How to develop a numerical model for elasiticy problem of interacting materials
 

Hello,

I am trying to solve the thermal-elasticity problem in a geometry compsed by two materials. To be more specific, i am talking about geometries like nuclear fuel, so a cylindrical pellet surrounded by the cladding. In certain situations, the inner cylinder expands and touch the cladding providing a certain pressure.

My goal is tryng to develop a themo-mechanical solver able to model such behavior. To do so, at the moment I am using the finite element code FEniCS since it seems to be quite flexible for the addition of other physical phenomena.

My problem is that i have little experience in thermo-mechanics and, eventhough I am able to solve the elasticity equation for one material I don't know how to treat the interaction. So I am here asking for suggestions (tutorials, papers, open-source packages, or simply your thoughts).

Thanks in advance!!