Lectures, seminars and training course

ACE&CS Ltd offers various lectures, seminars and training courses to people interested in computational mechanics.

Our lectures and seminars

The founders of the company are renowned Slovakian experts in computational mechanics with decades of experience in developing of computational codes for finite element analyses (FEA) and discrete element analyses (DEA). Their results are regularly published in domestic and international scientific journals, monographs and are presented at various scientific conferences. During their career as scientists they have gained in-depth knowledge of computational methods in the area of computational mechanics and have a comprehensive overview of current tendencies and principal directions of research in this challenging area.

In case if sufficient number of people are interested in a particular subject, a selected topic or a recent result in the area of computational mechanics, ACE&CS Ltd provides lectures or seminars on demand for their customers in addition to regular training courses, so that they can gain first-hand experience of the subject directly from experts in the selected area.

Our training courses

At Slovak technical universities the theory of nonlinear finite element method and advanced computational methods are not taught adequately even during a stage three university studies in recognition of which a research doctorate is awarded due to limitations on the number of teaching hours in the curricula. The aforementioned theories however are often implemented into advanced computational codes which researchers and specialized stress engineers working in the area of research and development often have to use in order that they may solve various engineering problems. For all of them who want to fill the gap in their knowledge as well as for all of our customers who are interested in the theory of nonlinear finite element method or other advanced computational techniques ACE&CS Ltd offers the following training courses:

The basics of nonlinear continuum mechanics

Nonlinear continuum mechanics is a branch of mechanics which deals with the analysis of the kinematics and the mechanical behavior of materials modeled as a continuum. It serves as a basis for the nonlinear finite element method. Once a modelled body undergoes large deformations, it is necessary to distinguish between its initial and current configurations in the body mathematical model (using total Lagrangian, udated Lagrangian formulatio or Eulerian formulation). Nonlinear continuum mechanics introduces appropriate deformation measures, strain measures and stress measures which along with the constitutive equations of the material allow us to formulate the mathematical model of the modelled body or fluid, while it properly considers the conservation laws and all rules of material modelling. Participants of the course acquire general knowledge of the principles of nonlinear continuum mechanics, which is indispensable if they either are to study nonlinear computational methods using finite strain theories or run large strain finite element analyses. For more information on the subject please refer to the Curricula webpage.

Nonlinear continuum mechanics

Participants of the course on non-linear continuum mechanics are expected that they know the basics of nonlinear continuum mechanics. While doing the course they acquire knowledge of alternative strain measures, alternative stress measures, objective rate forms of the above measures, principles of material modelling and constraints originating from objectivity and material symmetry. The acquired knowledge is indispensable if they want to develop material models on their own. The course is particularly useful for developers of computational codes, researchers or engineers who occasionally need to implement a new material model into their computational code. For more information on the subject please refer to the Curricula webpage.

Linear finite elements

The linear finite element method (LFEM), in contrast to the nonlinear finite element method, does not require knowledge of the nonlinear continuum mechanics. ACE&CS Ltd during the course focuses on such areas of the LFEM which are out of the scope of curricula at technical universities. For more information on the subject please refer to the Curricula webpage.

Nonlinear finite elements

The nonlinear finite element method deals with numerical modeling of the behavior of deformable bodies using either nonlinear material models or finite strain theories or both. The completion of the course on the basics of nonlinear continuum mechanics before taking this course is a prerequisite for the successful study of the nonlinear finite element method and the participants are highly advised to take the courses in this order unless they have good knowledge of the basics of nonlinear continuum mechanics. For more information on the subject please refer to the Curricula webpage.

Material models

Materials in commercial computational codes are subdivided into a few material classes. The selection of the material class followed by the choice of the proper material model within the class including identification of the material parameters of the model are key issues in the numerical simulation of the behaviour of deformable bodies undergoing large deformations. The completion of the course on the basics of nonlinear continuum mechanics before taking this course is a prerequisite for the successful study of material models and the participants are highly advised to take the courses in this order unless they have good knowledge of the basics of nonlinear continuum mechanics. For more information on the subject please refer to the Curricula webpage.

Selected topics of nonlinear finite elements

This course focuses on the solution of selected engineering problems using the nonlinear finite element method which involve utilizing multi physical analyses, thermal-structural analyses, hydrodynamic analyses, electromagnetic analyses and contact problems. The most widespread solution methods and algorithms for solving nonlinear finite element problems are also briefly discussed. The completion of the course on the basics of nonlinear continuum mechanics before taking this course is a prerequisite for the successful study of the selected topics of nonlinear finite elements and the participants are highly advised to take the courses in this order unless they have good knowledge of the basics of nonlinear continuum mechanics. For more information on the subject please refer to the Curricula webpage.