Robert J. Flatt: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2021 |
| Name | Prof. Dr. Robert J. Flatt |
| Field | Construction Materials |
| Address | Institut für Baustoffe (IfB) ETH Zürich, HIF E 91.1 Laura-Hezner-Weg 7 8093 Zürich SWITZERLAND |
| Telephone | +41 44 633 28 90 |
| flattr@ethz.ch | |
| Department | Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering |
| Relationship | Full Professor |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101-0615-01L | Materials Lab Exercises  | 4 credits | 4P | R. J. Flatt, U. Angst, I. Burgert, D. Kammer, H. Richner, F. Wittel | |
| Abstract | Introduction into the basic and practical knowledge of important building materials and testing methods. | ||||
| Learning objective | Introduction into the basic and practical knowledge of important building materials and testing methods. | ||||
| Content | o Introduction of material testing equipment, with various examples of experiments on metals (tensile behaviour, hardness, bending and impact loading). o Theoretical background and practical aspects of concrete technology: mixture design, casting and setting; determination of mechanical properties. o Properties of bricks and mortar: individual materials and the composite brickwork. Parameters like strength, Young’s modulus, water absorption and thermal conductivity are determined. o Understanding the characteristic properties of wood: anisotropy, hygroscopic behaviour, shrinkage and swelling, and effect of size on strength. Introduction to test-methods for wood and wood-products. o Introduction into the basics of scanning electron microscopy: practical exercises with the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM). o Introduction to fundamentals of Finite Element Methods and their application in examples. o Introduction to durability of building materials and building structures: assessment of potentials for detecting and locating corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete. | ||||
| Lecture notes | For each topic a script will be provided, that can be downloaded under www.ifb.ethz.ch/education | ||||
| 101-0617-01L | Advances in Building Materials | 4 credits | 2G | R. J. Flatt, I. Burgert | |
| Abstract | The course on Advances in Building Materials provides an introductive overview of the needs and future of materials science in the building sector. Focus topics concern sustainability, durability, thermal insulation, coatings, sealants, adhesives, flame retardancy and the future perspective and developments of concrete and wood with regard to smart material development and ecological concerns. | ||||
| Learning objective | In this course, the students will gain a broad overview of the use of materials in the building sector, with a particular focus on concrete and wood. Current limitations and in particular sustainability related challenges will be detailed with the objective of laying the grounds to discuss future developments anticipated in this field. | ||||
| Content | This course for civil engineers lays the grounds in the specialization Materials and Mechanics and complements the second introductory course of the specialization on Numerical Mechanics of Materials. The course also addresses master students in Materials Science and other study programs interested in deepening their understanding of application-relevant properties of engineering materials and sustainability related challenges. The following topics are covered: 1. Material selection 2. Materials and sustainability 1 3. Materials and sustainability 2 4. Recyclability 5. Material science of wood durability 6. Material science of concrete durability 7. Foams in construction and thermal insulation 8. Sealants and adhesives in construction 9. Coatings 10. Flame retardants 11. Future of wood – 1 12. Future of wood – 2 13. Future of concrete – 1 14. Future of concrete – 2 | ||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts will be provided for each lecture. | ||||