Original ArticleMesomechanical aspects of computational modeling for non-homogeneous materials joined by forming

The metal forming and joining industries are constantly evolving to adapt to new materials and alloys and to meet customers' needs. However, the size of the companies in this segment is typically small. Therefore, the progress of the mesomechanical modeling on non-homogeneous materials is relatively slow. This article aims to contribute to the advancement of such computational idea. The industries and academics alike may benefit the mesomechanical aspects of computational modeling for materials joined by forming using the established theories known in the field of mechanics. It may be used as an introductory for the society of joining by forming. This article reviews the basic concept of the finite element method, the fundamental mechanics and highlights some common problems in joining by forming, namely contact problems, local variations and interfacial cracking. This article aims to disseminate the meso/micro-mechanics approach to the field of joining by forming, which currently is dominated by experimental works and macroscopic modeling. Using the simple approaches discussed in this article, researchers with little or no background in computational mechanics can implement the concepts.