arXiv subjects

Kai-Uwe Schröder

Publications and source records attributed to Kai-Uwe Schröder.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A pyramidal ISRU lunar habitat design based on topological interlocking of sintered regolith blocks

In this framing study, we propose a new lunar-habitat design based on topological interlocking of the building blocks. The design combines block geometries that permit interlocking without binders or connectors with a pyramidal overall structure. This approach is well suited for ISRU-enabled extraterrestrial construction. Finite element simulations employing the Drucker-Prager model confirm that habitats manufactured from lunar regolith using this concept are tolerant to local failures or missing blocks. We further suggest that this approach can be extended and improved by optimising the geometry of the interlockable building blocks.

cs.CE↗

arXiv2025

On the impact of geometric variance on the performance of formed parts: A probabilistic approach on the example of airbag pressure bins

Scatter in properties resulting from manufacturing is a great challenge in lightweight design, requiring consideration of not only the average mechanical performance but also the variance which is done e.g., by conservative safety factors. One contributor to this variance is the inherent geometric variability in the formed part. To isolate and quantify this effect, we present a probabilistic numerical study, aiming to assess the impact of geometric variance on the resulting part performance. By modelling geometric deviations stochastically, we aim to establish a correlation between the variance in geometry with the resulting variance in performance. The study is done on the example of an airbag pressure bin, where a better understanding of this correlation is crucial, as it allows for the design of a lighter part without changing the manufacturing process. Instead, we aim to implement more targeted and effective quality assurance, informed by the performance impact of geometric deviations.

cs.CE↗

arXiv2025

Influence of a generative parameter on the mechanical performance of topological interlocking assemblies of a hexagonal block

A topological interlocking assembly is an arrangement of blocks, where all blocks are kinematically constrained by their neighboring blocks and a fixed frame. This concept has been known for a long time, attracting recent interest due to its advantageous mechanical properties, such as reusability, redundancy and limited crack propagation. New mathematical methods enable the generation of vast numbers of new topologically interlocking blocks. A natural next question is the quantification of the mechanical performance of these new blocks. We conduct a numerical study of topological interlocking assemblies whose blocks are constructed based on the hexagonal grid. By varying a design parameter used in the generation of these blocks, we study its influence on the structural performance of the entire assembly. The results improve our understanding of the link between the block parameters and the mechanical performance. This enhances the ability to custom design blocks for certain mechanical requirements of the topological interlocking assemblies.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Canonical Descriptors for Periodic Lattice Truss Materials

For decades, aspects of the topological architecture, and of the mechanical as well as other physical behaviors of periodic lattice truss materials (PLTMs) have been massively studied. Their approximate infinite design space presents a double-edged sword, implying on one hand dramatic designability in fulfilling the requirement of various performance, but on the other hand unexpected intractability in determining the best candidate with tailoring properties. In recent years, the development of additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence spurs an explosion in the methods exploring the design space and searching its boundaries. However, regrettably, a normative description with sufficient information of PLTMs applying to machine learning has not yet been constructed, which confines the inverse design to some discrete and small scrutinized space. In the current paper, we develop a system of canonical descriptors for PLTMs, encoding not only the geometrical configurations but also mechanical properties into matrix forms to establish good quantitative correlations between structures and mechanical behaviors. The system mainly consists of the geometry matrix for the lattice node configuration, density, stretching and bending stiffness matrices for the lattice strut properties, as well as packing matrix for the principal periodic orientation. All these matrices are theoretically derived based on the intrinsic nature of PLTMs, leading to concise descriptions and sufficient information. The characteristics, including the completeness and uniqueness, of the descriptors are analyzed. In addition, we discuss how the current system of descriptors can be applied to the database construction and material discovery, and indicate the possible open problems.

cs.CE↗

arXiv2019

AMS-100: The Next Generation Magnetic Spectrometer in Space -- An International Science Platform for Physics and Astrophysics at Lagrange Point 2

The next generation magnetic spectrometer in space, AMS-100, is designed to have a geometrical acceptance of $100\,\mathrm{m}^2\,\mathrm{sr}$ and to be operated for at least ten years at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2. Compared to existing experiments, it will improve the sensitivity for the observation of new phenomena in cosmic rays, and in particular in cosmic antimatter, by at least a factor of 1000. The magnet design is based on high temperature superconductor tapes, which allow the construction of a thin solenoid with a homogeneous magnetic field of 1 Tesla inside. The inner volume is instrumented with a silicon tracker reaching a maximum detectable rigidity of 100 TV and a calorimeter system that is 70 radiation lengths deep, equivalent to four nuclear interaction lengths, which extends the energy reach for cosmic-ray nuclei up to the PeV scale, i.e. beyond the cosmic-ray knee. Covering most of the sky continuously, AMS-100 will detect high-energy gamma rays in the calorimeter system and by pair conversion in the thin solenoid, reconstructed with excellent angular resolution in the silicon tracker.

astro-ph.IM↗