Course syllabus

Course syllabus for Advanced finite element modeling of high-temperature metal processes

Course syllabus adopted 2026-10-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

Swedish name:
Avancerad finita element modellering av högtem­per­atur­processer i metaller
Code:
TRA555
Credits:
2.5 Credits
Owner:
TRACKS
Education cycle:
Second-cycle
Department:
TRACKS
Grading:
TH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language

    English

  • Application code

    97199

  • Maximum participants

    50 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)

  • Minimum participants

    8

  • Open for exchange students

    Yes

Credit distribution

Module
Sp1
Sp2
Sp3
Sp4
Summer
Not Sp
Examination dates
0126 Project 2.5 c
Grading: TH		 1.2 c1.3 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)

Course specific prerequisites

In addition to the general requirements to study at the second-cycle level at Chalmers, necessary subject or project specific prerequisite competences (if any) must be fulfilled. Alternatively, the student must obtain the necessary competences during the course. The examiner will formulate and check these prerequisite competences[IG1.1].

The student should have strong knowledge of and practical experience with commercial finite element (FE) software. Students may use the FE software of their choice and the course assumes that students have experience running FE simulations and interpreting their results. The student should also have a basic knowledge of continuum mechanics, thermodynamics, metallurgy/material science, numerical methods, and programming.

The course is intended for students with different disciplinary backgrounds. Students are expected to have sufficient competence in their own engineering discipline and to take this course to acquire or strengthen knowledge from adjacent disciplines to solve the thermo-metallurgical-mechanical (TMM) problems addressed in the course.

Aim

The course provides a platform to work and solve challenging cross-disciplinary authentic problems from different stakeholders in society such as the academy, industry or public institutions. Additionally, the aim is that students from different educational programs practice working efficiently in multidisciplinary development teams.

This course in specific provides a platform for students to apply advanced FEM approaches to challenging, multidisciplinary problems involving strongly coupled thermo-metallurgical-mechanical phenomena in high-temperature metal processes, such as welding, casting, additive manufacturing och grinding.

The course aims to bridge basic knowledge gaps between continuum mechanics, thermodynamics, metallurgy, numerical methods, and computational mechanics, enabling students from different engineering backgrounds to develop a more integrated understanding of high-fidelity TMM simulations.

Students will learn how to use different appropriate modelling techniques, material descriptions, and simulation strategies for high-temperature metal processes, and to critically assess the capabilities and limitations of FE software and models.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

General learning outcomes for Tracks courses:
  • Critically and creatively identify and/or formulate advanced architectural or engineering problems.
  • Master problems with open solutions spaces which includes being able to handle uncertainties and limited information.
  • Work and collaborate in interdisciplinary and/or diverse teams show insights about cultural differences and be able to work sensitively with them.
  • Communicate and convey information, problems, methods, and development processes, both orally and in writing
Course specific learning outcomes:
  • Select and justify appropriate thermal, mechanical, metallurgical, and material models, including relevant TMM coupling strategies, for high-temperature metal processes.
  • Use appropriate FE models of high-temperature metal processes, including relevant phenomena such as heat transfer, temperature-dependent material behavior, plastic deformation, phase transformations, heat generation, latent heat, microstructure evolution, residual stresses, distortion, and material addition.
  • Evaluate the accuracy and predictive capability of TMM FE models by comparing simulation results with empirical or experimental data and analyzing the influence of modeling assumptions, material parameters, numerical methods, and software limitations.
  • Extend and adapt FE models using programming or user-defined subroutines when required, and communicate the modeling approach, results, limitations, and conclusions in a technically rigorous manner.

Content

You will learn how to approach FE modeling problems where thermal, mechanical, and metallurgical phenomena interact. In particular, you will learn how to select appropriate physical models, identify relevant coupling mechanisms, handle temperature-dependent material behavior and phase transformations, investigate residual stresses and distortion, evaluate modeling assumptions, and validate your simulations against empirical or experimental data. You will also explore the capabilities and limitations of the FE software you use, including the use of user-defined subroutines where appropriate.

The topics covered in the course include heat transfer and thermal conduction, plasticity and deformation, temperature-dependent material properties, phase transformations, heat generation and latent heat, microstructure evolution, residual stresses and distortion, and material addition. Applications include welding, additive manufacturing, casting, and grinding.

Students are free to select the FE software most appropriate for their experience, profession and challenges. They are expected to explore the capabilities and limitations of their selected software and may extend the software through simple programming of user-defined subroutines where appropriate. Moreover, students are encouraged to bring their own engineering examples, applications, and modeling challenges to the course. These may be related to their previous studies, research, or industrial experience. The course assignments can therefore be adapted, where appropriate, to the student's specific disciplinary background and needs.

Organisation

General Tracks organisation:
The course is run by a teaching team. The main part of the course is a challenge driven project. The challenge may range from being broad societal to profound research driven. The project task is solved in a group. The course is supplemented by teaching and learning of the skills necessary for the project. The project team will have one university examiner, one or a pole of university supervisors and one or a pole of external co-supervisors if applicable.

Specific organisation for the course:
The course is over five weeks, with one lecture and associated project work each week. The main part of the course consists of weekly assignments which progressively develop the student's ability to model and analyze coupled TMM phenomena in high-temperature metal processes.

The project work includes comparison of simulation results with examples for which strong empirical or experimental reference data are available. This enables students to assess the predictive capability and limitations of their models.

Literature

Students will be provided with relevant course literature for each lecture. The teaching team will support students in identifying and acquiring additional relevant scientific and technical literature as required by their individual projects. With input from the teaching team, students will develop the ability to identify and acquire relevant literature throughout their projects.

Examination including compulsory elements

The course is assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Examination consists of a series of compulsory individual or group assignments and a final presentation of the students' work. The assignments require the student to formulate, develop, run, analyze, and critically evaluate FE simulations involving TMM phenomena. All compulsory assignments and the final presentation must be completed to a satisfactory standard for a passing grade.

The final presentation gives students the opportunity to demonstrate and explain the development and evaluation of their work, as well as to learn from each other's experiences and network for future collaborations.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.