4 ECTS credits
110 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4023625ENR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Partnership Agreement
Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
Faculty
Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen
Department
Mechanics of Materials and Constructions
External partners
Université libre de Bruxelles
Educational team
Thierry Massart (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
24 contact hours Lecture
24 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content
The valid fiche can be found at the following link: CNST - H418. Change the language to English in the dropdown menu on top of the page.
  • Recall of basics of weak forms, finite elements
  • Solution methods for sets of nonlinear equations
  • Sources of non linearities (material, geometrical, contact)
  • Solution procedures for quasi-static problems (Incremental schemes, Newton-Raphson, arc-length methods, ...)
  • Instabilities
  • Hyperelasticity
  • Damage mechanics (formulation, implementation)
  • Plasticity (formulation, implementation)
  • Computational strategies for failure modelling
Course material
Digital course material (Required) : The course slides will be made available to students at the first course as well as course notes in English.
Additional info

This course should follow the course ‘Structural analysis and Finite elements’

The students are expected to have basic knowledge of continuum mechanics (stresses, strains, elasticity). Basic notions of structural mechanics and strength of materials are also required. Finite element concepts will be extensively used.

The course slides will be made available to students at the first course.

Exercises are organised to introduce the non linear complexities step-by-step.

Exercises consist of 3 projects:

- introduction on a simple 1dof structure (instability) and implementation of a simple nonlinear code,

- Use of a commercial software to solve a practical problem.

Each of them results in a written report used for evaluation

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

After the end of the course, the students are expected to
 

  • be able to apply computational methodologies to solve non linear structural mechanics problems
  • Understand the methodologies used in non-linear finite element packages
  • be able to detect when a practical problem requires the incorporation of non linear behaviour
  • be able to translate a mechanical problem incorporating non linear effects into a computational model using proper assumptions
  • be able to select the proper computational approach for a given problem

General competences

The Master of Science in Engineering has in-depth knowledge and understanding of the advanced methods and theories to schematize and model complex problems or processes.

The Master of Science in Engineering can reformulate complex engineering problems in order to solve them (simplifying assumptions, reducing complexity).

The Master of Science in Engineering can think critically about and evaluate projects, systems and processes, particularly when based on incomplete, contradictory and/or redundant information.

The Master of Science in Engineering has the flexibility and adaptability to work in an international and/or intercultural context.

The Master of Science in Civil Engineering can combine computational modelling methods and experimental techniques to tackle complex structural and material analysis problems.

The Master of Science in Civil Engineering – Option Structures can integrate advanced modelling tools for the design of complex structures in civil engineering.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
PRAC Report determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

    Note: A written examination is held at the end of the course which matches 50% of the final note. The aim of this written evaluation is to test the understanding of key principles, assumptions and objectives of the different computational techniques and constitutive models by means of transversal questions. Part of the questions have to be answered without course notes. The last question of the examination consists in an open question for which students can use their course notes.

Within the PRAC Report category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Exercise reports with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

    Note: There is a evaluation of the written reports corresponding to the exercise sessions. This amounts for 50% of the final note of the course.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The goal of the assessment is globally to verify if the student is able to

  • Understand simplifying modelling assumptions and their validity
  • Apply a rigorous approach to perform a computational study
  • Be able to look for additional information on models

 

The assessment is twofold:

First, there is a evaluation of the written reports corresponding to the exercise sessions. This amounts for 40% of the final note of the course.

A written examination is held at the end of the course which matches 60% of the final note. The aim of this written evaluation is to test the understanding of key principles, assumptions and objectives of the different computational techniques and constitutive models by means of transversal questions.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Civil Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Civil Engineering: Standaard traject (BRUFACE)