Fatigue and Fracture | University of Stavanger

The course aims to impart an understanding of structural integrity and its main themes of material properties, applied stress and defects or cracks. The underlying science of fracture mechanics is fundamental to the course and the practical application of these concepts to structures is also covered, as are fatigue; welding; welding defects and non-destructive testing.

Content

Central topics are welding flaws, degradation mechanisms, inspection, condition assessment, failure analysis. Specific topics are: linear elastic fracture mechanics, elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, fracture mechanics testing, fatique, crack growth, failure assessment diagrams, BS7910 and R6 methods, non-destructive examination. Some work on finite element analysis.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

Possess a fundamental understanding of fracture mechanics, fracture mechanics testing, weld defects, inspection and structural integrity.
Understand concepts of fracture mechanisms., linear-elastic fracture mechanics, elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, fatigue crack growth, failure assessment diagrams, failure investigations, condition assessment and non-destructive testing.

Skills:

Identify degradation mechanisms in structures in-service.
Specify suitable inspection methods.
Specify fracture mechanics tests and interpret the results.
Calculate fatigue life based on crack growth concepts.
Calculate acceptance criteria for use in NDT based on characteristic fracture parameters.
Understand complex analyses based on current assessment Standards such as BS7910, API579 and R6 methods.

General competence:

Plan and conduct simple integrity assessments
Understand comparatively complex analyses conducted in industry

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Written exam

Weight 1/1

Duration 3 Hours

Marks Letter grades

Aid Valid calculator, English-Norwegian dictionary, Norwegian-English dictionary

Exam system Paper Based

Written exam on paper.

Method of work

3 hours of lectures per week.

Using AI to support learning and study activities

AI tools may be used in BYG540 as a learning aid, but must never substitute for the fracture-mechanics understanding the course builds — analysing fatigue and crack growth and assessing structural integrity yourself is precisely what you must master yourself, and the exam is written by hand. Productive uses include asking AI to explain a concept (e.g., the difference between linear-elastic and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, how crack growth is calculated, or what a failure assessment diagram shows), to check the setup of a problem you have solved yourself, or to generate practice problems for self-testing before the exam. You remain responsible for critically evaluating whatever the AI produces, and any use of AI in assessed work must follow the course's guidelines.

Overlapping courses

Course	Reduction (SP)
Fatigue and Fracture (BYG540_1) , Structural Integrity (MOK110_1)	5

Open for

Admission to Single Courses at Master Level at the Faculty of Science and Technology

Structural and Mechanical Engineering - Master

Exchange programme at The Faculty of Science and Technology

Admission requirements

Must meet the admission requirements of one of the study programmes the course is open for.

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue will be held in all courses or in selected groups of courses. The aim is to collect student feedback for improvements during the semester. In addition, a digital course evaluation must be conducted at least every three years to gather students’ experiences.

Contact

Head of Department:

Mona Wetrhus Minde

Course coordinator:

Kenneth Alasdair Macdonald

Course teacher:

Fredrik Bjørheim

Offered by

Faculty of Science and Technology

Department of Mechanical and Structural Engineering and Materials Science

The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1

Fatigue and Fracture (BYG540)

Facts

Introduction