phenomena being investigated.
• A variety of homegrown tools are used to distill and interpret model output.

Hardware

• We currently make use of eleven HP-9000 workstations located in the Department Graduate Computing Lab.

Results

• Please refer to references section of Prof. Hill's home-page for examples of our work.