Finite Element Analysis

Catalog description

This course serves as an introduction to finite element analysis (FEA) for structural and steady-state thermal problems. In the lecture portion of the course, finite element equations are developed for several element types from equilibrium and energy approaches and used to solve simple problems. In the laboratory portion, students use a commercial, general-purpose finite element computer program to solve more complex problems and learn several guidelines for use of FEA in practice. A project introduces the use of FEA in the iterative design process.