Structural Analysis

Description

The doctoral programme in Structural Analysis was launched in 1988 when the Department of Strength of Materials and Structural Engineering was established within the framework of the University Reform Law (LRU) and the Statutes of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The programme was created to produce doctoral graduates in the field of continuous media mechanics and theory of structures. This is a unique area of activity at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

The design of the programme reflects two strategic orientations. First, it has a strong international dimension to encourage the participation of many students. Professors from Latin America, European countries, Asia and Africa are involved in teaching. Second, the conceptual design of the programme and the scientific content it focuses on closely reflect the challenges and innovation-related problems that Spanish and European industry face as they seek to improve their competitiveness in a global context. One aspect of the programme’s international focus is the regular collaboration of internationally renowned professors in its delivery:

Dr S. Idelsohn (ICREA), Research Professor at CIMNE, Spain
Dr C. Felippa, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA
Dr R. Löhner, University of Washington, USA
Dr J. Rojek, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Academy of Sciences, Poland
Dr F. Armero, University of Berkeley, USA
Dr S. Botello, University of Guanajuato, Mexico
Dr J. Hurtado, National University of Colombia
Dr M. Cerrolaza, Central University of Venezuela

The programme also has close links with other universities and with companies in RDI. Professors and students work with a large number of companies on RDI projects within the framework of joint projects funded by national and EU research bodies. In the last five years, professors and students on the programme have participated in numerous research projects selected through competitive calls under national and EU programmes.

Rationale for the programme

In recent decades, major technological advances have facilitated deeper and more effective approaches and methods in structural analysis. This has been achieved in part thanks to more powerful and precise calculation tools but also because specialists in the field are being called on to solve increasingly complex problems facing society.

In this context, the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis meets two needs. First, it introduces vertical content related to analysis and calculation of structures. This means studying and analysing the full array of concepts, methods and numerical tools needed to calculate different types of structures: beams, plates, sheets, etc. Students are also introduced to constitutive equations that define the behaviour of materials and therefore their structural response.

Second, the programme covers horizontal content related to the mechanics of continuous media and the use of numerical techniques to solve problems. Study focuses on the numerical solution (linear and nonlinear) of equations related to heat transmission, fracture mechanics and some complex industrial processes (filling of moulds, sheet metal stamping, laminating, forging, etc.) and Navier-Stokes equations, among other topics. This dual approach makes the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis, which covers both the mechanics of continuous media and structure theory, unique at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Programme objectives

The objective of the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis is to develop high-quality researchers in the field of structural analysis, conceived in its broadest sense within the mechanics of continuous media, and in the application of numerical techniques (mainly finite elements) in this area. The programme focuses on two basic aspects of structural analysis:
• Methodology
• Applications

Methodology

In this dimension, the objectives of the programme are as follows:
• To provide students with a deeper knowledge of the most commonly used structural materials and their numerical treatment: two and three-dimensional continuous media, beams, plates and sheets
• To develop and extend students’ knowledge and understanding of constitutive equations for materials that can be used to analyse their behaviour
• To introduce students to the numerical treatment of differential and integral equations that govern the structural behaviour of materials
• To use various numerical solution methods to analyse equations resulting from discretisation of the continuum, including coupling and interaction problems.

Applications

As soon as students have acquired the basic knowledge indicated above, they must choose a specialisation based on the objectives of their doctoral thesis. In this context, the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis covers the following fields:

- Structural engineering, including seismic analysis, structural pathologies, numerical analysis of composite and functional materials, etc.

- Solving multiphysical problems: thermomechanical analysis, fluid-structure interaction, etc.

- Numerical simulation of industrial processes: additive manufacturing, rolling, welding, forging, solidification, deep drawing, etc.

External collaborations

Practically all top-tier universities in the Americas, Europe and Asia with doctoral-level civil engineering programmes (environmental, mechanical or materials) offer doctoral degrees related to structural analysis. Professors in the UPC’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering maintain close relations in research-related areas with many professors at these universities, resulting in joint papers and coordinated research projects. These contacts also facilitate exchanges and periods of mobility for professors and students and participation in the examination committees of various national programmes.

Mobility

Doctoral students will have opportunities to undertake periods of mobility at institutions abroad to carry out research activities and/or participate in conferences that are directly related to their thesis or cover other topics of interest for their training and development.

Mobility is facilitated by research projects carried out through the Department, in collaboration with related research centres (e.g. the International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering), and within the framework of European consortia and other international projects.

Quality award

The doctoral programme in Structural Analysis has been recognised with a quality award given by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science following assessment by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (quality award code MCD2005-00341; awarded/renewed for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008).

View full details