Durability of materials and structures

In the transport sector, the safety and reliability of systems depend on the performance of the materials and structures that make them up. The search for ever more efficient and durable solutions requires a thorough understanding of the damage mechanisms that affect these materials. The aim of this course is to provide students with the necessary tools to estimate the service life of parts subjected to mechanical stress, taking into account the influence of the environment. Since each family of materials has its own failure modes, we will explore the damage mechanisms specific to each family in conjunction with their modelling. Both theoretical and practical aspects will be covered.

Fatigue and fracture behaviour of metals, polymers and composites. Predictive design tools for uniaxial and multiaxial fatigue failure. Fractographic analysis BE: morphological analysis of the fracture surfaces of several parts broken during operation. Practical work on the use of acoustic emission for the protection of composite structures. Practical work on the use of fracture criteria in a finite element code.