This seminar presentation gives an overview of current research activities our team is engaged in, to inspire potential collaboration. The computational mechanics of coupled multiscale problems is a common theme that connects most of the modeling challenges we address, motivated by a broad range of material behaviors and technological applications. Coupling phenomena in mechanics may arise for a number of reasons—e.g., due to mutually-dependent field equations, or in the interplay of constitutive mechanism. The former is typically encountered in the context of multi-physics problems (thermo-, electro-, magneto- or chemo-mechanics) and other systems of coupled balance equations (diffusion-driven deformation, fluid-structure interaction), but also in higher-order continuum formulations (gradient-extended, micromorphic, phase-field). In terms of material responses, the behavior of many advanced engineering materials crucially depends on the coupling of mechanisms such as plasticity, damage, and solid-solid phase transformations. Another example are the unique properties of smart, active and multifunctional materials, which are enabled by multi-physical couplings (piezo-electricity or magnetism, multiferroic behavior). Moreover, both the field and constitutive equations often exhibit coupling across many length-scales.

Many of the computational tools have now reached a level of maturity in terms of predictive accuracy, numerical robustness and efficiency that allows the exploration of new materials and engineering systems in a virtual laboratory sense. Often a key goal is to establish process-structure property relations in a simulation-supported manner. To this end, hybrid algorithms that combine classical and machine learning approaches have recently shown tremendous potential. In this context, we present our scientific work over the past years dedicated to establishing fundamental frameworks for the modeling and simulation of coupled material responses, for solving coupled field problems and for scale-bridging. Some key simulation tools, such as Abaqus User Materials, User Elements, MonolithFE2 and visualization capabilities—many of which we share publicly—are also discussed. Specific application examples include functionalized ceramic filters, TRIP/TWIP steel matrix composites, 3d printing of biodegradable structures, nuclear reactor and material storage safety, thermomechanical fatigue in turbo-chargers and aero-engines as well as actuation, sensing and other engineering applications of conventional and magnetic shape memory alloys.