The basic idea of this introduction to the finite element method is based on the concept of explaining the complex method using only one-dimensional elements. Thus, the mathematical description remains largely simple and straightforward. The emphasis in each chapter is on explaining the method and understanding it itself. The reader learns to understand the assumptions and derivations in various physical problems in structural mechanics and to critically assess the possibilities and limitations of the finite element method. The restriction to one-dimensional elements thus enables the methodical understanding of important topics (e.g. plasticity or composite materials), which a prospective computational engineer encounters in professional practice, but which are rarely treated in this form at universities. Thus, an easy entry - also into more advanced application areas - is ensured by the concept of (a) introduction to the basics (b) exact derivation with restriction to one-dimensional elements (and in many cases also to one-dimensional problems) (c) extensive examples and advanced tasks (with short solution in the appendix). For illustration purposes, each chapter is deepened with extensively calculated and commented examples as well as with further tasks including short solutions

This book provides a systematic introduction to composite materials, which are obtained by a layer-wise stacking of one-dimensional bar/beam elements. Each layer may have different mechanical properties but each single layer is considered as isotropic. The major idea is to provide a simplified theory to easier understand the classical two-dimensional laminate theory for composites based on laminae with unidirectional fibers. In addition to the elastic behavior, failure is investigated based on the maximum stress, maximum strain, Tsai-Hill, and the Tsai-Wu criteria. Partial differential equations lay the foundation to mathematically describe the mechanical behavior of any classical structural member known in engineering mechanics, including composite materials. The so-called classical laminate theory provides a simplified stress analysis, and a subsequent failure analysis, without the solution of the system of coupled differential equations for the unknown displacements. The procedure provides the solution of a statically indeterminate system based on a generalized stress–strain relationship under consideration of the constitutive relationship and the definition of the so-called stress resultants. This laminate theory is typically provided for two-dimensional plane problems, where the basic structural element is a simple superposition of a classical plane elasticity element with a thin plate element under the consideration of an orthotropic constitutive law. This two-dimensional approach and the underlying advanced continuum mechanical modeling might be very challenging for some students, particularly at universities of applied sciences. Thus, a reduced approach, the so-called simplified classical laminate theory, has been developed. The idea is to use solely isotropic one-dimensional elements, i.e., a superposition of bar and beam elements, to introduce the major calculation steps of the classical laminate theory. Understanding this simplified theory is much easier and the final step it to highlight the differences when moving to the general two-dimensional case.

This book addresses various aspects of knowledge management and technological advances that are driving the ongoing industrial revolution. This revolution is being driven by the rapid development of several key technologies, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence, robotics, Big Data, the Internet of Things, nanotechnology, and biotechnology. Another most important and useful concept is knowledge management because modern organizations rely on knowledge and its development to achieve long-term benefits. Therefore, different research directions can have a significant impact on the industrial revolution and its results.

This book reports research findings and outcome from various discipline of engineering and technology, focusing on industrial technology operation and sustainable development. The content is the results of research done at the Research and Innovation Section of the Universiti Kuala Lumpur – MITEC as well as several experts from other institutions in Malaysia. The content describes the latest knowledge and development aligned with current trends of industrial technology operation in Malaysia.

This monograph presents the latest developments and applications of computational tools related to the biosciences and medical engineering. Computational tools such as the finite element methods, computer-aided design and optimization as well as visualization techniques such as computed axial tomography open completely new research fields with a closer joining of the engineering and bio/medical area. Nevertheless, there are still hurdles since both directions are based on quite different ways of education. Often even the “language� is sometimes different from discipline to discipline. This monograph reports the results of different multi-disciplinary research projects, for example, from the areas of scaffolds and synthetic bones, implants and medical devices and medical materials. It is also shown that the application of computational methods often necessitates mathematical and experimental methods.

This book presents the latest findings on mechanical and materials engineering as applied to the design of modern engineering materials and components. The contributions cover the classical fields of mechanical, civil and materials engineering, as well as bioengineering and advanced materials processing and optimization. The materials and structures discussed can be categorized into modern steels, aluminium and titanium alloys, polymers/composite materials, biological and natural materials, material hybrids and modern nano-based materials. Analytical modelling, numerical simulation, state-of-the-art design tools and advanced experimental techniques are applied to characterize the materials’ performance and to design and optimize structures in different fields of engineering applications.

Classical plasticity theory of metals is independent of the hydrostatic pressure. However if the metal contains voids or pores or if the structure is composed of cells, this classical assumption is no more valid and the influence of the hydrostatic pressure must be incorporated in the constitutive description. Looking at the microlevel, metal plasticity is connected with the uniform planes of atoms organized with long-range order. Planes may slip past each other along their close-packed directions. The result is a permanent change of shape within the crystal and plastic deformation. The presence of dislocations increases the likelihood of planes slipping. Nowadays, the theory of pressure sensitive plasticity is successfully applied to many other important classes of materials (polymers, concrete, bones etc.) even if the phenomena on the micro-level are different to classical plasticity of metals. The theoretical background of this phenomenological approach based on observations on the macro-level is described in detail in this monograph and applied to a wide range of different important materials in the last part of this book.

The idea of this monograph is to present the latest results related to design and computation of engineering materials and structures. The contributions cover the classical fields of mechanical, civil and materials engineering up to biomechanics and advanced materials processing and optimization. The materials and structures covered can be categorized into modern steels and titanium alloys, composite materials, biological and natural materials, material hybrids and modern joining technologies. Analytical modelling, numerical simulation, the application of state-of-the-art design tools and sophisticated experimental techniques are applied to characterize the performance of materials and to design and optimize structures in different fields of engineering applications.

This book presents the developments in engineering design application. The chapters on mechanical, materials, computer and process engineering provide the foundation for the design and development of improved structures, materials and processes. They present alternatives with cost reduction and environmental demands. The book content links the interaction of classical engineering with the health, medical and environmental sector.

This book describes common applied problems that are solved with the use of digital technology. The digital technology has simplified most of our daily activities. Technology has been improving our quality of life where human capability alone is insufficient enough to be utilized. For any challenging tasks, digital technology helps to solve it in very efficient ways and thousands of them are solved on a daily basis without much notice in the public. Software and IT technology let us to complete tasks in just a moment that took days without this technical support. In that sense, this book presents several examples on how software- and IT-based solutions were successfully applied in solving actual engineering problems.

This book treats the mechanical behavior of one-dimensional sandwich structures, a typicaloncept in the context of lightweight design. Such structures are composed of different constituent (e.g., layers) in order to achieve overall properties, which are better than for a single component alone. This book covers the basic mechanical load cases, i.e., tension/compression, bending, and shear. Based on this knowledge, different failure modes, i.e., plastic yielding, and global and local instabilities are investigated. In addition, an introduction to classic optimization problems, i.e., the formulation of an objective function (e.g., the weight of a structure) and corresponding restrictions, is included. The consideration here is limited to one- or two-dimensional design spaces, i.e., with a maximum of two design variables. For such simple cases, the minimum of the objective function can often be determined using analytical or graphical methods.