Steel and Composite Structures

The module consists of 3 parallel units.
Unit 1 provides in-depth knowledge on how to design, model, analyse and critically assess results of prediction models of structural members and joints. The principles and theory of using experiments and reliability-based assisted design and verification of Steel and Composite Structures (SCS) and connections are explained and practised for monotonic and cyclic loading.
Unit 2 and Unit 3 will allow students to apply and extend their knowledge from Unit 1 in real case structures, such as bridges, support structures for renewable energy, lightweight FRP structures, cold-formed steel members, etc.

The learning line on Modelling, Data management and sensing, risk analysis is continued from the MUDE and Track base module.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in monitoring and sensing lab (or virtual) experiments during the module and evaluate data.

Ethics related to the design and reporting, construction, ownership and decommissioning of steel and composite structures are discussed throughout the module. Circumstances which lead to a collapse of structures will be discussed from (un)ethical behaviour of partners in a project. The balance between economy-safety-sustainability of construction work will be addressed, showing future engineers' responsibility.


B4 Unit 1: Fatigue and FEA of steel and FRP composite structures
Fatigue and fracture; Design and verification of steel structures and connections exposed to cyclic loading; use of FE analysis in fatigue assessment; Fatigue life prediction based on fracture mechanics; Modelling of Steel and Composite structures and design by experiments; non-linear material modelling of steel and anisotropic and layered modelling of FRP structures;

B4 Unit 2: Steel bridges and wind turbine support structures
Steel and hybrid bridges - Structural design of steel bridges - Bridge loads, traffic accounting and analysis - Design verifications of steel bridge elements - Advanced bridge analysis - Execution and details of steel bridges - Renovation and maintenance of steel bridges: Supporting structures for renewable energy - Hollow section steel joints in jacket/truss structures- Monopile supporting structures for wind turbines and connections.

B4 Unit 3: FRP composites and lightweight steel structures
Design, analysis and verification of FRP composite structures joints and details; Design and verification of lightweight, slender and cold-formed steel structures .