Material Modelling and Simulation Methods (MMSM)

The content and objective of Subarea 2.2 ‘Material Modelling and Simulation Methods’ is the investigation of structures, such as glued-laminated timber and cross-laminated timber, on models using a series of multiple simulations (stochastic finite element methods) based on the combination of a non-linear material model prepared for practical applications using statistical distribution models of physical parameters and the description of their relations with each other.

The first part deals with the implementation of a material model which has been specially adapted to the characteristics of wood using a FE (finite element program) software package. Unfortunately for the raw material timber, material routines such as for steel (isotropy – anisotropy), concrete and geological material are unavailable in leading FE programmes like ABAQUS. The objective of the first area is to redress this deficit.

The content of the second part involves the investigation of the statistical descriptiveness of superficial mechanical characteristics and their relations with each other. In this respect, it is necessary to examine statistical distribution models, their parameters and models of statistical relations with respect to their applicability and to determine tendencies concerning generalised descriptiveness. Existing and new data pools from series of measurements obtained from static and dynamic experiments shall serve as input quantities. A partially explicit description of individual characteristics or clusters in the multiple series of simulations carried out afterwards is planned. Based on data from the literature and knowledge from the carried out analyses, it is intended to describe a reference element as a basis for further modelling with respect to its dimension and assigned characteristics.

By bringing together both previously mentioned parts and the setting up of virtual structures – stochastic finite elements (SFE) – the thus obtained entire model is to be validated by means of sensitivity analyses on the one hand, and studies on structures such as glued laminated timber and cross-laminated timber are to be carried out, on the other hand. Superficial mechanical characteristics of rigidity and strength as well as factors such as k_sys, k_size und k_lam are to be investigated.