| dc.description.abstract | There is been increasing interest in understanding the physical properties of cellular
solid for designing function specific architectures. A new approach has been adopted
for modelling those complex micro-systems using image based techniques. The image
based meshing is a novel method capable of generating the required volume discretisation
(finite element and finite volume meshes) directly and robustly from the image
data obtained from a range of imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging
and computed tomography. The purpose of the present work is combining image
based meshing with finite element method (FEM) for mechanically characterise complex
micro-structures. Cellular solid, previously investigated using conventional analytical and
experimental approaches and their limitations, will be now explored with the accuracy and
the precision of the image based finite element approach. Analytical models of the mechanics
of open cell foams are reviewed and extended into a new parametric model which
includes axial compression as deformation mechanism during compression. The parametric
model, supported by the novel method, is used to predict the mechanical behaviour
of two regular open cell micro-structures and a topology obtained from tomographic imaging
of an open celled foam. The new approach is then extended to the dynamic analysis
of a Polyurethane open cell foam under large strain deformation and different boundary
conditions. Bone scaffolds, having the architecture of cellular solids, are mechanically
characterised and parametrically investigated. Finally the novel method is applied on two
phases composite systems on which a wide range of parametric and sensitivity analysis
are carried out. The potentialities of combining image based techniques with FEM are
then enlighten.
keywords: cellular solid, image processing, Finite Element Method, image based
meshing, large strain deformation, dynamic analysis, bone scaffold, synthetic structures,
Alumina-Aluminium composite, parametric model, Polyurethane open cell foam, reverse
engineering, material characterisation, lattice factory. | en_GB |
