Investigative Application of the Intrinsic Extended Finite Element Method for the Computational Characterization of Composite Materials

dc.contributor.authorFave, Sebastian Philippen
dc.contributor.committeechairSeidel, Gary D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBrown, Alan J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKapania, Rakesh K.en
dc.contributor.departmentAerospace and Ocean Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-06T08:00:17Zen
dc.date.available2014-09-06T08:00:17Zen
dc.date.issued2014-09-05en
dc.description.abstractComputational micromechanics analysis of carbon nanotube-epoxy nanocomposites, containing aligned nanotubes, is performed using the mesh independent intrinsic extended finite element method (IXFEM). The IXFEM employs a localized intrinsic enrichment strategy to treat arbitrary discontinuities defined through the level-set method separate from the problem domain discretization, i.e. the finite element (FE) mesh. A global domain decomposition identifies local subdomains for building distinct partition of unities that appropriately suit the approximation. Specialized inherently enriched shape functions, constructed using the moving least square method, enhance the approximation space in the vicinity of discontinuity interfaces, maintaining accuracy of the solution, while standard FE shape functions are used elsewhere. Comparison of the IXFEM in solving validation problems with strong and weak discontinuities against a standard finite element method (FEM) and analytic solutions validates the enriched intrinsic bases, and shows anticipated trends in the error convergence rates. Applying the IXFEM to model composite materials, through a representative volume element (RVE), the filler agents are defined as individual weak bimaterial interfaces. Though a series of RVE studies, calculating the effective elastic material properties of carbon nanotube-epoxy nanocomposite systems, the benefits in substituting the conventional mesh dependent FEM with the mesh independent IXFEM when completing micromechanics analysis, investigating effects of high filler count or an evolving microstructure, are demonstrated.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:3673en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/50483en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectIntrinsic XFEMen
dc.subjectMoving Least Squaresen
dc.subjectLevel-Set Methoden
dc.subjectEffective Material Propertiesen
dc.subjectComposite Materialsen
dc.titleInvestigative Application of the Intrinsic Extended Finite Element Method for the Computational Characterization of Composite Materialsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineAerospace Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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