Computational mechanics has had a profound impact on science and technology over the past five decades. It has numerically transformed much of the classical theory models into practical tools for predicting and understanding the complex engineering and science system. A short review is given in this paper on some recent progress in computational solid mechanics at multi-scales.computational solid mechanics, extended finite element method, molecule dynamic, multi-scales
Citation:Zhuang Z, Maitireyium M. Recent research progress in computational solid mechanics. Chin Sci Bull, 2012Bull, , 57: 46834688, doi: 10.1007 Computational mechanics has had a profound impact on science and technology over the past five decades. It has numerically transformed much of the classical Newtonian theory into practical tools for predicting and understanding the complex engineering and science system, which have some limitations using the classic analytical solutions. Finite element methodology (FEM), which is one of the most powerful computation tools, has been widely used in the simulation-based engineering and science. There are a number of methods based on FEM dealing with the problem of material behaviors and structural mechanics, for example, damage and fracture. Since the limitation of FEM is in the continuum problem ranging from micro-meter to macro scales, the molecule dynamic (MD) computation is used at nano-scale research. A short review is given in this paper on the recent progress in computational solid mechanics related to length scales.
MD simulation at nano-scaleThe carbon nano-tube (CNT) as a representative nano-scale material was invented twenty years ago. Its material behavior and mechanics has been interested by many researchers and engineers. The investigations were carried out from the aspects of theory, experiment and simulation. Since it is discrete at atomic length, the MD method is the best tool in the numerical analysis. Another purpose using MD simulation is to provide the failure criterion for dislocation initiation in the crystals, which can link the scales from nano-meter to micron. The minimum energy principle for the dislocation nucleation or initiation was predicted for inhomogeneous atomic system [1]. The simulation results illustrated that the thin film is easily nucleated on the surface because the atomic bonds lose. Based on MD simulation at nano-size and theoretical analysis, an investigation of the combined size and rate effects on the mechanical responses of faced cubic crystal (FCC) metals has been made to develop a hyper-surface (Figure 1) crossing the length scales [2]. The high strength and hard toughness properties of crystalline solid were intensively investigated at sub-micron and nanoscales. In these scales, the forms of defects in a crystal material are dislocation and grain boundary. A majority of research papers were focused on the dislocation nucleation and the interactions between dislocation and grain boundary [3]. The yield strength of perfect crystal depends on dislocation nu...