The course "Introduction in FEM programs" familiarizes the students with performing of simple structural analyses with the finite-element method.

The courses treats aspects related to elastic behavior of unidirectional and multidirectional laminates, micromechanics, failure and damage analysis, analysis and design of composite structures. The focus is on laminated fiber-reinforced polymer composites.

The class material includes mathematical ancillary concepts, derivation of element equations, boundary conditions, numerical integration, compilation of the system’s equations, solution methods, static and eigenvalue problems, sub-structuring techniques, degree-of-freedom coupling and non-linear simulation of progressing damage. ANSYS and also a MATLAB coded learning program are utilized.

The lecture class Structural Optimization addresses the automated and computer-aided finding of optimum solutions to problems of structural design. This includes design parameterization, formulation of objective and constraining functions as well as design improvement through application of optimization methods offered by mathematical programming and evolutionary algorithms.