Doctoral program in Structural Analysis 48 months PHD Programme By Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) |TopUniversities

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Civil and Structural

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The doctoral programme in Structural Analysis was launched in 1988 when the Department of Strength of Materials and Structural Engineering was established within the framework of the University Reform Law (LRU) and the Statutes of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The programme was created to produce doctoral graduates in the field of continuous media mechanics and theory of structures. This is a unique area of activity at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

The design of the programme reflects two strategic orientations. First, it has a strong international dimension to encourage the participation of many students. Professors from Latin America, European countries, Asia and Africa are involved in teaching. Second, the conceptual design of the programme and the scientific content it focuses on closely reflect the challenges and innovation-related problems that Spanish and European industry face as they seek to improve their competitiveness in a global context. One aspect of the programme’s international focus is the regular collaboration of internationally renowned professors in its delivery:

  • Dr S. Idelsohn (ICREA), Research Professor at CIMNE, Spain
  • Dr C. Felippa, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA
  • Dr R. Löhner, University of Washington, USA
  • Dr J. Rojek, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Academy of Sciences, Poland
  • Dr F. Armero, University of Berkeley, USA
  • Dr S. Botello, University of Guanajuato, Mexico
  • Dr J. Hurtado, National University of Colombia
  • Dr M. Cerrolaza, Central University of Venezuela
The programme also has close links with other universities and with companies in RDI. Professors and students work with a large number of companies on RDI projects within the framework of joint projects funded by national and EU research bodies. In the last five years, professors and students on the programme have participated in numerous research projects selected through competitive calls under national and EU programmes.

Rationale for the programme

In recent decades, major technological advances have facilitated deeper and more effective approaches and methods in structural analysis. This has been achieved in part thanks to more powerful and precise calculation tools but also because specialists in the field are being called on to solve increasingly complex problems facing society.

In this context, the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis meets two needs. First, it introduces vertical content related to analysis and calculation of structures. This means studying and analysing the full array of concepts, methods and numerical tools needed to calculate different types of structures: beams, plates, sheets, etc. Students are also introduced to constitutive equations that define the behaviour of materials and therefore their structural response.

Second, the programme covers horizontal content related to the mechanics of continuous media and the use of numerical techniques to solve problems. Study focuses on the numerical solution (linear and nonlinear) of equations related to heat transmission, fracture mechanics and some complex industrial processes (filling of moulds, sheet metal stamping, laminating, forging, etc.) and Navier-Stokes equations, among other topics. This dual approach makes the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis, which covers both the mechanics of continuous media and structure theory, unique at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Programme objectives

The objective of the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis is to develop high-quality researchers in the field of structural analysis, conceived in its broadest sense within the mechanics of continuous media, and in the application of numerical techniques (mainly finite elements) in this area. The programme focuses on two basic aspects of structural analysis:
• Methodology
• Applications

Methodology

In this dimension, the objectives of the programme are as follows:
• To provide students with a deeper knowledge of the most commonly used structural materials and their numerical treatment: two and three-dimensional continuous media, beams, plates and sheets
• To develop and extend students’ knowledge and understanding of constitutive equations for materials that can be used to analyse their behaviour
• To introduce students to the numerical treatment of differential and integral equations that govern the structural behaviour of materials
• To use various numerical solution methods to analyse equations resulting from discretisation of the continuum, including coupling and interaction problems.

Applications

As soon as students have acquired the basic knowledge indicated above, they must choose a specialisation based on the objectives of their doctoral thesis. In this context, the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis covers the following fields:

- Structural engineering, including seismic analysis, structural pathologies, numerical analysis of composite and functional materials, etc.

- Solving multiphysical problems: thermomechanical analysis, fluid-structure interaction, etc.

- Numerical simulation of industrial processes: additive manufacturing, rolling, welding, forging, solidification, deep drawing, etc.

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Civil and Structural

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The doctoral programme in Structural Analysis was launched in 1988 when the Department of Strength of Materials and Structural Engineering was established within the framework of the University Reform Law (LRU) and the Statutes of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. The programme was created to produce doctoral graduates in the field of continuous media mechanics and theory of structures. This is a unique area of activity at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

The design of the programme reflects two strategic orientations. First, it has a strong international dimension to encourage the participation of many students. Professors from Latin America, European countries, Asia and Africa are involved in teaching. Second, the conceptual design of the programme and the scientific content it focuses on closely reflect the challenges and innovation-related problems that Spanish and European industry face as they seek to improve their competitiveness in a global context. One aspect of the programme’s international focus is the regular collaboration of internationally renowned professors in its delivery:

  • Dr S. Idelsohn (ICREA), Research Professor at CIMNE, Spain
  • Dr C. Felippa, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA
  • Dr R. Löhner, University of Washington, USA
  • Dr J. Rojek, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Academy of Sciences, Poland
  • Dr F. Armero, University of Berkeley, USA
  • Dr S. Botello, University of Guanajuato, Mexico
  • Dr J. Hurtado, National University of Colombia
  • Dr M. Cerrolaza, Central University of Venezuela
The programme also has close links with other universities and with companies in RDI. Professors and students work with a large number of companies on RDI projects within the framework of joint projects funded by national and EU research bodies. In the last five years, professors and students on the programme have participated in numerous research projects selected through competitive calls under national and EU programmes.

Rationale for the programme

In recent decades, major technological advances have facilitated deeper and more effective approaches and methods in structural analysis. This has been achieved in part thanks to more powerful and precise calculation tools but also because specialists in the field are being called on to solve increasingly complex problems facing society.

In this context, the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis meets two needs. First, it introduces vertical content related to analysis and calculation of structures. This means studying and analysing the full array of concepts, methods and numerical tools needed to calculate different types of structures: beams, plates, sheets, etc. Students are also introduced to constitutive equations that define the behaviour of materials and therefore their structural response.

Second, the programme covers horizontal content related to the mechanics of continuous media and the use of numerical techniques to solve problems. Study focuses on the numerical solution (linear and nonlinear) of equations related to heat transmission, fracture mechanics and some complex industrial processes (filling of moulds, sheet metal stamping, laminating, forging, etc.) and Navier-Stokes equations, among other topics. This dual approach makes the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis, which covers both the mechanics of continuous media and structure theory, unique at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Programme objectives

The objective of the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis is to develop high-quality researchers in the field of structural analysis, conceived in its broadest sense within the mechanics of continuous media, and in the application of numerical techniques (mainly finite elements) in this area. The programme focuses on two basic aspects of structural analysis:
• Methodology
• Applications

Methodology

In this dimension, the objectives of the programme are as follows:
• To provide students with a deeper knowledge of the most commonly used structural materials and their numerical treatment: two and three-dimensional continuous media, beams, plates and sheets
• To develop and extend students’ knowledge and understanding of constitutive equations for materials that can be used to analyse their behaviour
• To introduce students to the numerical treatment of differential and integral equations that govern the structural behaviour of materials
• To use various numerical solution methods to analyse equations resulting from discretisation of the continuum, including coupling and interaction problems.

Applications

As soon as students have acquired the basic knowledge indicated above, they must choose a specialisation based on the objectives of their doctoral thesis. In this context, the doctoral programme in Structural Analysis covers the following fields:

- Structural engineering, including seismic analysis, structural pathologies, numerical analysis of composite and functional materials, etc.

- Solving multiphysical problems: thermomechanical analysis, fluid-structure interaction, etc.

- Numerical simulation of industrial processes: additive manufacturing, rolling, welding, forging, solidification, deep drawing, etc.

Admission Requirements

87+
5.5+
Applicants who meet one or more of the following conditions are also eligible for admission:

a) Holders of official Spanish degrees or equivalent Spanish qualifications, provided they have passed 300 ECTS credits in total and they can prove they have reached Level 3 in the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.
b) Holders of degrees awarded in foreign education systems in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which do not require homologation, who can prove that they have reached Level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework, provided the degree makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
c) Holders of degrees awarded in a country that does not belong to the EHEA, which do not require homologation, on the condition that the University is able to verify that the degree is of a level equivalent to that of official university master's degrees in Spain and that it makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
d) Holders of another doctoral degree.
e) Holders of an official university qualification who, having been awarded a post as a trainee in the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have successfully completed at least two years of training leading to an official degree in a health sciences specialisation.

4 Years
Sep
Oct

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