The core idea of this project is to develop a consistent multi-scale modelling framework for fatigue damage in unidirectionally reinforced composites. Three scales are distinguished:
"3D printing" is a popular term for the layerwise manufacturing of metals or polymers with a printing head, that builds up the component with droplets of molten polymer or metal into a 3D shape. The geometries that can be realized with this technique, can be very complex, and this with a minimum of material usage, because no material has to be milled away. Further, very lightweight materials can be achieved. Flanders region plays a leading role in Europe in this 3D printing sector, with important industrial players such as Materialise, Layerwise and Melotte.
Nowadays, there is an increasing interest to use composite materials in automotive applications, in particular the use of fibre-reinforced plastics (carbon or glass fibres in a polymer matrix) is widely considered. The use of lighter materials, and hence a reduced fuel consumption, can be one of the possible solutions for reduced CO2 emissions. As the automotive industry is mainly familiar with metals and plastics, a lot of research is being spent on the mechanical response of composites under fatigue and impact loading, and on developing new design methodologies for these "new" materials.
The approved research project is a collaboration between the companies V!go, Materialise, Devan and Ghent University. It is a feasibility study for 3D printed orthoses, that can be 3D printed and thus tailor-made for every patient. An orthosis (plural: orthoses) is "an externally applied device used to modify the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal system".
The postdoc vacancy is for experimental testing and numerical modelling of impact on 3D woven thermoplastic composites for automotive applications. Our research group is partner in the European FP7 project 3DLightTrans "Large scale manufacturing technology for high-performance lightweight 3D multifunctional composites" (http://www.3d-lighttrans.com/). Key industrial partners are Fiat, Bentley, Federal Mogul, Van de Wiele,...