Fracture across Scales

Welcome to the Website of the Research Training Group GRK 2423 FRASCAL!

Fracture across Scales

Integrating Mechanics, Materials Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics

FRASCAL aims to improve understanding of fracture behaviour in brittle heterogeneous materials by developing simulation methods that are able to capture the multiscale nature of failure. With (i) its rooting in different scientific disciplines, (ii) its focus on the influence of heterogeneity on fracture behaviour at different length and time scales as well as (iii) its integration of highly specialised approaches into a “holistic” concept, FRASCAL addresses a truly challenging interdisciplinary topic in mechanics of materials.

Although various simulation approaches describing fracture behaviour exist for particular types of materials and specific time and length scales, an integrated and all-encompassing approach that is able to capture fracture processes in different – and in particular heterogeneous – materials at various length and time resolutions is still lacking. Thus, the objective of this interdisciplinary Research Training Group (RTG) consisting of experts from mechanics, materials science, mathematics, chemistry, and physics is to develop the necessary methodology to investigate the mechanisms underlying brittle fracture and how they are influenced by heterogeneity in various materials.

The insights obtained together with the methodological framework will allow tailoring and optimising materials with regard to fracture behaviour. FRASCAL covers a representative spectrum of brittle materials and their composites, together with granular and porous materials. We study these at length and time scales relevant to science and engineering, ranging from sub-atomic via atomic and molecular over mesoscale to macroscopic dimensions. Our modelling approaches and simulation tools are based on concepts from quantum mechanics, molecular mechanics, mesoscopic approaches, and continuum mechanics. These are integrated into an overall framework, which represents an important step towards a virtual laboratory eventually complementing and minimising extensive and expensive experimental testing of materials and components.

Within FRASCAL, young researchers under the supervision of experienced PAs perform cutting-edge research on challenging scientific aspects of fracture. FRASCAL fosters synergies in research and advanced education and is intended to become a key element in FAU‘s interdisciplinary research areas “New Materials and Processes” and “Modelling–Simulation–Optimisation”

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3rd FRASCAL Retreat from 17 - 18 November 2023 at Kloster Banz in Bad Staffelstein We are pleased to announce that our next FRASCAL Retreat will soon be take place at Kloster Banz in Bad Staffelstein, located in the so-called "Franconian Switzerland". This idyllic community is known far an...

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The 7th International Conference on Computational Modelling of Fracture and Failure of Materials and Structures (CFRAC) took place from 21. to 23. June 2023 in the beautiful city of Prague. FRASCAL organized a mini-symposium "Connecting scales and disciplines to model fracture" at CFRAC comprisin...

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FRASCAL project focuses on what holds matter together at its core. Material fractures in planes, ships or trains can lead to catastrophes and cost lives - for example, the ICE train accident in Eschede 25 years ago was triggered by the fracture of a wheel tyre. In 13 projects, the Research Training ...

Kategorie: general

How many unconscious biases prevail in academia? Too many, according to the inclusive leadership expert, Dr. Iris Wangermann. Female-authored papers tend to be cited less frequently than male-authored papers. Further, the ease with which one's family name is pronounced can have an impact on whether ...

Kategorie: events, general, people, research

On 15 March 2023, the 2nd FRASCAL Symposium was held at the venerable Orangerie of Erlangen. The symposium aimed to provide a platform for the FRASCAL principal advisors and prospective future Mercator fellows to share their insights on the fracture problem from a higher-level perspective.