Composite and Light Weight Materials

The course Composite and Lightweight Materials: Design and Analysis has been offered since 2011 and is part of the master’s program. Each year, it attracts approximately 50 students with an interest in advanced materials and structural design. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the design, analysis, and application of composite materials, combining theoretical foundations with practical insights from industry.

Throughout the course, students explore a variety of topics essential to understanding and working with composite structures. Key subjects include the manufacturing processes of composites, multiscale analysis and homogenization techniques, classical laminate theory, and failure models. We also cover the derivation and application of plate equations, the study of buckling phenomena, and the use of advanced numerical techniques. These techniques include shell elements, continuum shell elements, interface modeling, and the application of specialized solvers for analyzing complex structures.

An important feature of the course is the connection to real-world practice. We regularly invite guest lecturers from leading companies such as BMW and VDL Fibertech Industries, providing students with valuable industry perspectives and examples of cutting-edge applications. In the 2024–2025 edition, we introduced a practical assignment where students were challenged to design, build, and test a composite structure. This hands-on experience allowed them to apply the theoretical concepts learned in class and deepen their understanding of the mechanical behavior of composite materials.

Overall, the course equips students with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to work with composite and lightweight structures in high-tech industries and research environments.