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Moving from Linear to Nonlinear Analysis

Course Summary

Featuring four live online sessions of 90 - 120 minutes each, this course is for engineers with a good understanding of linear analysis but who need to progress to nonlinear analysis for design and assessment.

Many problems facing designers and engineers are nonlinear in nature, whether it be masonry arch cracking, buckling of a plate girder system or soil-structure interaction. While the assumption of linearity is routinely used for many designs, sometimes a more refined - nonlinear - approach is justified. 

With LUSAS you can straightforwardly model the various forms of nonlinear behaviour that can be encountered, and become proficient in using tools and facilities that are often seen to be the preserve of the experts.

 

Obtain answers and practical engineering guidance to the following:

  • Understand why you need to move from linear to nonlinear analysis
  • Appreciate the fundamentals of nonlinear control and how to obtain a converged solution
  • Get an overview of the major sources of nonlinearity and how to set them up in LUSAS
  • Model a staged construction process that allows the structure to be built and locks in the stresses from each stage automatically - because most structures are not "wished in place". 
  • Learn from practical nonlinear examples including buckling of a braced pair of plate girders as a result of a concrete pour, and the assessment of a masonry arch with cracking.

Understand the basics of why and when you need to do a nonlinear analysis and proceed to cover in detail:

  • Geometric nonlinearity (including large deflections). How deformations affect the performance of a structure and its stability or buckling resilience.
  • Nonlinear materials.  Do stresses remain in the linear range? or do you need to consider yielding, cracking, crushing etc?
  • Nonlinear boundary conditions and contact analysis. When parts of a structure come in or out of contact, such as how a wind turbine base might interact with the soil below.

Potential delegates should ensure they are familiar with linear static analysis using LUSAS prior to attending this course.

See typical course content for each session.


Course Dates

Course name Dates No of sessions Time of each session Course cost Booking
Moving from Linear to Nonlinear Analysis TBA May 2025 4 14:00 - 16:00 BST 395 GBP Not yet available
Moving from Linear to Nonlinear Analysis TBA November 2025 4 14:00 - 16:00 GMT 395 GBP Not yet available

Bookings and payments

  • To book and pay for a single place on a course click the 'Book now' button. If multiple bookings of staff from the same organisation are required with payment to be made via a single invoice, please contact the training course administrator at training@lusas.com

  • Course costs include handouts and are quoted in local currencies and are exclusive of any local government taxes (if applicable). 

  • Please note that when paying by credit card the amount charged in your currency may differ according to exchange rates and credit card fees incurred, which are beyond our control.

  • For cancellations to attend a training course that are received in writing at least 1 day prior to the first session taking place, the course cost will be refunded.

  • LUSAS reserves the right to reject bookings and to cancel or re-schedule courses or individual sessions in the unlikely event of this being required.

A discount is available for an invoiced booking of 5 or more delegates from the same organisation. Please contact your account manager or training@lusas.com for details.


Online training information

Sessions presented using Session length After session offline self-study required Training certificates
GoToWebinar 90 to 120 minutes 45 to 60 minutes Issued on successful completion 

Notes

  • Training sessions are provided using the GoToWebinar web conferencing facility. You can join each training session up to 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. They will start promptly.

  • Training sessions are a mix of PowerPoint presentation and live demonstration of LUSAS.

  • Delegates do not undertake any hands-on examples during each session, but examples that cover the concepts introduced are provided for download and use by delegates after each session. These examples will take between 45 and 60 minutes of offline self-study to complete. Email support is available from the lecturer to assist with these examples if needed.

  • Session presentations can be downloaded from a training course event page and printed off if required.

  • Delegates are able to ask the lecturer questions during the training session via the chat tool or afterwards via email.

  • Sessions are recorded and links to recordings will be provided to delegates to allow viewing if a session is missed.

  • Training certificates are provided to those who successfully complete the series of worked examples and pass the quiz set after each session.

  • Registration for Session 1 is a requirement to attend all subsequent sessions.

On successful completion of the course, and with subsequent experience, delegates should be able to successfully tackle many types of nonlinear analyses that are encountered in mainstream structural and bridge engineering.


LUSAS software version

LUSAS version 21 will be used to present this course. For delegates without access to a licence that supports this version, a temporary licence will be provided. 

Accessing LUSAS 

Individuals who wish to attend the training who do not have access to the required version of the software may request a temporary training licence from LUSAS to allow the running of the software on their personal computers. After booking your place on the course, please contact training@lusas.com to request a licence stating your name and details as asked for on the booking form.

Downloading LUSAS

LUSAS may be downloaded either as an ISO file, or as a small startup executable. Use whichever is better or works for you. 

Options for downloading LUSAS Version 21
ISO file

OR

Web installer
Download a single disk image file containing all installation components. 

Select this option for offline installation on one or more PCs.

Download a small setup executable which allows you to choose those components that you wish to download and install. 

Select this option for online installation on a single PC.

Please contact onlinetraining@lusas.com if you have any questions relating to the licence key sent to you.


Typical Course Content


Session 1 - Introduction to Nonlinear Analysis 

Learn what geometric nonlinearity actually involves with the use of basic examples not complex theory. The chosen examples give different outcomes in linear and nonlinear approaches. In many cases linear and nonlinear analysis gives the same outcome. However there are many other situations where geometric nonlinearity is simply required to get the correct answer.

  • A simple cable analysis highlights exactly why geometric nonlinearity is required.

  • Presentation example: Snap-through of a shallow arch demonstrates geometric nonlinearity, nonlinear solution strategy and control settings.

  • Homework example: Buckling of a simplified braced pair of plate girders, to be completed by delegates.

  • Online quiz to complete the session.

 


Session 2 - Material nonlinearity

When engineers think about nonlinear analysis what comes into their head first is usually material nonlinearity. There are many different aspects of material nonlinearity and material models include those for elasto-plasticity, brittle fracture , creep and shrinkage, etc. This session provides an overview of the nonlinear models available, and shows how to set them up in LUSAS.

  • Use of a simple model to demonstrate material nonlinearity.

  • Presentation example: Cracking of a masonry arch structure.

  • Homework example: Adding yielding material and imperfection to the simple plate girder from session 1, to be completed by delegates.

  • Online quiz to complete the session.


Session 3 – Nonlinear boundary conditions

The last fundamental nonlinear item to consider is contact, with reference to nonlinear boundary conditions. This could be as simple as a bridge bearing lifting off a foundation or arbitrary contact between two bodies. This session will look at simple joint contact as well covering both simple lift-off and general contact using slideline approach.

  • Overview of joints and sideline contact procedures

  • A simple model to demonstrate changing boundary conditions within loadcases across an analysis.

  • Presentation example: Simple propped cantilever beam lifting off a support structure with joint contact. The example will also consider a gap contact procedure.

  • Presentation example: More general contact example of a circular post base with stiffeners and slideline boundary conditions.

  • Homework example: Simple propped cantilever beam lifting off a support structure, modelled with nonlinear joint boundary conditions, to be completed by delegates.

  • Online quiz to complete the session


Session 4 – Staged construction

Most structures are not "wished in place". Engineers follow a detailed staged construction process that allows the structure to be built. These intermediate stages affect how the build-up of stresses and forces in the structure are locked-in and these need to be considered in the final design. Staged construction is the process of understanding how a structure is to be, or has been built.

  • Overview of staged construction methods and the activation and deactivation facility

  • Simple models to demonstrate types of staged construction.

  • Presentation examples: cut and cover tunnel and simple two span beam with creep

  • Homework example: Stage construction of a simple two span beam with creep, to be completed by delegates.

  • Online quiz to complete the session.


Some delegate feedback from LUSAS scheduled training courses:

  • “This class was excellent and one of the best training courses that I have taken." (Tim E.)

  • “Very good demonstrations/teachers with a good variety of hands-on examples.” (Douglas R.)

  • "The instructor was phenomenal! Engaged, energetic, helpful and friendly! Could not have asked for a better one." (Joe K.)

LUSAS Training Courses - dates and lInks to course details

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