Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Committee Chair
Gang Wang
Committee Member
Kader Frendi
Committee Member
Judy Schneider
Committee Member
Jason Mayeur
Committee Member
Dongsheng Wu
Research Advisor
Gang Wang
Subject(s)
Brittleness--Mathematical models, Concrete--Mechanical properties, Space colonies--Design and construction, Mars (Planet)
Abstract
The purpose of this work is to develop a continuum damage constitutive material model and apply it to structural response characterization of brittle materials for in-situ construction of space infrastructure. This research improves and expands the utility of the physics-based dominant crack algorithm (DCA) model in order to account for very low-strain rate phenomena in plain concrete structures. The DCA model is strain-rate dependent and has been effectively utilized for highly dynamic phenomena. The model has a strong basis in micromechanics and is able to capture the strain-softening response of brittle materials. The newly developed constitutive model can be easily implemented into a finite element analysis (FEA) platform to predict structural response. Simulation results show good correlation to plain concrete experimental data throughout the material response, including the full softening phase at quasi-static load conditions, and demonstrate the applicability of the model for the intended use. Plain concrete represents a comparable terrestrial construction material and serves as a good proxy to examine the validity of the model. Current research will benefit a growing research field of space habitat construction techniques with in-situ materials through additive manufacturing. The full characterization of material behavior is of vital importance for the structural integrity assessment of habitats and infrastructure that will assure human survival under very challenging environments, isolated in space and time from Earth.
Recommended Citation
Deganis, Luis Eduardo, "Development of a continuum damage constitutive model and simulation for brittle materials in space infrastructure application" (2024). Dissertations. 402.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-dissertations/402