Construction Sciences
The Department of Construction Sciences conducts research and teaching in Structural Mechanics, Geotechnical Engineering, Solid Mechanics and Engineering Acoustics. The department also includes Lunarc, a competence centre for scientific and technical calculations at Lund University.
Website of the Department of Construction Sciences
Overview of divisions:
Engineering Acoustics
Acoustics is the science of sound: how it originates, propagates and is perceived. The department of Engineering Acoustics is mostly concerned with sound and noise in the built environment: room acoustics (designing a room with good acoustic properties), structural acoustics (noise and vibration in fixed structures) and psychoacoustics. Engineering acoustics is often concerned with noise reduction, but also the amplification and refinement of good sound. Traffic noise and noise in public places are also studied.
- Room acoustics: Comparisons between deterministic and static models. Development of measurement methodology.
- Structural acoustics: Structural dynamics at audio frequencies. Development of source and transmission descriptions for structures in buildings, vehicles and machinery.
- Building acoustics: Soundproofing of light walls and floors.
Keywords: building acoustics, timber buildings, soundproofing, sound absorption
Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnics includes mechanics for soil and rock. The mechanical properties of different types of soil materials and rock materials are studied experimentally and formulated theoretically. Examples of applications are analysis of bearing capacity, subsidence and vibrations as well as studies of issues concerning foundation, soil stabilization, support structures and structure / soil interaction.
Keywords: soil mechanics, material modeling, geoconstructions, experiments, finite elements, numerical methods
Solid Mechanics
Solid Mechanics develops methods and theories to be able to determine deformations, stresses and various collapse phenomena for solid bodies. The theories that are developed are based on experimental observations where facilities such as MAXIV and ESS play an important role. Metallic, polymeric, granular and fiber-based materials are mainly studied. The models that are developed can be used to describe material behaviors and optimize structures.
The Division of Solid Mechanics is engaged in teaching and research in material modelling, biomechanics and fracture mechanics. Numeric methods, such as the finite element method (FEM) are of great importance in our research.
Keywords: material modeling, numerical methods, finite element method, fracture mechanics, fiber mechanics, anisotropy, phase changes, large deformations, experimental methods, structural optimization
Structural Mechanics
Structural Mechanics is a fundamental subject where knowledge on mechanics, i.e. the laws of motion of solid bodies, is a prerequisite in order to design buildings and other structures (houses, bridges, cars, etc.), in order to make them strong and durable. Statically and dynamically loaded structures made of different materials and combinations of materials, e.g. wood, concrete, rubber and sound insulation material, are studied using computerized methods and simulation models, e.g. the finite element method. Such methods and models are also developed and studied.
Keywords: design, structures, structural mechanics, computational methods, finite element method, FEM, strength