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SUMMARY:Multiscale and multiphysics modelling in wood - Dr Karin de Borst 
 \, University of Glasgow
DTSTART:20130426T130000Z
DTEND:20130426T140000Z
UID:TALK45000@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ms Helen Gardner
DESCRIPTION:Recent developments in the fields of physics\, chemistry\, and
  materials science allow for studying wood at increasingly smaller length 
 scales\, and have given a much deeper understanding of its structure at th
 e nanoscale and of the molecular interactions upon mechanical loading or c
 hanges of environmental conditions. Combining multiscale modeling with com
 putational simulations makes this knowledge useful for timber engineering 
 purposes. For instance\, it enables to quantitatively assess the variabili
 ty of the macroscopic material properties of wood as typically observed fo
 r tests at the centimeter scale and to resolve the (thermo-hygro-mechanica
 l) couplings at this scale.\n\nThe multiscale approach starts at the lengt
 h scale of nanometers\, where universal constituents with sample-independe
 nt properties\, namely hemicelluloses\, lignin\, and cellulose\, are encou
 ntered. Their arrangement in terms of a fiber-reinforced composite in the 
 wood cell wall and the honeycomb pattern of the wood cells is accomplished
  via a multistep homogenization scheme. It is shown how this methodology c
 an be applied to investigate structure-property relations for hardwood in 
 terms of its stiffness\, and how to translate failure and creep mechanisms
  observed at the microscale to corresponding macroscopic properties of cle
 ar wood. Subsequently\, constitutive equations suitable for structural sim
 ulations can be derived.\n\n 
LOCATION:Oatley Seminar Room\, Department of Engineering
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