Goal
The goal of
the laboratory is to develop computer simulation
methods that can predict the influence of a material's
composition and microstructure on its properties; and to
use these simulations to help General Motors to develop
materials with enhanced performance.
Approach
Although
material behavior is determined by atomic-scale
processes, it is obviously not feasible to simulate the
behavior of every atom in a component. Simulations are
therefore based on `multi-scale modeling.'
Atomistic methods are used to study individual defects
in materials. Results from these simulations
guide meso-scale techniques such as the discrete
dislocation method, which model collective behavior of
large numbers of defects. These in turn
guide continuum simulations of actual specimens and
components. The computational work relies heavily
on experimental studies that guide and verify the
simulations.
