Description
Objectives
(i) To provide basic knowledge about the analysis of plates, shells and thin structures, as well as extended know-how in modelling and computational simulation of these structural components; (ii) to understand that the high deformability of thin structures frequently leads to non-linear phenomena; (iii) to extend the application of the finite element method (FEM), previously introduced in the courses of Computational and Structural Mechanics, to thin structures.
Syllabus
1. Linear behaviour of thin plates. Navier's method. Energy. Rayleigh-Ritz method. Thin plate finite element. Application to laminated composite materials and rectangular plates. 2. Geometric non-linear behaviour of rectangular plates. Buckling and critical stresses for rectangular plates. Navier's method. Rayleigh-Ritz method. Geometric imperfections. Incremental- iterative strategies. Solution using the FEM. Local buckling in thin walled beams. Buckling by torsion and bending in thin walled beams. 3. Linear dynamic equilibrium equations. Strategies for time integration. Particular case of elastic vibrations of rectangular plates. 4. Thin circular plates. Axisymmetric and asymmetric bending. Analytic solutions. Rayleigh-Ritz method. Solution using FEM. 5. Thin shells. Axisymmetric shells with axisymmetric loads. Buckling of cylindrical shells. FEM in shells. Thermal stresses. Sandwich structures.
Cross Competence Component
The work to be developed during the course contemplates the following soft skills: critical and innovative thinking, decision making, team work, oral communication, usage of computational and multimedia tools and capacity to locate and access information, as well as to analyze the media contents.These soft skill will be evaluated in the framework of the project and will contribute to 20% of the project grade.
Ethical Principles
All members of a group are responsible for the group’s work In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.