Method for computer tomography voxel-based finite element analysis and validation with digital image correlation system

Abstract

Understanding the mechanical behavior of heterogeneous materials is becoming increasingly crucial across various fields, including aerospace engineering, composite materials development, geology, and biomechanics. While substantial literature exists on this topic, conventional methods often rely on commercial software packages. This study presents a framework for computed tomography (CT) scan-based finite element (FE) analysis of such materials using open-source software in most of the workflow.

Our work focuses on three key aspects:

• 1.

  Mesh generation that incorporates spatially varying mechanical properties and well-defined boundary conditions.

• 2.

  Validation of the FE results through comparison with digital image correlation (DIC) system measurements.

• 3.

  Open-source software utilization throughout the entire process, making it more accessible and cost-effective.

This work aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of this framework for analyzing heterogeneous materials in various fields, offering a more accessible and affordable approach.