Expert Lecture Spotlight | Prof. T. E. Tay
Adaptive Multi-Scale & Multi-Fidelity Progressive Failure Analysis of Composites
High-fidelity modeling has significantly advanced our understanding of progressive damage in fiber-reinforced composites—but applying these models directly to real-world structures remains computationally expensive and often impractical.
In this forward-looking lecture, Prof. T. E. Tay presents an innovative path forward: combining multi-scale and multi-fidelity modeling to deliver both accuracy and efficiency in damage prediction.
Key Highlights:
- Damage mechanisms are modeled at the appropriate scale—micro (fiber), meso (ply/tow), or macro (structure)—with inactive regions homogenized to save computational cost.
- Introduction of the Adaptive Discrete-Smeared Crack (ADiSC) method, which combines:
- Discrete Crack Modeling (DCM) for localized, explicit cracks
- Smeared Crack Modeling (SCM) for diffuse, efficient damage tracking
This hybrid method adapts to the evolving damage state in real time.
Adaptive Multi-Fidelity (AMF) strategy
Shell elements dynamically transition to 3D brick elements (and vice versa) based on local fidelity requirements—allocating computational resources only where needed.
Concurrent micro-macro simulation (Direct FE²)
Still under development, this powerful method avoids homogenization by having macroscale models extract material behavior on the fly from a concurrent microscale simulation.
Together, these strategies mark a paradigm shift in damage modeling—enabling scalable, adaptive simulation tools that can be confidently applied to full-scale composite structures.
Watch the full talk on the cdmHUB YouTube channel as part of the Global Composites Expert Webinar Series.
