The group contributes to the following application oriented research topics of WIAS:
Nonlinear material models, multifunctional materials and hysteresis in continuum mechanics.Many components in modern equipment rely on specific properties of so-called multifunctional materials. These materials are distinguished by the fact that therein properties like elastic deformability, thermal expansibility, magnetizability, or polarizability interact nontrivially like for instance in a piezo-crystal. At WIAS coupled models describing these properties are developed and analyzed. [>> more]
Phase field models for complex materials and interfacesThis research topic focusses on modeling complex material systems with different phases including multiphase and interfacial flows, damage and fatigue modeling, topology optimization and complex materials. Physical phenomena modelled involve fluid flow, diffuse transport and (visco)elastic deformation in the context of phase separation and phase transitions. Applications range from biology to physics and engineering. [>> more]
