FKM Nonlinear
Training Course 2nd Edition

Forschungskuratorium Maschinenbau
/ Research Committee Mechanical Engineering

1 - 2 December 2026, online

Both days: 9​am - 5:30 pm CET (Central European Summer Time), UTC+1 (Berlin)

Language: English

This online training course covers the new ”FKM-Guideline Nonlinear” for static and cyclic loading. In addition to detailed assessment procedures, background information on the individual topics will be provided to enhance understanding of the procedures. The course is aimed at newcomers in the field, as well as experts interested in the concept of the FKM guidelines.

The second, completely revised edition of the FKM guideline Nonlinear (in German only) was published by VDMA-Verlag in spring 2026.

In addition to a significantly improved document structure for static and cyclic loading for better readability, numerous changes have been made compared to the first edition. Some aspects have been improved through simplification, while many others have been expanded upon compared to the first edition. Examples include the safety concept, hardness-based estimators for material parameters, and – very comprehensively - treatment of multi-axial proportional and non-proportional stresses and strains, a new formulation of damage parameter Z, and the consideration of factors influencing fatigue life predictions. Cast iron, cast aluminum, welds for steel and surface treated components have been added as well. An extensive addition has been made in the appendix of the guideline to supply material data. All of this marks a significant improvement of this guideline.

What is the FKM guideline?

The FKM guideline is a standard developed by the Forschungskuratorium Maschinenbau (Research Committee for Mechanical Engineering) – FKM - for static and cyclic strength verification. Due to its broad applicability, the strength verification has become widely used in mechanical engineering and other industries.

C​ourse Contents

Strength for monotonic loading – static strength

• Evaluation Concept
• Finite Element Analysis: FE-modeling and material
• Safety factors
• Assessment of static strength
• Example

Cyclic strength

• Overview and background information
• Load history and cycle counting
• Cyclic material behavior
  - ultimate strength
  - s-e and e-N curves
  - Parameter estimation
• Damage parameter P_RAM
• Damage parameter P_RAJ
• Notch stress/strain approximation (Neuber and Seeger/Beste)
• Proof concept using P_RAM
• Proof concept using P_RAJ

C​ourse Agenda

Day 1

9:00-10:30

• Introductory remarks
  Strength for monotonic loading – static strength I
  Evaluation Concept
  Finite Element Analysis: FE-modeling and material

11:00-12:30

• Strength for monotonic loading – static strength II
  Safety factors
  Assessment of static strength
  Example

13:30-15:00

• Cyclic strength I
  Overview and background information
  Load history and cycle counting

15:30-17.30

• Cyclic strength II
  Cyclic material behavior
  - ultimate strength
  - s-e and e-N curves and parameters
  - Parameter estimation

Day 2

9:00-10:30

• Cyclic strength III
  Damage parameter P_SWT+Bergmann (P_RAM)
  Damage parameter P_J (P_RAJ)

11:00-12:30

• Cyclic strength IV
  Notch stress/strain approximation (Neuber and Seeger/Beste)
  Proof concept using P_RAM

13:30-15:00

• Cyclic strength V
  Proof concept using P_RAM cont.

15:30-17.30

• Cyclic strength VI
  Proof concept using P_RAJ

T​rainer

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klemens Rother
University of Applied Sciences Munich, Germany

Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral thesis in analytical fatigue assessment of multiaxial, non-proportional stress states

Prof. Rother has over 20 years of industrial experience in responsible positions: design and qualification in transportation systems, pressure vessel design, consulting in computational engineering, software development and development and implementation of knowledge-based systems.

• Since 2008 Professor at Munich University of Applied Sciences
• Since 2019 Founding member of the Institute of Material- and Building Research, IMB, Munich University of Applied Sciences
• Teaching: Mechanics of Materials, Lightweight-Design, Fatigue&Fracture, Conceptual Design of Mechanical Structures
• Fields of Research: Structural Integrity, CAE, Conceptual Design, CAE in the Early Phase, Fatigue Analysis, and Welded Structures
• Head of Master's Program Computational Engineering, Munich University of Applied Sciences
• Gründungsmitglied des Promotionszentrums für Integrales Bauen an der Hochschule München
  Founding member of the Doctoral Research Center of Integrated Buildings (PZIB) at Munich University of Applied Sciences

M​ore information:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klemens Rother (mwn.de)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9643-4967

Organisation

Registration is possible up to one week before the course starts.

Duration
Day 1: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Day 2: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Login phase from 8:30 am.
Time zone: CEST (Central European Time), UTC+1 (Berlin)

Language
English

Course Fee
Non NAFEMS members: 1.550 Euro/person*
NAFEMS member: 1.200 Euro/person*
Included in the fees are digital course notes in English language and a certificate.
* plus VAT if applicable.

NAFEMS membership fees (company)
A standard NAFEMS site membership costs 1,405 Euro per year, and an academic site and entry membership costs 880 Euro per year (as of 2025).

Cancellation Policy
Up to 6 weeks before the course starts: free of charge;
up to one week before: 75 %;
Later and no show: 100%.

Course cancellation
If not enough participants, we reserve the right to cancel the course one week before. The course can also be canceled in case of disease of the speakers or force majeure. In these cases, the course fees will be returned.

Organisation / Contact
NAFEMS
e-mail: roger.oswald@nafems.org

Accreditation Policy

The course is agreed and under control of NAFEMS Education and Training Working Group (ETWG).