Instructor: Cesare Davini
Number of hours: 8
SSD: ICAR/08

The purpose of the course is to present an elementary introduction to variational principles in elasticity.

Course content: Fundamentals of the linear elasticity equilibrium problem. The equilibrium problem for hyper-elastic bodies. Principles of minimum: the theorem of minimum potential energy and the theorem of minimum complementary energy. Consequences of the two principles of minimum: existence of the solution and numerical approximations (Ritz’s method). Applications of the two principles of minimum. A classical problem: estimation of the torsion factor in de Saint Venant’s beam theory.

Teaching methods: lectures
Assessment methods: final written report
Additional information: the course can be delivered in English if required