Presenting the results of an ambitious project, this book summarizes the efforts towards an open, web-based modular and extendable simulation platform for materials engineering that allows simulations bridging several length scales. In so doing, it covers processes along the entire value chain and even describes such different classes of materials as metallic alloys and polymers. It comprehensively describes all structural ideas, the underlying concepts, standard specifications, the verification results obtained for different test cases and additionally how to utilize the platform as a user and how to join it as a provider. A resource for researchers, users and simulation software providers alike, the monograph provides an overview of the current status, serves as a generic manual for prospective users, and offers insights into the inner modular structure of the simulation platform.

Georg J. Schmitz earned his PhD in Materials Science in 1991 from RWTH Aachen University in the area of microstructure control in high temperature superconductors. At present he is senior scientist at ACCESS e.V., a private, non-profit research centre at the RWTH Aachen University. His research interests comprise microstructure formation in multi-component alloys, modeling of solidification phenomena, phase-field models and thermodynamics. He is the official agent for Thermo-Calc Software AB in Germany and provides global support for MICRESS?. At the RWTH Aachen University he coordinates an interdisciplinary team working on the subject of this book. Dr. Schmitz has been appointed as expert evaluator by the European Commission and acted as assessor for the Australian Research Council and the Royal Society, London. He is active member of the TMS committee on ICME, referee for several international journals and associate editor of Materials Transactions. Dr. Schmitz has published more than 100 scientific articles and filed 14 patents. Ulrich Prahl received his PhD in Engineering Sciences in 2002 from RWTH Aachen University on the area of damage and failure prediction of high-strength fine grain pipeline steels. This work has been performed in the framework of the joined program 'Integrative Material Modelling' which aimed the development of materials models on various length scales. Since 2002 he is working as senior scientist at the department of ferrous metallurgy at RWTH Aachen University where he is heading the scientific working group 'Material Simulation'. Dr. Prahl is vice-coordinator in the AixViPMaP project which aims the definition of a modular integrative platform for the modelling of material processes on various length scales along the entire process chain. He has published more than 70 scientific articles.

PREFACE PART I: Concepts INTRODUCTION Motivation What Is ICME? Historical Development of ICME Current Activities toward ICME Toward a Modular Standardized Platform for ICME Scope of This Book BASIC CONCEPT OF THE PLATFORM Overview Open Architecture Modularity Standardization Web-Based Platform Operation Benefits of the Platform Concept Verification Using Test Cases STATE-OF-THE-ART MODELS, SOFTWARE, AND FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS Introduction Overview of Existing Models and Software Requirements for Models and Software in an ICME Framework Benefits of Platform Operations for Individual Models Strong and Weak Coupling of Platform Models Conclusions STANDARDIZATION Overview Standardization of Geometry and Result Data Material Data Application Programming Interface Future Directions of Standardization PREDICTION OF EFFECTIVE PROPERTIES Introduction Homogenization of Materials with Periodic Microstructure Homogenization of Materials with Random Microstructure Postprocessing of Macroscale Results: the Localization Step Dedicated Homogenization Model: Two-Level Radial Homogenization of Semicrystalline Thermoplastics Virtual Material Testing Tools for the Determination of Effective Properties Examples Conclusions DISTRIBUTED SIMULATIONS Motivation The AixViPMaP??Simulation Platform Architecture Data Integration Web-Based User Interface for the Simulation Platform VISUALIZATION Motivation Standardized Postprocessing Integrated Visualization Data History Tracking PART II: Applications TEST CASE LINE PIPE Introduction Materials Process Experiments Experimental Process Chain Simulation Models and Results Conclusion and Benefits TEST CASE GEARING COMPONENT Introduction Materials The Process Chain Experimental Procedures and Results Simulation Chain and Results Conclusions TEST CASE: TECHNICAL PLASTIC PARTS Introduction Material Process Chain Modeling of the Phenomena along the Process Chain Implementation of the Virtual Process Chain Experimental Methods Results Summary and Conclusion TEXTILE-REINFORCED PISTON ROD Introduction Experimental Process Chain Simulation Chain Conclusion/Benefits TEST CASE STAINLESS STEEL BEARING HOUSING Introduction Materials Processes Phenomena Simulation Chain Results Conclusions/Benefits FUTURE ICME Imperative Steps Lessons Learned Future Directions Closing Remark