Upcoming MOOC: Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue of Structures
© 2025 EPFL
Prof. Alain Nussbaumer (EPFL) and Prof. Davide Leonetti (TU/e) are developing a new online course dedicated to the scientific foundations and engineering applications of fracture and fatigue. Produced by the Center for Digital Education at EPFL, the course is structured to provide a rigorous framework for understanding the influence of flaws on structural integrity.
Course Objectives
- Establish the theoretical principles of fracture mechanics.
- Develop long-term competencies in fracture mechanics and fatigue numerical methods
- Develop methodologies for fatigue analysis in engineering structures.
- Integrate computational and experimental approaches to structural assessment.
- Analyze real-world case studies to bridge fundamental mechanics and engineering practice.
Course Content
- Crack initiation and propagation in different materials, with focus on steels.
- Linear elastic and elastic–plastic fracture mechanics.
- High-cycle fatigue and fracture phenomena.
- Numerical tools for simulations and laboratory testing protocols.
- Engineering applications in civil structures and mechanical systems.
Dissemination
- Offered within the EuroTeQ collaborative programs for participating university students.
- Released as a public MOOC on edX.org in February 2026 (tentatively), accessible worldwide.