41831 Introduction to Experimental Mechanics

2023/2024

Course information
Introduktion til Eksperimentel Mekanik
English
5
BSc
January
Campus Lyngby
Experimental activities, short lectures and project work
3 weeks
Oral exam at the end of the course.
Oral examination and reports
1 individual report and oral exam. Overall assessment.
7 step scale , internal examiner
11332
11332
41203.02631 , Structural mechanics Introduction to programming and data processing
Minimum 10 Maximum: 45
Sandro Diord Rescinho Amador , Ph. (+45) 4525 1829 , sdio@dtu.dk
Evangelos Katsanos , Lyngby Campus, Building 118, Ph. (+45) 4525 5031 , vakat@dtu.dk
41 Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
At the Studyplanner
General course objectives
The necessity for experimental data to test and validate numerical models of systems manufactured from complex nonlinear inhomogeneous materials, such as concrete or fiber reinforced polymer composites, is ever increasing. This includes e.g. dynamic testing of structures to enable the rigorous identification of critical structural and dynamic properties that constitute reliable indicators of the current condition (health) of structures. The objective of this course is to provide an introduction to Experimental Mechanics focusing on experimental solid mechanics and dynamic approaches as well as the relevant testing procedures.

The students will be able to choose between two separate tracks in the course, i.e. Experimental Solid Mechanics and Experimental Dynamics. Within the Experimental Dynamics track, dynamic testing of scaled structural systems will be undertaken by the course participants in order to visualise the structural oscillations, measure the dynamic performance, and identify the structural/dynamic properties of the experimental models. While, within the experimental solid mechanics track students will study the properties and behaviour of engineering materials and will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience measuring forces, displacement, deformation, and the mechanical strain.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
  • Devise an experimental methodology and conduct testing procedures to measure and infer about material and structural performance
  • Apply and process measured data from experimental work to test and validate numerical models as well as to estimate structural and dynamic properties
  • Identify the application ranges of the experimental mechanics approaches and assess their advantages and limitations
  • Produce well structured, complete, clear and concise written reports that favour critical assessing and concluding and otherwise confirming to accepted standards for written presentation in the subject area
  • List and explain applicable experimental methods for characterising material behaviour
  • Identify significant parameters of engineering materials selecting sensors and measuring equipment as well as utilising data acquisition and data analysis methods
  • Gain physical insight into the behaviour of materials and structural elements, including distribution of stresses and strains, deformations, and failure modes
  • Identify the relevant sensing technology, induce oscillations by applying dynamic loads and measure the dynamic response (e.g., accelerations and strains) of the scaled structural models
  • Utilise standardised tools to process and relate the measured response, e.g., from accelerations to displacements, by exploiting basic mathematics and structural mechanics theory
  • Follow the modal analysis framework to estimate the modal properties of the scaled structural models, i.e., the natural frequencies, the mode shapes and the damping ratios
  • Estimate basic structural and material properties by applying modal analysis techniques on the measured response.
Content
- Basic principles for the design and evaluation of experimental testing
- Techniques and instrumentation (sensors) for static and dynamic measurements
- Methods for processing structural response data (forces, deformations, strains)
- Methods for experimental stress analysis and mechanical testing of materials
- Basic principles of structural dynamics and modal analysis (frequencies, mode shapes and damping)
- Characterisation of time-varying loads for structural systems
- Vibration tests of scaled structural systems and vibration response measurements by means of appropriate sensing technology
- Experimental estimation of material and dynamic properties of structural systems
Remarks
During the first course week, the students will identify their preferred track, i.e., the “Experimental Solid Mechanics or the “Experimental Dynamics” track. However, the enrolment of the students to one of those two tracks may be subjected to an additional restriction that is a nearly equal distribution of the students following the two tracks. The students will follow the curriculum and learning objectives of the chosen track and be assessed on the basis of a report.
Last updated
04. maj, 2023