Syllabus for Comprehensive examination

Fracture Mechanics of concrete:

Definition of Stress intensity factor; Difference between SCF and SIF, strain energy release
rate (G); Fracture toughens (KIc, KIIc and KIIIc); Nonlinear fracture mechanics – R-Curve, J-
integral, CMOD, Experimental methods to obtain the fracture parameters, ASTM
specifications; RILEM methods to determine fracture parameters; Fracture process zone in
concrete; Fracture energy Gf, Size effect in concrete structures; Fracture characteristics of
UHPFRC.
Theory of elasticity:
Definition of Stress and Strain, Airy’s stress function, Bi-harmonic equation in Cartesian and
polar coordinates, Plane stress, plane strain and axisymmetric problems; Problems in 3D
elasticity.
Finite Element Method:
Energy approach in FE analysis, concept of shape functions, Different types of elements like
bar, beam, plane stress, plane strain and plate element. Isoparametric elements; Numerical
integration; Derivation of element stiffness matrix for various elements;
Concrete structures: Plain and Reinforced:
Properties of plain concrete – normal strength and high strength concrete; high performance
concrete; definition of under reinforced, balanced and over reinforced concrete section; Limit
state design concepts in flexure and shear, Ductility of RC members and its use in seismic
and blast resist design, RC design detailing
Mathematics