Research Projects

Kapton, a crucial material in aerospace structures, is often subject to high radiative environments, causing damage and potentially catastrophic failure. Understanding and predicting radiation damage and the effects of mechanical and thermal stresses in Kapton is essential for reducing space mission risks. This project aims to develop a robust sequential multiscale model based on atomistic and continuum scale methods. The atomistic model will track changes in Kapton's material properties due to radiation, while the continuum model will track damage and failure at the macroscale due to mechanical and thermal stresses. The sequential multiscale model will add robustness to the current simulation methodology by incorporating atomistic changes in the macroscale modelling. It will also provide a better understanding of radiation damage and failure in Kapton due to mechanical and thermal stresses, providing insight into associated risks. This project will deliver the numerical tool needed to predict Kapton's behavior confidently for aerospace structures.