Investing in Technology

Physics supported data analysis of material processing

My name is Andjelka Stanic and I am an Assistant Professor in the research group Applied Mechanics and Data Analysis within the MS3 department at the Faculty of Engineering Technology. I obtained my joint PhD degree in 2017 as a part of French-Slovenian joint PhD study program between Université de Technologie de Compiègne and University of Ljubljana. I joined the University of Twente in 2020, after I finished a two-year postdoctoral research period at the Technische Universität Braunschweig, in Germany. My main research expertise is computational nonlinear mechanics and assimilation of data.

Background

Nowadays, many engineering objects are exposed to extreme loadings that can cause structural failure. Some representative examples are railway tracks subjected to a sudden change of temperature, modern windmills liable to cyclic strong winds, and aging of massive structures. The failure of structures usually starts with small cracks. Computer simulation of cracks requires a proper physical model. It enables predicting the response of existing objects and designing new engineering objects that will serve our society in its full potential safely.

In my research work, I have developed non-linear finite elements with embedded strong discontinuity approach (ED-FEM). This approach can be used to simulate crack growth in structural components made of brittle materials (high strength steel, concrete, glass, ceramics) and where the position of crack path is not known in advance.

 

Kalthoff’s test (Stanic et al., 2021)

Dr. Andjelka Stanic

Time and time again, I am fascinated with the physical models that can simulate the behaviour of the real objects.

Dr. Andjelka Stanic

In the years to come

Together with the team I strive to develop real-time physics-based models for emulation of soft robot behaviour. The goal is to optimize the number of sensors and actuators for precise manipulation of soft robotics medical devices. In this research a PhD position is funded by the Sector Plan.

Furthermore, in our laboratory we work on additive manufacturing where the behaviour of printed objects highly depends on the printed structure of the material. I will focus on nonlinear constitutive models and numerical techniques that can be used for simulation of  crack propagation in dynamic conditions. The experimental data from our laboratory will be exploited to validate the performance of the new models.

Education

Within the undergraduate study program at the University of Twente I teach courses Mechanics of Materials and Engineering Solid Mechanics. Besides that, I supervise bachelor students in their graduate projects. I am a mentor of the first-year students.

Collaborations

The current ongoing research projects are in close collaboration with the department of Biomechanical Engineering at the University of Twente, the manufacturing company TATA Steel and nuclear power energy related companies and research institutes. On the international level, I collaborate with Technische Universität Braunschweig (Germany), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), University of Split (Croatia), SZTAKI (Hungary) and Université de Technologie de Compiègne (France).