MIT

Computational Mechanics of Materials

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session
Recitations: 1 session / week, 1.5 hours / session
Learning Objectives
16.225 is a graduate level course on Computational Mechanics of Materials. The primary focus of this course is on
the teaching of state-of-the-art computational methods for the modeling and simulation of the mechanical response
of engineering materials used in aerospace as well as in other branches of engineering including mechanical and
civil engineering, material science and biomechanics. The range of material behavior considered includes: finite
deformation elasticity and inelasticity, contact, friction and coupled problems. Numerical formulation and
algorithms include: Variational formulation and variational constitutive updates, finite element discretization, mesh
generation, error estimation, constrained problems, time discretization and convergence analysis. There will be a
strong emphasis on the (parallel) computer implementation of algorithms in programming assignments. At the
beginning of the course, the students will be given the source of a base code with all the elements of a finite element
program which constitute overhead and do not contribute to the learning objectives of this course (assembly and
equation-solving methods, etc.). Each assignment will consist of formulating and implementing on this basic
platform, the increasingly complex algorithms resulting from the theory given in class, as well as in using the code
to numerically solve specific problems. The application to real engineering applications and problems in engineering
science will be stressed throughout. 16.225 has a specific set of learning objectives. Students graduating from
16.225 will be able to:
1. Formulate numerical (finite element) approximations to the equations of motion governing the large, possibly
dynamic, deformations of continua.
2. Formulate variational update algorithms for the integration of the constitutive equations modeling a wide range
of material behavior, including finite elasticity, plasticity and rate-dependency.
3. Implement the resulting algorithms in a computer program.
4. Apply the computer program to the solution of concrete engineering science and engineering design problems.
Measurable Outcomes
The achievement of the learning objectives in 16.225 will be measured through the students' ability to:
1. apply the mathematical tools of tensor calculus to the analysis of the nonlinear kinematics of deforming
continua,
2. explain the large nonlinear deformations of continua through the local Lagrangian analysis of deformation,
3. formulate the Lagrangian equations of motion of deforming continua in integral and differential form,
4. formulate the Principle of Virtual Displacements for deforming continua,
5. explain stress and strain measures and work-conjugacy relationships,
6. explain constitutive theory and apply it to the formulation of appropriate models of finite elasticity, plasticity
and viscosity, explain the basic elements of finite element theory, including its ability to provide approximate
solutions to problems of deforming continua,
7. explain the formulation of and implement in a computer program isoparametric finite element models of three-
dimensional deforming continua,
8. explain the locking phenomenon in the finite element formulation of constrained problems,
9. estimate a priori the convergence error of finite element solutions of linear problems,
10. implement a priori estimates of the convergence error of finite element solutions of linear problems and use
them to
11. evaluate the error in finite element calculations of elasticity problems with known analytical solution and
confirm the theoretical estimates,
12. explain the basic elements of a general purpose finite element program, implement on a computer program
advanced algorithms of complex constitutive material models in finite element codes, explain Newton's
algorithm for the solution of nonlinear systems of algebraic equations,
13. read scientific articles in the field of Computational Mechanics of Materials understanding relevant in-depth
details,
14. conduct research towards a Graduate Degree in various engineering Departments at MIT that either requires the
educated application of currently available tools of Computational Mechanics of Materials or seeks to further
expand this area of research.
Prerequisites
Undergraduate mechanics background or permission of the instructor, some programming experience in any of the
following languages: Python, C++, C or Fortran.
Lectures
There will be two lectures of one and a half hours a week. Student attendance is necessary to maximize the learning
experience.
Recitations
Recitations will be used for answering questions related to the homework assignments, explanations of the computer
software sumMIT developed for this course, software issues on the athena cluster.
Course Work
The course work involved in 16.225 includes homework assignments.
Homework Assignments
A total of approximately six (6) problem sets and computer assignments will be given on Wednesdays and on a bi-
weekly basis. The due date for submission of assignments is at the beginning of class two Wednesdays after the
assignment is given. Late submission of assignments is not accepted. The assignments will consist of specific
exercises of algorithm formulation on paper, their computer implementation in programming exercises and their
testing in specific applications. At the beginning of the course, the students will be given the source of a base code
sumMIT with all the elements of a finite element program which constitute overhead and do not contribute to the
learning objectives of this course (assembly and equation-solving methods, etc.). Electronic homework submissions
are strongly recommended. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss homework problems in groups, since this is
expected to help the learning process. However, homework assignments are also used for performance assessment
and, therefore, the material that is turned in must represent the student's own understanding of the material.
Assessment of Student Performance
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss homework problems with each other, since this is expected to help the
learning process. However, homework assignments are also used for performance assessment and, therefore,the
material that is turned in must represent the student's own understanding of the material. The final letter grades will
be assigned according to the rules and regulations of the Faculty.
Bibliography
Textbooks on Continuum Mechanics and Mathematical Theory of Elasticity:
1. Marsden, J. E., and T. J. R. Hughes. Mathematical Foundations of Elasticity. Prentice-Hall, 1983.
2. Malvern, L. E. Introduction to the Mechanics of a Continuous Medium. Prentice-Hall, 1969.
3. Gurtin, M. E. An Introduction to Continuum Mechanics. Academic Press, 1981.
Textbooks on the finite element method:
1. Bathe, K. J. Finite Element Procedures. Prentice Hall, 1996.
2. Hughes, T. J. R. The Finite Element Method, Linear Static and Dynamic Finite Element Analysis. Dover.
3. Zienkiewicz, O. C., and R. L. Taylor. The Finite Element Method. Mc-Graw Hill, 1989.

Gergiatcch
ME 7201: Computational Mechanics of Materials
Offered as Required

Credit Hours: 2-3-3

Prerequisites: ME 6201 or equivalent, or with the consent of the instructor
Catalog Description: Computational treatments of material and geometric nonlinearity, with emphasis on rate-
dependent elastoplasticity and fracture.
Textbooks: None
Instructors: David McDowell (ME), Jiamin Qu (ME), Min Zhou (ME)
References: Thomas J. R. Hughes, The finite element method : linear static and dynamic finite
element analysis, Prentice-Hall, 1987.
O.C. Zienkiewicz and R.L. Taylor , The finite element method, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill,
1989.
K. J. Bathe, Finite element procedures, Prentice Hall, 1996.
R. H. Gallagher, Finite element analysis: fundamentals, Prentice-Hall, 1974.
 A. Curnier, Computational methods in Solid Mechanics, Kluwer Academic Publishers,
1993.
W. S. Hall, The boundary element method, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1994.
T. A. Cruse, Boundary Element Analysis in Computational Fracture Mechanics,
Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1988.
Goals: This course is intended for second year graduate students interested in learning computational
tools that are useful in modeling nonlinear behavior of materials. Computer assignments will
involve implementation of 2D elastoplasticity, deformation, fracture, and stress wave
propagation using in-house codes and/or a commercial code such as ABAQUS.

Topics: 1. Nonlinearity in finite element solutions

1. A review: important aspects of finite elements
Governing equations and variational principles
Implementation issues
Problem: code development for 1D or 2D linear DE's
2. Nonlinearity
Interactive solutions to nonlinear equations
Material nonlinearity
Geometric nonlinearity
3. Plasticity
Rate-independent plasticity
Cyclic loading
Rate-dependent viscoplasticity
Internal state variable models
Solution procedures for quasi-static problems: generalized implicit and semi-
implicit mid-point schemes
Implementation exercise: elastoplastic flow of notched body
4. Special considerations
Singularities (e.g. cracks)
VCE, contour and area domain integrals
Node separation
Contact
Problem solution: crack-tip field, calculation of J-integral, stress intensity
factor (K), COD, and 2D crack analysis
5. Transient problems
Solution procedures for time-dependent problems
Implicit Euler's method
Explicit Euler's method
Semi-implicit Euler's methods
Problem solution: 2D-elastoplastic wave propagation
6. Representation of Material Heterogeneities
Microstructural discretization
Calculation of effective properties
Periodic and non-periodic cell analyses
Interface and interphases
Damage and failure
Problem solution: Effective properties of metal matrix composites
2. Boundary Element Method
1. Introduction
2. Weighted residual methods
3. Potential Problems
4. Boundary-integral equation formulation and solution
Governing equations of elasticity
Fundamental solutions
Boundary-integral equations
 Boundary conditions
5. The boundary element method
Numerical foundation
Linear approximation
6. Two-dimensional Elastostatics
Derivation of the boundary Integral equation
Boundary element solution
7. Elastoplastic fracture mechanics analysis
8. Elastoplastic BIE formulation
9. Numerical implementation
10. 2D numerical problem solution
Grading Scheme: Midterm 1/3
Computer Assignments 1/3
Final 1/3