A finite element approach for the simulation of the mechanical behavior of structures made of assemblies of wires, filaments, or tapes

by Damien Durville

Monday Apr 20, 2026, 4:00 PM → 5:00 PM Europe/Zurich

Abstract: Structures composed of slender elements, such as cables, ropes, or fabrics, which are made of wires or filaments, typically exhibit global nonlinear behavior and show a wide range of local stress distributions due to frictional contact interactions between the individual components. A finite element simulation code, Multifil, has been developed at LMPS to simulate the behavior of such structures and predict both their global nonlinear response and the distribution of strains and stresses at the local scale.

This presentation will cover models describing the mechanical behavior of slender elements under large deformations, along with strategies for detecting and modeling contact interactions between them. The approach will be illustrated through examples from various domains, including steel and textile ropes used as reinforcements in tires, 3D interlock carbon fabrics for composite aircraft parts, and superconducting CICC cables.

Special focus will be placed on recent advances in simulating the winding of thin tapes to address issues related to HTS conductors.