After successful completion of the course, students are able to...
After having successfully completed the course, students are able to assess cases of damage in the form of crack formations on massive concrete structures with regard to the hazard potential. The fundamental knowledge of fracture mechanics methods combined with principles of continuum mechanics results also in applications to metallic materials and concepts a.la. “Fatigue Crack Propagation”.
The knowledge of the application fields of numerical methods allows further perspectives in vocational education.
In this lecture the application of fracture mechanic methods to crack formation in massive concrete structures (dams, weirs, lock walls, etc.) as well as the determination of special fracture mechanical material properties will be presented and the application of these methods in the direction of damage avoidance, damage assessment and remediation will be discussed. In particular, the cases of damage to two Austrian double curved arch dams will be treated in detail -with particular emphasis on the application of numerical methods (FEM).
In addition to the basic principles of fracture mechanics methods, the relevant 'Numerical Analysis Methods - FINITE ELEMENTS' are discussed and demonstrated (Abaqus - Crack Propagation Studies).
The lecture will partly be held in English according to the nationality of the participants.
