A new methodology for the efficient design of modular carbon-reinforced concrete structures | Funding Period 2
The central challenge of this project is the further development of the modular structure generator for the generation of practice-relevant designs of carbon-reinforced concrete structures. On the one hand, the model reduction technique for modular structures developed in the first funding period will be improved. On the other hand, various constructional requirements for modular concrete structures and functionality groups of modules will be developed and investigated. Furthermore, the construction kit will be extended by modules from other projects. To increase the efficiency and quality of structure generation, novel assembling strategies and machine learning will be used. Damage and plasticity will be taken into account to improve the design evaluation of the structures.
Scientists
![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/8/a/csm_2024_A01_Holthusen_77354309a2.jpg "Dr.-Ing. Hagen Holthusen")
D-52074 Aachen (Germany)
D-52074 Aachen (Germany)
D-52074 Aachen (Germany)
Cooperations
Ehemalige | Former involved
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Stefanie Reese (Project Manager, RWTH Aachen, 07/2020 – 06/2024)
Stephan Ritzert (research associate RWTH Aachen, 10/2021 – 06/2024)
A New Methodology to Transfer Efficient Mechanisms of Load Transmission from Nature to Structures Made of Carbon-Reinforced Concrete | Funding Period 1
The goal of this project is to develop a so-called modular-structure-generator that provides a variety of bioinspired carbon-reinforced concrete structures, which can be implemented into practice.
Initially, the challenge is to identify essential bionic construction elements, e.g. stems as supporting elements and leaf lamina as shell-like ceiling elements. The aim is to generate a modular construction kit that enables as many construction relevant combinations of bionic elements as possible. To perform efficient and robust simulations, special finite elements with reduced integration and the model order reduction method are applied. The focus is on taking into account both the material anisotropy, due to changing fiber orientations, and coupling conditions between individual modules.
Finally, a screening algorithm is developed that automatically creates various structures consisting of modules available in the construction kit. Such structures are going to be evaluated with regard to their applicability in structural engineering problems.
Within the framework of A01, the seed fund project "Virtual experiments on plant components" (1st round 2022) is carried out.
Publikationen | Publications
Goertzen, T.; Macek, D.; Schnelle, L.; Weiß, M.; Reese, S.; Holthusen, H.; Niemeyer, A. C. (2025) Influence of block arrangement on mechanical performance in topological interlocking assemblies: A study of the versatile block in: International Journal of Solids and Structures 306, 113102 pages –
DOI: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2024.113102
Goertzen, T.; Neef, T.; Scheffler, P,; Macek, D.; Mechtcherine, V,; Niemeyer, A.C. (2025) 3D concrete printing of topological interlocking blocks in: Materials & Design 254, 114049 -DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2025.114049
Curosu, V.; Kikis, G.; Krüger, C.; Liebold, F.; Macek, D.; Mester, L.; Platen, J.; Ritzert, S.; Stüttgen, S.; Kaliske, M.; Klinkel, S.; Loehnert, S.; Maas, H.-G.; Reese, S.; Robertz, D. (2023) Ansätze für numerische Methoden zur Inspiration, Analyse und Bewertung neuartiger Carbonbetonstrukturen in: Bauingenieur 98, issue 11, p. 368–377 – DOI: 10.37544/0005-6650-2023-11-56
Herrmann, M.; Macek, D.; Mester, L.; Döpke, F.; Ragab, A.; Adam, V.; Holthusen, H.; Tim Brepols, T.; Klarmann, S.; Klinkel, S. (2025) A Holistic Approach for Carbon-Reinforced Concrete Structures Using Modular Design and Homogenization Techniques in: Briffaut, M.; Torrenti, J. M. [eds.] Concrete structures: extend lifetime, limit impacts – Proc. of the fib International Symposium on Concrete Structures 2025, 16.–18.06.2025 in Antibes (France), 2025, p. 2316–2327
Holthusen, H.; Linka, K.; Kuhl, E.; Brepols, T. (2026) A generalized dual potential for inelastic Constitutive Artificial Neural Networks: A JAX implementation at finite strains in: Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 206, 106337 pages – DOI: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106337
Holthusen, H.; Brepols, T.; Linka, K.; Kuhl, E. (2025) Automated model discovery for tensional homeostasis: Constitutive machine learning in growth and remodeling in: Computers in Biology and Medicine 186, 109691 pages – DOI: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.109691
Kehls, J.; Ritzert, S.; Breuer, L.; Zhang, Q.; Reese, S.; Brepols, T. (2026) Multi-field decomposed hyper-reduced order modeling of damage-plasticity simulations in: Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 451, 118702 pages – DOI: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2025.118702
Macek, D.; Holthusen, H.; Rjosk, A.; Ritzert, S.; Lautenschläger, T.; Neinhuis, C.; Simon, J. W.; Reese, S. (2022) Mechanical investigations of the peltate leaf of Stephania japonica (Menispermaceae): Experiments and a continuum mechanical material model in: Frontiers in Plant Science 13 – DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.994320
Macek, D.; Holthusen, H.; Rjosk, A.; Ritzert, S.; Lautenschläger, T.; Neinhuis, C.; Simon, J.-W.; Reese, S. (2023) A constitutive model for modeling the mechanical behavior of the peltate leaf of Stephania japonica (Menispermaceae) in: Proceedings in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics 23, issue 3, Special Issue: 93rd Annual Meeting of the International Association of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (GAMM), e202200288 – DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pamm.202200288
Macek, D.; Rjosk, A.; Ritzert, S.; Lautenschläger, T.; Neinhuis, C.; Reese, S. (2023) Numerical Simulations of the Mechanical Behavior of Plant Tissues as an Inspiration for Carbon Reinforced Concrete Structures in: Ilki, A.; Çavunt, D.; Çavunt, Y. S. [eds.] Building for the Future: Durable, Sustainable, Resilient – Proc. of fib Symposium 2023, 05.–07.06.2023 in Istanbul (Turkey), publ. in: Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 350, Cham: Springer, p. 1408–1417 – DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32511-3_144
Macek, D.; Rjosk, A.; Ritzert; S.; Lautenschläger, T.; Neinhuis, C.; Reese, S. (2023) Pflanzengewebe als Inspiration für Carbonbeton-Strukturen: Morphologie und mechanisches Verhalten in: Bauingenieur 98, issue 07–08, p. 227–233 – DOI:10.37544/0005-6650-2023-07-08-49
Pacolli, N.; Awad, A.; Kehls, J.; Sauren, B.; Klinkel, S.; Reese, S.; Holthusen, H. (2025) An enhanced single Gaussian point continuum finite element formulation using automatic differentiation in: Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 246, 104329 pages – DOI: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finel.2025.104329
Ritzert, S.; Kehls, J.; Reese, S.; Brepols, T. (2025) Component‐Based Model‐Order Reduction with Mortar Tied Contact for Nonlinear Quasi‐Static Mechanical Problems in: International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 126, issue 8, e70041 – https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.70041
Ritzert, S.; Macek, D.; Simon, J. W.; Reese, S. (2022) Reduced Order Modeling for modular anisotropic Structures based on Proper Orthogonal Decomposition and Mesh Tying in: Koshizuka, S. [ed.] Proc. of 15th World Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM-XV) and 8th Asian Pacific Congress on Computational Mechanics (APCOM-VIII), 31.07.–05.08.2022 in Yokohama (Japan, virtual congress), 12 p. – DOI: https://doi.org/10.23967/wccm-apcom.2022.097
Ritzert, S.; Macek, D.; Simon, J.-W.; Reese, S. (2023) An adaptive model order reduction technique for parameter–dependent modular structures in: Computational Mechanics 73, p. 1147–1163 – DOI: https://doi.org/10. 1007/s00466-023-02404-w
Ritzert, S.; Macek, D.; Simon, J.W.; Reese, S. (2023) Reduced order modeling of modular parameter dependent structures based on proper orthogonal decomposition and mesh tying in: Proceedings in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics 22, issue 1, Special Issue: 92nd Annual Meeting of the International Association of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (GAMM), 15.–19.08.2022 in Aachen, e202200189 – DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pamm.202200189
Ritzert, S.; Rjosk, A.; Holthusen, H.; Lautenschläger, T.; Neinhuis, C.; Reese, S. (2024) Mechanical modeling of the petiole-lamina transition zone of peltate leaves in: Acta Biomaterialia, Vol. 187, 278–290 – DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2024.08.019
Velden, T. van der; Reese, S.; Holthusen, H.; Brepols, T. (2026) An anisotropic, brittle damage model for finite strains with a generic damage tensor regularization in: International Journal of Damage Mechanics 35, issue 1, 119–150 pages – DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10567895251329815
Velden, T. van der; Brepols, T.; Reese, S.; Holthusen, H. (2024) A comparative study of micromorphic gradient-extensions for anisotropic damage at finite strains in: International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 125, issue 24, e7580 pages – DOI: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.7580
Zhang, Q.; Ritzert, S.; Zhang, J.; Kehls, J.; Reese, S.; Brepols, T. (2026) A unified multi-perspective quadratic manifold for mitigating the Kolmogorov barrier in multiphysics damage in: Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 209, 106499 pages – DOI: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106499
Zhang, Q.; Ritzert, S.; Zhang, J.; Kehls, J.; Reese, S.; Brepols, T. (2025) A multi-field de-composed model order reduction approach for thermo-mechanically coupled gradient-extended damage simulations in: Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 434, 117535 pages – DOI: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2024.117535
Vorträge und Poster | Oral presentations and posters
Macek, D.; Brepols, T.; Holthusen, H. (2024) Discovering Tension-Compression Asymmetry in Plant Tissues Using inelastic Constitutive Artificial Neural Networks oral presentation at: 19th European Mechanics of Materials Conference, 29.–31.05.2024 in Madrid (Spain)
Macek, D.; Holthusen, H.; Rjosk, A.; Ritzert, S.; Lautenschläger, T.; Neinhuis, C.; Simon, J. W.; Reese, S. (2022) A constitutive model for modeling the mechanical behavior of the peltate leaf of Stephania japonica (Menispermaceae) oral presentation at: 92nd Annual Meeting of the International Association of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, 15.–19.08.2022 in Aachen
Macek, D.; Ritzert, S.; Reese, S.; Brepols, T.; Holthusen, H. (2024) A POD-Based Methodology for the Design of Modular Carbon-Reinforced Concrete Structures oral presentation at: 16th World Congress on Computational Mechanics and 4th Pan American Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM-PANACM) 2024, 21.–26.07.2024 in Vancouver (Canada)
Macek, D.; Ritzert, S.; Simon, J. W.; Reese, S. (2022) Proper Orthogonal Decomposition-Based Model Reduction For Modular Structural Systems oral presentation at: 9. GACM Coll. on Computational Mechanics, 21.–23.09.2022 in Essen
Ritzert, S.; Holthusen, H.; Macek, D.; Rjosk, A.; Lautenschläger, T.; Neinhuis, C.; Reese, S. (2023) Modeling technique for petiole-lamina connections of peltate leaves in: ECCOMAS 7th Young Investigators Conference YIC, 19.–21.06.2023 in Porto (Portugal, proceedings in preparation)
Rjosk, A.; Ritzert, S.; Macek, D.; Friese, D.; Neef, T.; Mechtcherine, V.; Cherif, C.; Reese, S.; Neinhuis, C.; Lautenschläger, T. (2023) A new approach to construction: using peltate leaves as inspiration in the design of novel carbon fibre reinforced concrete building components oral presentation at: 10. Bionik-Kongress, 12./13.05.2023 in Bremen (proceedings in preparation)
Studentische Arbeiten | Student's works
Ji, C. (2022) Numerical simulation of the anisotropic viscoelastic behavior of plant tissues at finite deformation [Bachelorarbeit | Bachelor's thesis]
Al Saidawi, M. (2023) Optimierung von parametrischen Strukturen basierend auf einem adaptiven Modellreduktionsverfahren mit Substrukturierung [Bachelorarbeit | Bachelor's thesis]
Kaya, D. (2024) Influence of a Sampling Approach on the Performance of the POD-Based Model Reduction Technique for Modular Systems [Bachelorarbeit | Bachelor's thesis]