Computational modeling has greatly improved our ability to tackle complex problems in engineering, ranging from assessing large-scale structural response under extreme events to nanoscale material design. With improved methods and more powerful computing, it has become possible to gain new insights into the behavior of civil, mechanical and biomechanical systems under conditions that cannot be replicated in a laboratory, and often at reduced cost compared to experimental testing. To fully harness the capabilities of computational simulation, however, it is important to overcome its limitations. The simplifying assumptions that make the modeling process possible often reduce its accuracy in problems where multiple components interact through an interface. Interfaces are critical pathways for load-carrying mechanisms in composite materials such as reinforced concrete and fiber-composites, structural steel connections, and in fluid-structure and soil-structure interaction problems. Despite significant advances in computational methods, many challenges remain in the development of accurate and efficient interface models for a wide range of engineering applications.
In this presentation, I will discuss my journey of discovery in computational mechanics, which led to a rewarding career focused on modeling interface problems in research and industry. I will present examples of applications where the accurate modeling of interface interactions revealed new insights into the behavior of engineering structures and materials, paving the way for exciting opportunities in the design of novel composites and resilient offshore energy harvesting infrastructure.
Ghadir Haikal is an Associate Professor in Structural Engineering and Mechanics in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Tishreen University, Syria and M.S. and Ph.D degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, also in Civil Engineering. Prior to her current position, Dr. Haikal led the Computational Materials Integrity group in the Department of Materials Engineering at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and was an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University. Dr. Haikal’s research focuses on developing advanced computational models for complex structures and composite materials. She is a Fulbright Fellow and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Engineering Science and the United States Association for Computational Mechanics.