• Combined Course (KV, lecture and tutorial parts) 2 hours per week (2.5 ECTS)

The course gives an overview on the applications and classical disciplines of lightweight design:

• Objective, methods and tools of lightweight design
• Types of lightweight constructions
• Examples of lightweight systems design
• Lightweight materials, metals, composite materials and joining technologies
• Introduction into constructional lightweight design

The course (KV) is a

• Compulsory subject of the bachelor's programme Polymer Engineering
• Compulsory subject of the specialisation Mechanics of the bachelor's programme Mechatronics
• Compulsory subject of the specialisation Product Development of the bachelor's programme Mechanical Engineering

• Lecture (KV) 2 hours per week (3 ECTS, is held in winter semester)
• Tutorial (UE) 2 hours per week (3 ECTS, is held in winter semester)

This course covers the design and strength analysis of lightweight parts and structures:

• Introduction into Structural Lightweight Design
• Stress Analysis of Lightweight Structures
• Stability Analysis of Lightweight Structures
• Strength Design of Lightweight Constructions
• Strength of Composite Materials - Fundamentals

• Lecture (VO) 2 hours per week (3 ECTS)
• Tutorial (UE) 2 hours per week (3 ECTS)

This course introduces the basic concepts of lightweight design with composite materials, particularly with laminated fiber-reinforced polymers and provides a fundamental knowledge regarding the strength analysis of such materials:

• Introduction to composite materials
• Fiber and matrix materials
• Micro-mechanical behavior of a lamina
• Macro-mechanical behavior of a lamina
• Macro-mechanical behavior and stiffness design of laminates
• Failure criteria and strength concepts
• Design of lightweight composite structures

Lecture (VO) and tutorial (UE) are compulsory subject of the master's programme Polymer Technologies and Science

• Laboratory practicum (PR) 2 hours per week (3 ECTS)

The course comprises the performance of laboratory experiments and their evaluation with respect to structural strength analysis:

• Tensile test
• Wöhler tests
• Crack propagation and residual strength tests
• Column and plate buckling and tests

The course (KV) is a

• Compulsory subject of the specialisation Product Development of the bachelor's programme Mechanical Engineering

• Lecture (VL) 2 hours per week (3 ECTS, is held in winter semester)

The lecture covers methods and techniques for automated monitoring of lightweight structures in terms of structural damage:

• "Structural Health Monitoring" (SHM) as mechatronic task
• Application of SHM in civil engineering and aerospace
• Classification and assessment of the damages of structures (e.g. cracks)
• Appropriate sensors and measurement methods for SHM
• Design of SHM systems

• Lecture (KV) 1 hour per week (1.5 ECTS, is held in winter semester)

This compact, application-oriented course provides an introduction to the numerical strength calculation of lightweight components using Finite Element programs:

• Introduction to the Finite Element Method
• Introduction to the operation of a finite element program
• Calculation of simple static stress problems
• Calculation of stability problems of beam and shell structures
• Physical nonlinearities and their interaction with stability problems
• Calculation of dynamic problems

This course is compulsory for all students who want to carry out a thesis at the Institute of Structural Lightweight Design.

• Tutorial (UE) 1 hour per week (1.5 ECTS)

In this course the basic knowledges of the durability calculations are acquired:

• Short overview of the durability theories of engineering materials with special focus on fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites and sandwich structures.
• Fatigue; Physical modeling of damage development for composite materials under stress, Life-time prediction methods for both constant and variable stress histories, statistical analysis of fatigue data, application of constant life diagrams for engineering structures, reliability methods, fatigue analysis of adhesively bonded structural joints, theories for multiaxial stress state analysis
• Creep; application of the time-temperature superposition principle for creep calculations of composite materials
• Wear; models of composite wear, application of life time estimation methods

• Lecture (VL) 2 hours per week (3 ECTS, is held in winter semester)

This course introduces the basic concepts of damage and failure of lightweight structures:

• Material behavior under quasi-static monotonic, and quasi-static cyclic (fatigue) loading
• Cyclic loading case: analysis methods for fatigue damage intitiation, and fatigue damage growth
• Particular damage modes and mechanisms for homogeneous isotropic (e.g., metals), and heterogeneous orthotropic (e.g., fiber reinforced laminated composites) materials
• Composite materials: intra-laminar, and inter-laminar (delamination) damage
• Analytical methods, and particular aspects of the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) numerical implementation

• Seminar 1 hours per week (1.5 ECTS)

The objective of the course is to introduce students to the field of mechanical and plant engineering by presenting modern industrial companies. In particular, the students should learn what is understood by mechanical engineering today and what are the requirements of industrial companies on future engineers.

The course (SE) is a

• Compulsory subject of the bachelor's programme Mechanical Engineering

• Lecture (LV) 2 hours per week (3 ECTS, is held in winter semester)
• Tutorial (UE) 2 hours per week (3 ECTS, is held in winter semester)

This courses cover analytical and experimental methods of strength assessment of mechanically loaded structural parts and materials:

• Foundations of stress analysis
• Material behavior and constitutive laws
• Selected examples of deformation analysis and stress analysis
• Foundations of fracture mechanics
• Foundations of fatigue strength analysis
• Foundations of stability analysis

The lecture (LV) is a

• Compulsory subject of the bachelor's programme Polymer Engineering
• Compulsory subject of the bachelor's programme Mechatronics
• Compulsory subject of the bachelor's programme Mechanical Engineering

 The tutorial (UE) is a

• Compulsory subject of the specialisation Mechanics of the bachelor's programme Mechatronics
• Compulsory of the bachelor's programme Mechanical Engineering

• Seminar 2 hours per week (3 ECTS)

The students have to find and realize innovative solutions for interdisciplinary problems of mechanical engineering within a competitive but completely open challenge. The work ranges from concept development over component design to the production of a prototype. The students are supported by the lecturer by, regular meetings, provided technical documents and sources as well as consultation hours to deal with specific problems. Defined resources are provided for the realization of a prototype. The practicum is a group work. The students organize required tasks within the group. The final step is a written report of the found solution, its presentation and the demonstration of its superior functionality.

The course (SE) is a

• Compulsory subject of the bachelor's programme Mechanical Engineering

• Laboratory practicum (PR) 1 hour per week (1,5 ECTS)

After laboratory training and safety instruction, the students realize their own mechanical engineering projects independently. The tasks are self-defined and range from design to manufacture, assembly and testing. Computer workstations with CAE software, hand tools and machine tools are available for work. Laboratory staff provide support as needed. Work can also be done in groups. Find more information at: www.jku.at/ikl/oi-lab/, opens an external URL in a new window