Fidelity

Deformation (meteorology)

Composite number

Engineering

Materials science

Micrometer

Capillary number

Capillary action

Telecommunications

Computer science

Acoustics

Multiscale modeling

Mechanical engineering

Physics

Nanotechnology

Interface (matter)

Computational chemistry

Composite material

High fidelity

Chemistry

Nanometre

Advanced Materials

A bottom-up, multiscale modeling approach is presented to carry out high-fidelity virtual mechanical tests of composite materials and structures. The strategy begins with the in situ measurement of the matrix and interface mechanical properties at the nanometer-micrometer range to build up a ladder of the numerical simulations, which take into account the relevant deformation and failure mechanisms at different length scales relevant to individual plies, laminates and components. The main features of each simulation step and the information transferred between length scales are described in detail as well as the current limitations and the areas for further development. Finally, the roadmap for the extension of the current strategy to include functional properties and processing into the simulation scheme is delineated.

Multiscale Modeling of Composite Materials: a Roadmap Towards Virtual Testing