Fracture Mechanics

About this programme

Choose semester and course offering to see current information and more about the course, such as course syllabus, study period, and application information. Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format. The course covers phenomenological theories for fracture in solids containing sharp cracks and how to apply this knowledge in the design of engineering structures. The loss of functionality of engineering structures typically occurs by failure due to instabilities or to cracking. The latter case is controlled by growth of cracks that nucleate or by growth of existing cracks to a critical size. The critical size is governed by the toughness of the material and the type of loading, which increase in time. The strong development of both analytical and numerical methods now makes it possible for engineers to analyse structures with defects such as cracks and to predict critical loads. The course aims at giving a fundamental understanding of material failure by cracking and operational skills in to assess defect structures. SE1010, SE1020, SE1021 or SE1055 Basic course in solid mechanics and SE1025 FEM for engineering applications Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability. The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students. If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.