Entry requirements

120 credits in Science and Technology including Solid Mechanics. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide basic knowledge about fracture mechanics and the ability to analyse and evaluate structures that contain sharp defects.

On completion of the course the student shall be able to:

• identify and describe various fracture and damage mechanisms in materials,
• explain how a crack affects a structure and describe the stress and strain state that occurs in front of a crack in different materials,
• apply different methods to calculate crack driving forces in linear and nonlinear materials and formulate suitable fracture conditions for stationary and growing fractures in these materials,
• investigate whether a crack will grow stable or unstable,
• describe and explain the theoretical background for linear and nonlinear fracture mechanics,
• analyse fracture problems for both linear and nonlinear materials subject to increasing loads.

Content

Phenomenological theories for fractures in materials and structures containing sharp cracks, and how this knowledge can be applied when designing constructions.

Instruction

Lectures, lessons/exercises.

Assessment

Written examination. Laboratory work.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.