Fatigue

Unit 1 focusses on Strength and Durability of Steel and Composite Structures and Joints 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 joints are explained and practised for monotonic and cyclic loading.

B4-1:

The content of the units is defined within 3 themes:

Theme 1 (30%): Modelling of Steel and Composite structures and design by experiments – Elastic, plastic and damage material modelling of steel and FRP; Modelling of local and global elastic buckling; Anisotropic and layered modelling; Evaluation of design values for resistance of various failure modes of steel members.

Theme 2 (30%): Design verification of steel connections and joints- Connection component resistance: resistance of bolts, welds, net cross-section in tension and shear; Shear and axially loaded joints Simple connections; Beam to column moment resistant joints; Steel column base joints.

Theme 3 (40%): Fatigue and fracture – Design of steel structures against fatigue failure: Welded details; Bolted details; Detail classes; SN curves; HSS curves; Post-welded treatment for welded joints; Local prediction models (Hot spot stress approach, SCF, effective notch stress) by FE analysis on examples of hollow section joints, OSD. Fracture mechanics - theoretical background; Material properties for fracture mechanics; Crack initiation and propagation by analytical models and FEA

B4-1:

LO2,3,4,5,6,7: Application of theoretical background, design and problem-solving skills are tested in open-book written exam with open-ended questions related to steel joints, fatigue resistance prediction by local approach (FEA), composite structures and connection details.

LO1,2,3,8: The assessment of design and analysis skills, and collaborative work are tested through an integral report on analysis and calculations connecting content of all 3 modules. Part of report related to unit 1 will focus on analysis and verification specific fatigue detail, local buckling or joint resistance of e.g. a bridge, structure, wind tower or FRP structure from unit 2 and 3. Students will apply engineering tools and verification standards (Eurocodes), create and analyse own finite element models for specific structures and details.

For more information on grading, see article 14 in the Rules and Guidelines (RGBE):

https://www.tudelft.nl/en/student/ceg-student-portal/education/education-information/educational-rules-and-regulations