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Department Events

Events

• Feb

  28

  SPREE Seminar- Nicholas Collins-Craft

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Title: Nonsmooth Mechanics For Fracture And Friction Problems In Geomaterials

  ABSTRACT: Modelling fracture propagation accurately and efficiently is a critical issue across a wide variety of engineering disciplines, not least in brittle materials such as rock masses or permafrost. Of the wide variety of modelling techniques, cohesive zone models are the most accurate, but are also correspondingly very numerically demanding. Intrinsic cohesive zone models are the most popular, but their initial elasticity leads to a range of non-physical behaviours that also cause severe numerical difficulties. While extrinsic cohesive zone models should avoid these behaviours, in practice almost all models exhibit the same pathologies as intrinsic models under complex loading such as impact by rockfalls. We use the techniques of nosmooth mechanics to formulate an extrinsic cohesive zone model for mode I (opening mode) cracks that avoids entirely the pathological behaviours under all loading conditions, while also including contact behaviour in the formulation. After re-framing this model in dynamics, we are able to write the system as a linear complementarity problem (LCP). We show that this LCP is well-posed for quite large time-steps, and we are able to benefit from the efficient solution algorithms developed for this class of problem. Some representative examples are explored with the model. We then briefly leave the problem of cohesion and focus on a problem of pure impact and Coulomb friction. The classical treatment of this is inconsistent (a fact known since the 1980s), and the Moreau–Jean scheme that discretises it can create energy during sliding. We present a treatment based on the work of M. Frémond, and demonstrate that this model is dissipative in both continuous and discrete time. We then return to the problem of cohesive fracture, this time for both mode I and mode II (sliding mode), while integrating contact and Coulomb friction. This model once again avoids the pathological behaviours characteristic of other models, and the dynamic formulation can be written as an LCP. We can show that the solution of this LCP exists, and once again benefit from the efficient solution algorithms to examine some representative examples. Finally, we examine some prospects for future extensions, the difficulties to overcome, and some applications to a variety of geomechanical problems.

  BIO: Nicholas Collins-Craft obtained his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering with First Class Honours and the University Medal from the University of Sydney in 2014. Starting in 2015, he undertook a joint PhD between the University of Sydney and École nationale des ponts et chaussées, supervised by Professors Itai Einav, Jean Sulem and Ioannis Stefanou, focused on the modelling of localisation in crushable granular media. This thesis was defended in November 2019. Following this, he undertook a postdoctoral period in the TRIPOP team at Inria Grenoble, working with Drs Vincent Acary and Franck Bourrier, adapting techniques from nonsmooth mechanics to the modelling of fracture. Since September 2022, he has been a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions postdoctoral fellow, on a joint project between Inria Grenoble and WSL/SLF Davos, working with Drs Vincent Acary and Franck Bourrier and Professor Johan Gaume, on the topic of climatechange induced gravitational hazards

  more less

  TIME Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Aug

  14

  Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC), funded by the Department of Defense — National Defense Education Program, is extending an invitation to underrepresented students nationwide (including military-connected students) to participate in a summer school focused on quantum technologies, to be held at Northwestern University. Join us for presentations by faculty and industry partners introducing quantum technologies, cutting-edge research areas, and related job opportunities particularly in the areas of national security.

  This effort aims to foster an inclusive environment that encourages participation from all corners of the academic community. Successful applicants will receive up to $1,000 USD to cover travel and lodging expenses in Evanston, IL.

  Priority application deadline: May 15, 2024.

  Decisions will be sent by June 15, 2024.

  Register Now

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  TIME Wednesday, August 14, 2024

  LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

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  CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Aug

  15

  Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC), funded by the Department of Defense — National Defense Education Program, is extending an invitation to underrepresented students nationwide (including military-connected students) to participate in a summer school focused on quantum technologies, to be held at Northwestern University. Join us for presentations by faculty and industry partners introducing quantum technologies, cutting-edge research areas, and related job opportunities particularly in the areas of national security.

  This effort aims to foster an inclusive environment that encourages participation from all corners of the academic community. Successful applicants will receive up to $1,000 USD to cover travel and lodging expenses in Evanston, IL.

  Priority application deadline: May 15, 2024.

  Decisions will be sent by June 15, 2024.

  Register Now

  more less

  TIME Thursday, August 15, 2024

  LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Sep

  18

  CEE Faculty Retreat

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  10:00 AM 1702 Chicago Ave

  EVENT DETAILS

  Annual faculty retreat

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  TIME Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  LOCATION 1702 Chicago Ave   

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Sep

  18

  CEE Department BBQ & Poster Session

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  4:00 PM 225 Greenwood St

  EVENT DETAILS

  Annual CEE BBQ and Poster Session to begin the academic year.

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  TIME Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

  LOCATION 225 Greenwood St   

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Sep

  20

  CEE New Student Orientation

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  8:00 AM A230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Orientation for new students to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

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  TIME Friday, September 20, 2024 at 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Sep

  24

  Fall 2024 Classes Begin (No Northwestern Monday in Fall)

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Fall 2024 Classes Begin (No Northwestern Monday in Fall)

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  TIME Tuesday, September 24, 2024

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  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Sep

  30

  Last day to add a class or change a section for Fall (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Last day to add a class or change a section for Fall (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

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  TIME Monday, September 30, 2024

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Oct

  19

  CEE Fall Career Fair

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  10:00 AM Louis Room, Norris University Center

  EVENT DETAILS

  Annual CEE Fall Career Fair for students.

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  TIME Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

  LOCATION Louis Room, Norris University Center    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)