Material Models for Structural Mechanics
The Structural Mechanics Module without any add-on modules provides the Linear Elastic material with Viscoelasticity and Thermal Expansion modeling capabilities. It also provides access to Piezoelectric materials modeling, which is described in detail in the section
Modeling Piezoelectric Problems
.
If you have the optional products Nonlinear Structural Materials Module or Geomechanics Module, many other classes of nonlinear materials are also available. These models can be modified and extended, and custom material models can be defined.
You can also add a material model which you have coded yourself and made available as a binary library file using an
External Stress-Strain Relation
.
In the
COMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual
:
•
Working with External Materials
•
External Material
In
Table 2-4
you can find an overview of the families of materials, and their applicability in the various structural mechanics interfaces.
Table 2-4:
Material models in the basic physics interfaces
Material
Model
Solid
Mechanics
Shell/PLate
Membrane
Beam
Truss
Linear Elastic Material
X
X
X
X
X
Nonlinear Elastic Material
X
-
X
-
-
Hyperelastic Material
X
-
X
-
-
Piezoelectric Material
X
-
-
-
-
Magnetostrictive Material
X
-
-
-
-
Viscoelasticity
X
-
X
-
-
Plasticity
X
-
X
-
X
Soil Plasticity
X
-
-
-
-
Creep
X
-
X
-
-
Concrete
X
-
-
-
-
Rocks
X
-
-
-
-
Cam-Clay Material
X
-
-
-
-
External Stress-Strain Relation
X
-
-
-
-
Rigid Domain
X
-
-
-
-
Spring-Damper
-
-
-
-
X
Many of the material models can be augmented by effects like thermal expansion, hygroscopic swelling, initial stresses and strains, and external stress.
