Mechanics of Materials
Short description
Mechanics of micro-structurally heterogeneous materials is investigated in this group. We develop micro-mechanical and coupled multi-scale models to predict complex behaviour of multi-phase materials, with an emphasis on (bio-)composites. To increase the predictive capability and to enhance the computational efficiency of the models, we use machine learning techniques, in particular artificial neural networks.
We also employ physics-based models (using continuum mechanics and finite element method) and machine learning techniques to develop real-time applications to predict deformation behavior of an organ during surgery, particularly when large deformations are involved. These tools provide connections between pre-operative anatomical models and intraoperative data.
News
Special issue in the journal “Polymers”
Topic: Mechanics of 3D-Printed Polymers and Polymer Composites.
Guest editors: Mohsen Mirkhalaf and Mohammad Heidari-Rarani.
Deadline for manuscript submissions: March 20, 2022.
Master thesis presentation
Mehrdad Saaedi, “Predicting cancer tumor position in a liver using finite element analysis and artificial neural networks”, July 16, 2021 (online) at 10:00.
Master thesis defense
Johan Friemann, “Predicting the elasto-plastic response of short fiber composites using deep neural networks trained on micro-mechanical simulations”, February 11, 2021 (online) at 10:00.
Master thesis defense
Noah Mentges, “Micro-mechanical modelling of the effects of fibre length distributions on short fibre reinforced composites using orientation averaging”, December 16, 2020 (online) at 14:00.
Recent publications
- N. Mentges, B. Dashtbozorg, S.M. Mirkhalaf, (2021).
A micromechanics-based artificial neural networks model for elastic properties of short fiber composites.
Composites Part B: Engineering, 108736. - S.M. Mirkhalaf, M. Fagerström, (2021).
The mechanical behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) films: fabrication, experiments and modelling.
Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials 25(2), 119–131 - S.M. Mirkhalaf, E.H. Eggels, T.J.H. van Beurden, F. Larsson, M. Fagerström, (2020).
A finite element based orientation averaging method for predicting elastic properties of short fiber reinforced composites.
Composites, Part B: Engineering 202, 108388.
Members
Ehsan Ghane, PhD student, 12/2020 – Present
Thesis title: Deep learning enhanced multi-scale modelling of woven composites
Supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf, Co-supervisor: Martin Fagerström (Chalmers), Examiner: Mattias Marklund
Mehrdad Saaedi, Master thesis, 11/2020 – 06/2021
Thesis title: Predicting cancer tumor position in a liver using finite element analysis and artificial neural networks
Supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf, Co-supervisor: Behdad Dashtbozorg (Netherlands Cancer institute/Eindhoven University of Technology), Examiner: Hirpa Gelgele Lemu (University of Stavanger)
Johan Friemann, Master thesis, 06/2020 – 02/2021
Thesis title: Predciting path dependent elasto-plastic behaviour of short fiber composites using micromechanics-based deep learning
Supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf, Co-supervisor: Behdad Dashtbozorg (Netherlands Cancer institute/Eindhoven University of Technology), Examiner: Martin Fagerström (Chalmers)
Noah Mentges, Master internship project, 04/2020 – 06/2020
Project title: A micromechanics-based artificial neural network model for elastic properties of short fiber reinforced composites
Supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf, Co-supervisor: Behdad Dashtbozorg (Netherlands Cancer institute/Eindhoven University of Technology)
Collaborations
Robert Auenhammer, PhD student (Chalmers), 02/2021 – Present
Project: Carbon-fibre composite: Three-dimensional structure determination as input for micro-mechanical modelling
Ali Davari, Master thesis (Isfahan University of Technology), 09/2021 – Present
Thesis title: Using micromechanics and deep learning for designing short fiber reinforced composites
Supervisors: Mohammad Mashayekhi (Isfahan University of Technology) and Mohsen Mirkhalaf
Emilio Haumahu, Bachelor thesis (Eindhoven University of Technology), 09/2021 – Present
Thesis title: Investigating in-situ properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites
Supervisor: Johan Hoefnagels (Eindhoven University of Technology), Co-supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf
Hélène Latty, Master internship project (Chalmers), 08/2021 – Present
Project title: Short fiber bio-composites: manufacturing, testing and modelling
Supervisor: Giada Lo Re (Chalmers), Co-supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf
Ramin Saberi, Master thesis (Isfahan University of Technology), 02/2021 – Present
Thesis title: Physics-informed deep learning modelling of the non-linear behavior of short fiber reinforced composites
Supervisors: Mohammad Mashayekhi (Isfahan University of Technology) and Mohsen Mirkhalaf
Noah Mentges, Master thesis (Chalmers), 07/2020 – 12/2020
Thesis title: Micro-mechanical modelling of the effects of fibre lengthdistributions and fibre matrix debondingon short fibre reinforced composites using orientation averaging
Supervisor and Examiner: Martin Fagerström (Chalmers), Co-supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf
Pouya Shahbazian, Bachelor thesis (University of Isfahan), 02/2020 – 10/2020
Thesis title: Experimental investigation and micro-mechanical modelling of the stiffness of short fiber composites
Supervisor: Mohammad Heidari-Rarani (University of Isfahan), Co-supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf
Brian Castricum, Master internship project (Chalmers), 09/2019 – 01/2020
Project title: A hierarchical coupled multi-scale model for short fiber reinforced composites
Supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf, Co-supervisors: Fredrik Larsson and Martin Fagerström (Chalmers)
Tom van Beurden, Master internship project (Chalmers), 02/2019 – 06/2019
Project title: Multi-scale modelling of short fiber composites via orientation averaging and using self-consistent interaction
Supervisor: Martin Fagerström (Chalmers), Co-supervisors: Mohsen Mirkhalaf and Fredrik Larsson (Chalmers)
Abhijith Anantharanga, Master thesis (Chalmers), 01/2019 – 09/2019
Thesis title: A comparative study on micro-mechanical models for short fiber composites
Supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf, Examiner: Martin Fagerström (Chalmers)
Eva Eggels, Master internship project (Chalmers), 09/2018 – 12/2018
Project title: Modelling the mechanical behavior of short fiber composites via orientation averaging
Supervisor: Martin Fagerström (Chalmers), Co-supervisor: Mohsen Mirkhalaf