Theory of Composite Shells Course | IIT Guwahati | Prof. Poonam Kumari
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 6 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Mechanical Engineering, Advanced Mechanics |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 29 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Theory of Composite Shells: An Advanced Course by IIT Guwahati
In the realm of advanced structural engineering, shells represent a critical functional element, widely used in aerospace, civil, and mechanical applications. Understanding their complex behavior under various loads is paramount for innovation. We are excited to introduce a comprehensive 8-week postgraduate course on the Theory of Composite Shells, meticulously designed and instructed by Prof. Poonam Kumari of the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati.
About the Instructor: A Leader in Advanced Mechanics
Prof. Poonam Kumari is an accomplished scholar and an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Guwahati. With a Ph.D. from IIT Delhi and post-doctoral experience at Simon Fraser University, her expertise is deeply rooted in Continuum Mechanics and Smart Material structures.
Her significant contributions include developing novel three-dimensional and two-dimensional solutions for composite and piezolaminated plates. An award-winning educator and researcher, Prof. Kumari was honored with the Young Engineer Award (2017) by the Indian National Academy of Engineers and the SERB Women Excellence Award (2019). With 29 international journal publications and extensive teaching experience, including this very course since 2014 and a popular MOOC on plate theory, she brings unparalleled depth and clarity to this advanced subject.
Course Overview: Delving into Advanced Shell Analysis
This course is tailored to build a strong foundational understanding and practical skills for analyzing shells, which are essential in modern engineering structures made from composites, sandwiches, and advanced materials.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Research Scholars and Faculty members.
PREREQUISITES: A solid background in Advanced Solid Mechanics.
INDUSTRIES THAT VALUE THIS SKILLSET: National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), ISRO, ANSYS, ABAQUS.
What You Will Learn: Detailed Course Layout
The 8-week curriculum is structured to take you from fundamental concepts to advanced analytical solutions:
- Week 1: Curvilinear coordinate systems and fundamentals of surfaces.
- Week 2: Classification of various shell theories.
- Week 3: Systematic development of governing equations for shells.
- Week 4: Application of shell constitutive relations and exploration of special cases.
- Week 5: Navier solutions for cylindrical shells under bending loads.
- Week 6: Extending Navier solutions to axisymmetric and unsymmetrical cases.
- Week 7: Analysis of free vibration and buckling in cylindrical shells; introduction to Levy solutions.
- Week 8: Introduction to three-dimensional solutions for cylindrical shells.
A key highlight of the course is a hands-on tutorial using ABAQUS, a leading finite element analysis software, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical computational skills.
Essential Reference Materials
The course draws upon seminal texts in the field. Participants are encouraged to refer to the following authoritative books:
| Book Title | Author(s) | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Theory and Analysis of Elastic Plates and Shells | J.N. Reddy | CRC Press |
| Thin Elastic Shells | Harry Kraus | John Wiley & Sons |
| Theory of Plates and Shells | S. Timoshenko & S. Woinowsky | McGraw-Hill |
| Thin Plates and Shells | E. Ventsel & T. Krauthammer | Marcel Dekker, Inc. |
| Stresses in Plates and Shells | A. Ugural | McGraw Hill |
| Analysis of Shells and Plates | P.L. Gould | Springer-Verlag |
| Introduction to the Theory of Shells | C.L. Dym | Hempshire Publishing Corp. |
Why Enroll in This Course?
This course is more than an academic module; it's a gateway to mastering a specialized domain with high relevance in cutting-edge R&D. Whether you aim to contribute to aerospace design, advanced material development, or high-fidelity computational mechanics, the Theory of Composite Shells provides the rigorous analytical framework you need. Under the guidance of an award-winning expert from IIT Guwahati, you will gain the confidence to develop shell equations tailored to specific problems and analyze critical phenomena like bending, vibration, and buckling.
Take the next step in your advanced mechanics journey. Equip yourself with the theoretical knowledge and practical tools to innovate in the field of composite structures.
Enroll Now →