Dr.-Ing. Tim Brepols completed his doctorate with the thesis titled “Theory and numerics of gradient-extended damage coupled with plasticity” in 2018, at the Institute of Applied Mechanics at RWTH Aachen University. He subsequently worked there as an Academic Councillor, and has been serving as a Senior Academic Councillor since 2025. His research group focuses on material modelling and the development of efficient numerical algorithms. Their research focus includes, among other topics, finite element technology, model reduction, and data-driven methods, as well as the modelling of multiscale and multiphysical problems.
In many industrial processes, such as hot forming, metallic materials undergo large deformations while being exposed to pronounced thermal loading. The resulting interaction between plastic deformation, damage evolution, and thermo-mechanical coupling effects may lead to distortions or even fracture of the final part. Predictive computational models are therefore essential for understanding, controlling, and optimizing such processes. Yet, the thermo-mechanically coupled modeling of damage and plasticity at finite strains remains challenging to date.
This talk discusses a thermodynamically consistent modeling framework for gradient-extended damage-plasticity in large-deformation thermo-mechanical problems. Damage and plasticity are formulated as distinct yet coupled dissipative mechanisms, each governed by separate onset criteria and loading-unloading conditions.
The capabilities of the formulation are demonstrated by several numerical examples. The results show mesh-insensitive damage patterns and illustrate how temperature affects the coupled evolution of plasticity and damage, as well as how these dissipative processes feed back into the temperature field.