MMMD - Multiphysics Modelling of Material Degradation
Material degradation - Fuhui Shen
Material degradation - driven by mechanical loading and environmental exposure - undermines the safety and sustainability of infrastructure, energy systems, and transportation. This project advances multiphysics numerical frameworks that couple diffusion, deformation, and damage to simulate degradation under combined mechanical and environmental impacts. The models will resolve local deformation heterogeneity, track damage initiation and evolution, and account for microstructure, stress state, temperature, and electrochemical reactions. Experimental validation through mechanical testing and multiscale characterization will calibrate and benchmark simulations. By integrating modelling and experiments, the project will clarify coupled damage mechanisms and deliver predictive tools for material selection and failure assessment in critical applications, including hydrogen pipelines and next-generation nuclear reactors.