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Unit of Study ENI73009 - Finite Element Method and Fracture Mechanics (2020)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    This unit applies the engineering principles and design techniques from ENG20001 - Mechanics of Materials including force analysis in beams, shells and irregular structures, reaction forces and moments, and generating shear force and bending moment diagrams to analysis of system strength and durability. Students will use apply the theoretical analysis of system strength and durability developed in ENI83005 - Mechanical Systems Design with a numerical finite element one in this unit.

Unit description

Addresses the prediction of failure of machine components and structures by computer modelling of stresses and strains using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and by assessment of criteria to predict fracture. The lectures on FEM are focussed on modelling and interpreting results from a commercial software package, rather than the underlying mathematical theory.

Unit content

Introduction to Finite Element Method  

Strain energy, Castigliano's theorem, interpolation functions  

Element types, 2-D analysis types, plate and shell models  

Force and displacement boundary conditions  

Introduction to nonlinear finite element models  

Using commercial finite element software  

Linear-elastic and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics  

Fatigue  

Non-destructive testing

Failure analysis

Availabilities

Not currently available in 2020

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 understand how a finite element package works
2 use a commercial finite element package to solve linear static elasticity problems, and to critically evaluate the output
3 use energy methods to predict by hand the structural deflections and reactions in simple statically indeterminate structures, as a means of checking computed results
4 apply Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics to analyse brittle fracture
5 analyse simple fatigue failures by applying fracture mechanics principles to fatigue crack growth
6 apply the concepts of Elastic Plastic Fracture Mechanics to simple fracture situations
7 understanding the basics of non-destructive testing techniques.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. understand how a finite element package works
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  2. use a commercial finite element package to solve linear static elasticity problems, and to critically evaluate the output
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA4:
  3. use energy methods to predict by hand the structural deflections and reactions in simple statically indeterminate structures, as a means of checking computed results
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  4. apply Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics to analyse brittle fracture
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  5. analyse simple fatigue failures by applying fracture mechanics principles to fatigue crack growth
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  6. apply the concepts of Elastic Plastic Fracture Mechanics to simple fracture situations
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  7. understanding the basics of non-destructive testing techniques.
    • GA4: