MEC 3500 - FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS I

Credits:                       4
Lectures/Tut.:             2hr/wk
Labs:                           7 sessions
Prerequisite:               MEC 2401, MEC 3403
Leads to:                     MEC 4405

Syllabus

Part 1 (Exam – 50%):

Introduction to the theory of the finite element method – discretization of the problem, elements and nodes, general approximations, symmetry and boundary conditions

Interpolation functions for different type of elements – 1-2-3 dimensional elements

Formulation and solution of the finite element system equations for elasticity problems, 1-2-3 dimensional elements, the axisymmetric case.
 

Part 2 (Continuous assessment - 50%):
  Introduction to commercial finite element programs – pre-processing, mesh generation, model validation, boundary conditions, loading, solving the system equations, post-processing.
    Practical examples in 1-2-3 dimensional problems in engineering stress analysis 

Assessment
Exam    50%
Continuous assessment            50%

Reference texts:

Finite element analysis, theory and practice – M.J.Fagan
Finite element analysis, theory and application with Ansys – S.Moaveni
Basic principles of the finite element method – K.M.Entwistle
Concepts and applications of finite element analysis – R.D.Cook, D.S.Malkus, M.E.Plesha
The finite element method, volumes 1,2,3 – O.C.Zienkiewicz, R.L.Taylor