• Review of the FE method (displacement approach) applied to linear elastic problems in solid and structural mechanics. Formulation of some "potential problems" in 2D (heat transfer, taut membrane under a transverse loading, flow in porou media, torsion in bars) and derivation of the FE equations. Multi-point constraints, using Lagrange multipliers or penalty method.
• Operative aspects of the use of a general-purpose finite element code (Abaqus).
• Weighted residual approaches and FE method. Coupled problems by the FE method: thermo-elasticity, poro-elasticity.
• Non-linear FE analyses (material/geometric nonlinearities); iterative (Newton-Ralphson) and incremetal strategies. Example of nonlinear elastic analysis. Elastic-plastic analysis of solids and structures. Knowledge and use of some matlabe codes made available by the instructors.  Examples of application.
• Boundary element method for linear problems. "Potential problems" and elastostatics: fundamental solutions and generation of the integral equations, discretization, zone-wise techniques, examples of applications.

Each student is requested to write a report containing an in-depth study on a topic covered in the course, possibly with a significant computational development; the exam (oral examination only) will consist of a discussion on the report and of  questions on the main topics dealt with in the course.