• IFM Research Areas
• Biomaterials
  • Fibres and polymers
  • Porous metals
• Composites
• Computer Modelling
  • Atomistic modelling
  • CFD
  • Crash material modelling (FEM)
  • Dynamic recrystallisation
  • Modelling phase transformations and microstructural development
  • Multi-scale modelling (Xanthus)
  • Sheet metal forming
• Corrosion Science
• Electromaterials
• Fibres and Textiles
  • Electrospinning and electrospun nanofibres
  • Fibre to fibre processing and quality
  • Functional fibres
  • Natural and manufactured fibres
• Metals
  • Automotive
  • Light metals
  • Sheet metal forming
  • Steel
  • Surfaces
• Micro and Nano Systems
  • Computational simulation and image processing
  • Membrane processes and novel seperation materials design
  • Micro and nano-encapsulated drug delivery systems
  • Molecular diagnostics and biosensors
• Nanomaterials
  • Functional nanoparticles
  • Green nanomaterials
  • Nanocomposites
  • Nanofibres
• Nanotechnology
  • Boron nitride nanotubes
  • Carbon nanotubes
  • Nanoparticles
  • Nanorods
  • Nanosheets
  • Nanowires
  • Medical applications
  • One-dimensional nanomaterials for new energy and energy storage
  • Facilities
  • Group members
  • Research projects
  • Links
  • Contact
  • BN nanotube commercial services
• Plasma
  • Plasma research
  • Plasma facilities
• Polymers
  • Block copolymer self-assembly and physics
  • Nanostructured thermosets
  • Polymer composites and nanocomposites
  • Polymer blends
  • Self-healing polymers and nanocomposites
  • Biodegradable polymers
  • Green processing of natural polymers
  • Rubber recycling
•  
• Centres of Excellence
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials
•  
• Cooperative Research Centres
• Advanced Manufacturing CRC
• AutoCRC
• CAST CRC
• Sheep CRC

Computer Modelling

Group leader: Dr Bernard Rolfe Group members Computer Modelling research areas Atomistic modelling CFD Crash material modelling (FEM) Dynamic recrystallisation Fibre modelling Modelling phase transformations and microstructural development Multi-scale modelling (Xanthus) Sheet metal forming

Introduction

The Computer Modelling group develop the prediction of material behaviour when it is being deformed. Modelling methods include analytical models, finite element analysis, multi-scale analysis, as well as some artificial intelligence techniques. The modelling group has grown out of the STAMP collaboration between Ford Australia, Deakin University and the Australian National University.

The IFM has a modelling group that works in conjunction with the other groups in the centre. The group consists of around 10 research students, 6 post-doctoral fellows and 2 staff members. The projects range from developing our own finite element code, to modelling metals and composites.

One of the highlights of the modelling group is that we were the number one group to predict the springback of an aluminium deck-lid for Benchmark 1 of the Numisheet 2005 conference. Numisheet is an international conference on the numerical modelling of sheet forming operations. We even out-performed Volvo who stamp aluminium parts.

Group members

Finite element codes used by the group

• Abaqus (including UMAT, UEL, and UHARD)
• Autoform
• Cosmos suite
• Forge2005
• Hyperworks suite (Optistruct)
• LS-Dyna
• Xanthus (Deakin/VPAC code)
• Matlab (Finite Element scripts)

Computational resources

• Computer lab of 12 workstations
• Time allocation on both VPAC and APAC

VPAC = Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing

APAC = Australian Partnership for Advanced Computing

Industry partners

• Ford Australia
• Bluescope Steel
• Holden General Motors
• Bishop

Research partners

• The Australian National University
• Monash University
• VPAC
• AGH (Krakow, Poland)

We would also like to acknowledge the support of Emeritus Prof. John Duncan