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CraCS

The CraCS research group is working and developing new methods for predicting damage in real laminated composite structures. CraCS is developing new methods that combined with physical tests in the lab create new possibilities when designing and working with composite materials.

CraCS

The CraCS research group is working and developing new methods for predicting damage in real laminated composite structures. CraCS is developing new methods that combined with physical tests in the lab create new possibilities when designing and working with composite materials.

These models are applied in the industry to prolong the lifetime of a structure or anticipate any damage that can occur. Some of the industries that we have worked with is the aircraft industry and the wind turbine industry.

To improve the quality of the experimental characterization new automated technologies have been developed in order ensure a high quality of the data without human involvement. For example, an advanced optical tracking system has been developed that can measure the length of interlaminar cracks many times during the experiment with a precision of 0.01mm over the whole specimen. A corresponding system has been developed for counting and tracking intralaminar cracks.

All these data that are acquired through experimental work are used to develop new finite element formulations and ways of doing cohesive zone models. Those models are afterwards implemented in finite element models of industrial applications that are used to improve for example wind turbine blades and airplanes.