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Overview

Course Prescription

Principles and practice for modelling complex physical systems. Applications in biomechanics, fluid mechanics and solid mechanics. Including topics such as large deformation elasticity theory applied to soft tissues, inviscid flow theory, compressible flows, viscous flows, meteorology, oceanography, coastal ocean modelling, mixing in rivers, fracture, composite materials and geomechanics. Underlying theories, computational techniques and industry applications explored using commercial software.

Course Overview

This course will cover principles and practice for modelling complex physical systems, including how to choose the appropriate physical laws, apply simplifying assumptions that make the problem tractable, as well as choices around the most suitable computational approach for solving the model. We will model multi-physics systems from micro to macro scales using homogenisation approaches. Two computational methods, used extensively in research and industry, will be examined: the traditional Finite Element Method (FEM) and Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), a modern meshless method used for solving non-linear problems in both fluid and solid mechanics. This part of the course will cover the underlying theories, computational techniques, industry applications, and the use of commercial software. 

The course is divided into 3 modules, each of 4 weeks duration. The first module will cover theory and application of the finite element method to multi-physics problems; the second module will cover theory and application of multi-scale and homogenisation approaches to analysing physical systems in solid mechanics problems; and the third module will cover theory and application of smoothed particle hydrodynamics to fluid and wave problems.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect an average weekly workload comprising 3 hours of lectures tutorials, 3 hours of lecture/lab work, and 4 hours working on assignments and/or test preparation.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including computational labs.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including computational labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Students will be introduced to new concepts each class followed by practice problems to reinforce new knowledge. Students will then have the opportunity to evaluate their knowledge through weekly module quizzes.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.

Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.

There are no late submissions for Quizzes in this course.

Assignments are penalised at 4% of the total mark for each hour late.

The exam mode for the course is an in-person, invigilated, paper-based exam.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Based on the 2024 SET reviews the following changes have been made to the course:

  • Inclusion of broader demonstration examples that cover both general engineering and biomedical engineering context.
  • Inclusion of additional test and exam practice questions for the FEM, MM, and SPH sections.
  • Weekly quizzes that link better to the course notes.
  • Improved links between the computational lab objectives and coursebook notes.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.