7 / 48
7
goals and ReseaRch Plan
nm
Atomic
scale
Microstructure
Material
Component
Joint
Structure
System
µm mm cm m
Physical scale
Figure 1: Research methodology.
Figure 2: Structure of research, technology transfer and industrial implementation.
Multi-scale
testing,
modelling and
simulation
Methods
and
Tools
Industrial
Implementation
Ready-to-use
technology
Innovation
Basic research
SFI-CASA
Technology transfer
Industry
Research methodology and industrial implementation
The activities in CASA will represent a step change for advanced
structural analysis for industry and public enterprises as it is
based on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research
on different physical scales. The research methodology
adopted to meet the overall objective is presented in Figure
1. As illustrated, a structure or product can be studied on
different physical scales just like the modelling scales
(there is also a time scale which reflects the duration of
the physical events to be studied, but this is not shown in
the figure). By using a top-down/bottom-up approach the
main goal of the research will always be the final structure
or product. In some cases, microstructural modelling or even
modelling on atomic scale may be required to understand the
underlying physical mechanisms of the observed material
response to loading. However, for joints or components
the behaviour may be sufficiently well understood on the
continuum scale. In all cases, research at the Centre will be
designed to obtain modelling frameworks on the material and
structural levels that are suitable for industrial applications.
Many research topics and activities are addressed on the
various scales: testing and modelling of materials and
structures, numerical solution techniques, experimental
techniques, verification and validation approaches, and
optimization methods and parametric studies. Verification
is the process of determining that a computational model
accurately represents the underlying mathematical model
and solution, whereas validation deals with the relationship
between the computational model and the physical reality.
Figure 2 illustrates the important interlink between Basic
research, Technology transfer and Industry. The Methods
and Tools Programme is a synthesis of Basic research,
where guidelines and recommended practice for credible
numerical structural analysis is established. The Industrial
implementation programme is the link between the Methods
and Tools Programme and the industrial use of the research
and technology developed at the Centre for innovation.