2024-2025 / MECA0058-1

Fracture mechanics, damage and fatigue

Duration

30h Th, 10h Pr, 75h Proj.

Number of credits

 Master MSc. in Engineering Physics, research focus5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Aerospace Engineering, professional focus in aerospace engineering5 crédits 
 Master Msc. in Mechanical engineering, professional focus in mechatronics5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Mechanical Engineering, professional focus in sustainable automotive engineering5 crédits 

Lecturer

Ludovic Noels

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The class presents the basis of fracture mechanics. Failure of structures is explained by studying the physic of materials. This behavior is then modeled analytically. Finally numerical methods applied in fracture mechanics are presented.
Subjects covered by the lectures are

  • Linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM)
  • Non-linear fracture mechanics (NLFM)
  • Fatigue
  • Design approaches
  • Recent numerical approaches

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Through a deep understanding of the theory and the realization of a project, the student will be able to apply numerical tools to design structures and study crack propagation problems. In particular:

  • He will have a deep understanding of fracture mechanics theories and will be able to summary, compare and explain them.
  • He will have a deep understanding of the resolution methods of fracture mechanics problems, and will be able to summary, compare and explain them. He will also know their application range.
  • He will be able to apply the resolution methods to classical problems of fracture mechanics.
  • He will be able to analyze and to evaluate (justify and criticise) these methods.
  • He will be able to analyze new problems.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, III.1, III.2, III.3, IV.1, IV.2, VI.1, VI.2, VII.2, VII.4 of the MSc in aerospace engineering.


This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, III.1, III.2, III.3, IV.1, IV.2, IV.3, VI.1, VI.2, VII.2, VII.4 of the MSc in mechanical engineering.


This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, III.1, III.2, III.2, III.3, III.3, IV.1, IV.2, VI.1, VI.2, VII.2, VII.4 of the MSc in engineering physics.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Good knowledge in

  • Solid mechanics
Basic knowledge in

  • Finite-element method

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Exercises and personal project.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Face-to-Face: default mode

 

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Written work / report


Further information:

Evaluation is based on the realization of a project (30%) related to the use / development of numerical methods specific to fracture mechanics and on an written examination (70%). In case of a resit, if a grade of at least 10/20 has been given to the project, only the written examination will be redone. In order to have a total grade equal to or above 8/20, the student should obtain a grade equal to or above 8/20 for both the project and the exam.

The examination is based on the whole content of the class. Problems similar to the ones studied during the classes, and new problems will be part of the questions. Justification using the theoretical content is also requested.

Participation to the exam, to the guest lectures (if any), and achievement of the project are mandatory. The student who does not attend to compulsory sessions or who does not delivered the assignments on time will not be allowed to present the exam.

On site:

Written examination

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

L. Noels (L.Noels@ulg.ac.be)

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online

Lecture notes

MECA0058 - Ref for project
AL McKelvey, RO Ritchie, Fatigue-crack growth behavior in the superelastic and shape-memory alloy nitinol, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: 32 (13), 731-743, 2001, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11661-001-1008-7