Multiscale modeling of composite materials: a roadmap towards virtual testing.

A bottom-up, multiscale modeling approach is presented to carry out high-fidelity virtual mechanical tests of composite materials and structures. The strategy begins with the in situ measurement of the matrix and interface mechanical properties at the nanometer-micrometer range to build up a ladder of the numerical simulations, which take into account the relevant deformation and failure mechanisms at different length scales relevant to individual plies, laminates and components. The main features of each simulation step and the information transferred between length scales are described in detail as well as the current limitations and the areas for further development. Finally, the roadmap for the extension of the current strategy to include functional properties and processing into the simulation scheme is delineated.

Structural characterization of TiN/NbN multilayers: X-ray diffraction, energy-filtered TEM and Fresnel contrast techniques compared.

Two TiN/NbN multilayers with wavelength 13.6 and 6.15 nm have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fresnel contrast analysis (FCA) and energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). Good agreement between the composition profile obtained by FCA and EFTEM is obtained if the lower resolution of the EFTEM images is taken into account. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the techniques are discussed. Used together the two TEM techniques provide a quantitative characterization that is consistent with, and for some parameters provides more precise values than, that from XRD. The analysis shows that the multilayers have narrow interfaces (< 1 nm) and a composition amplitude close to 95% for the longer wavelength.