Abstract:

Active learning is framed within the constructivist theory of learning, according to which, students are the axis and the protagonists of the educational process, They are who decide when and how they want to learn, while the teacher is only a guide who guides, motivates and gives feedback to students. The teacher involves students in the construction of their own learning process.

For this purpose, in the subject of Advanced Calculus of Structures, offered in the Master in Civil Engineering of the Higher Polytechnic School of the University of Burgos, specific aids for active learning have been implemented. These aids and tools have been related to the work of the Research Group on Structural Technologies (GITE). The objective of this work is to motivate students in the use of the Finite Element Method (FEM) for the design of structures, and to analyze the results comparing them with the experimental test of a steel box girder.

The proposed works consist of a first stage of design and calculation of a double-supported steel box girder using the FEM Method, under centered and eccentric bending. In this pase, students develop a model with 2D shell finite elements. In the second stage, to verify the results obtained in the first stage, they had to work in the laboratory to set up the real test according to the model developed. They applied a centered and an eccentric load to the girder, to measure the deformations and deflections at different control points. Lastly, they acquired the data "in situ" in the laboratory, of the strain gauges and the LVDTs. Finally, the students prepared a document where they presented the results of the numerical simulation with the trial data and some final conclusions.

This experience has been highly valued by students, with a high level of involvement and development throughout the semester experience. Students have increased motivation and enthusiasm, as well as class attendance and greater participation through the formulation of concerns related to the behavior of structures.

Keywords:

Active learning, finite element method (FEM), numerical simulation, steel box girder, verification tests.