• A Bachelor’s degree in materials engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry or equivalent. The degree must be equivalent to at least 180 higher education credits.
• At least 22.5 higher education credits in mathematics
• The equivalent of English 6/English B at Swedish secondary school
• MA620E Scientific Programming, 7.5 credits or equivalent
• MA623E Introduction to Numerical Analysis, 7.5 credits or equivalent

This course is classified under the main field of study of Materials Engineering and can be used to fulfill degree requirements for a Master’s degree (120 hp) in Materials Engineering.

The aim of the course is for the student to acquire basic theory about the finite element method, as well as get a basic overview of different types of constitutive laws. The student must apply the theoretical knowledge to a small project at the end of the course.

Knowledge and understanding

To pass the course, the student must:

1. Describe the basic aspects of the finite element method.
2. Explain how the finite element method can be applied to linear and non-linear problems.
3. Identify different types of boundary conditions and how these are implemented.
4. Explain the assumptions and simplifications made in the mathematical description of a material model.
5. Define and describe different constitutive model types for deformable solids
6. Be capable of describing the structure of a finite element programme

Competence and skills

To pass the course, the student must:

1. be able to formulate a weak form of differential equations from a strong form.
2. be able to establish a finite element formulation on the basis of weak form.
3. be able to implement solution algorithms for non-linear problems
4. be able to present both orally and in writing the results of a production simulation using finite element software

Judgement and approach

To pass the course, the student must:

1. Be able to evaluate the suitability of a constitutive law for different materials and applications
2. Be able to reflect on how different problems in engineering and physics can be modelled and simulated using the same methods
3. Be able to analyse, model and simulate structures using the finite element method, and also to interpret and evaluate the results
4. Critically review and analyse a scholarly paper and identify and describe the strengths and weaknesses of the FEM models used

Lectures, exercises, computer labs, project supervision, presentation of projects and independent study.

To achieve a Pass grade (A-E), the student must:

• Achieve a Pass grade for a written examination on constitutive modelling (UA), 6.5 credits (intended learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7)
• Achieve a Pass grade for a written examination on FEM (UA), 3 credits (intended learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8)
• Achieve a Pass grade for written assignment I (UG), 1 credit (intended learning outcomes: 3, 6, 9)
• Achieve a Pass grade for written assignment II (UG), 0.5 credit (intended learning outcomes: 10, 12 )
• Achieve a Pass grade for a project report and an oral presentation (UA), 4 credits (intended learning outcomes: 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)

The final grade corresponds to/is based on the average of the Written Examination on Constitutive Modelling, the Written Examination on FEM, the project report and the oral presentation.

• Ottosen, Niels & Petersson, Hans (1992). Introduction to the Finite Element Method. Prentice Hall
• Saabye Ottosen, Niels & Ristinmaa, Matti (2005). The mechanics of constitutive modeling. 1. ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.

If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format.

The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.