MECA0502-1

Duration

26h Th, 26h Pr

Number of credits

	Master in aerospace engineering, professional focus in turbomachinery aeromechanics (THRUST) (Erasmus mundus)	5 crédits
	Master in aerospace engineering (120 ECTS)	5 crédits
	Master in mechanical engineering (120 ECTS)	5 crédits

Lecturer

Michaël Bruyneel

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 course introduces different aspects of fibre-reinforced plastic materials :
- overall description : constituents, matrix and fiber architecture, industrial applications (aerospace, automotive, energy), links between process, microstructure, material properties and structural performance.
- mechanical properties : linear elasticity of orthotropic (and anisotropic) materials, classical laminate theory (CLT), progressive damage and failure mechanisms, edge effects, humidity and temperature effects.
- homogenization : principles, mean-field homogenization applied to linear elasticity, extension to elastoplasticity, applications to short and continuous fibre-reinforced plastics.
- numerical simulation : linear and nonlinear finite element analysis (buckling, post-buckling, collapse, nonlinear material).
- design of composite structures : design rules and manufacturing constraints, parameterizations and optimization algorithms, stacking sequence optimization.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, students should have acquired the following knowledge and skills :
- an overview of the different kinds of composites and their constituents;
- linear and nonlinear mechanical characteristics of continuous fiber laminates, including damage and failure mechanisms ;
- homogenization techniques and basis multi-scale material modeling ;
- Integrated Computational Mechanical/Material Engineering (ICME): Integration of process, material and structural modeling.
- the classical laminate theory ;
- main design rules and stacking sequence optimization of composite laminates;
- a theoretical knowledge of manufacturing process and related constraints;
- the ability to analyse a composite structure with industrial finite element software.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

A background in continuum mechanics and finite element methods is required.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Theoretical concepts are explained during formal lectures and seminars. All speakers have a strong industrial background and share their practical experience with students. Exercise sessions are meant to put the classical laminate theory into practice (analysis of continuous fiber laminate properties with analytically calculated ABD matrices). Students have individual graded projects involving SAMCEF finite element software and Digimat, which are introduced during computer sessions.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Theoretical lectures are taught in class by the professor. Exercise sessions are led by the assistants. Mandatory practical sessions are organized in a computer room where numerical simulation tools are available.

Assessment methods and criteria

Written exam, theory (closed-book): 50% of the total points
Written exam, exercises (open book): 25% of the total points
Practical work on computer reports: 25% of the total points

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Michaël Bruyneel (Michael.Bruyneel@ulg.ac.be)
Martin Volvert (m.volvert@ulg.ac.be)(geoffrey.deliege@ulg.ac.be)

Items online

Exercises of Mechanics of Composites
Dear all,

Here are the exercise statements for the 4 exercise sessions.

On Monday 01/10/2018, we will do together sessions 1&2.

There will be two other dates for the last two exercise sessions. At these dates, I will also explain the two short projects you will have to do, both on NX and manually (these projects will partly replace the exercise part at the exam in January).

Best regards,

Martin Volvert

NX installation
Dear all,

Here's a link to download and install NX 12 for the projects. You need to be connected to ULiege network or via the ULiege VPN to have access to the license.

Regards,

Martin

Project 1
Dear all,

Please find here the statement for the first project that you will have to do by groups of 2 (groups of your choice). If you are an odd number of students, there can be one group of 3.
I also give you a small presentation about composites on NX that I will present on Monday 22/10.
For those who have never used NX, I also give you the presentation for the introduction to NX given for the course "Finite Element Method".
I finally give you a good tutorial found online (which is not mandatory to check) from NX10 but still valid.

Regards,

Martin

Project 2
Dear all,

Here's the statement for the second project as well as a short NX introduction for failure criteria.

Martin

Solutions for Session 2 and end of session 3
Dear all,

As asked, I give you the solutions for the remaining exercises from session 2.

Furthermore, I also give you the graphs for the last exercise of session 3.

Regards,

Martin

Mechanics of composites