Course Details
Course Information Package
| Course Unit Title | INTRODUCTION TO FINITE ELEMENTS | ||||||||
| Course Unit Code | CES460 | ||||||||
| Course Unit Details | |||||||||
| Number of ECTS credits allocated | 5 | ||||||||
| Learning Outcomes of the course unit | By the end of the course, the students should be able to:
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| Mode of Delivery | Face-to-face | ||||||||
| Prerequisites | CES351 | Co-requisites | NONE | ||||||
| Recommended optional program components | NONE | ||||||||
| Course Contents | General: Finite element concepts; modeling; discretization; element selection; testing; model validation. Matrix operations, numeric integration (Gauss-quadrature), and MATLAB. Line elements (1-D): Axial line element (bar); C0 shape functions (interpolation functions); element matrix formulation; integration; loads; assembly of global matrices; solution; force recovery; coordinate transformations. Element matrix formulation techniques: virtual work; method of weighted residuals; variational methods; strong form; weak form; essential and natural boundary conditions; Galerkin method; Rayleigh-Ritz method. Flexural line element (beam); C1 shape functions (interpolation functions); element matrix formulation; integration; loads; assembly of global matrices; solution; force recovery; coordinate transformations Surface (area) elements (2-D): Shape functions; strain-displacement relationships; constitutive relationships (stress-strain relationships, material models). Plane-stress, plane-strain, and axi-symmetric analysis using rectangular elements; locking; full vs. reduced integration; spurious modes; incompatible modes; stress recovery; interpretation of analysis results (principal stress, effective stress). Isoparametric surface element formulations; shape functions; consistent loads; effects of element distortion; stress recovery, extrapolation, and smoothing. Plate bending elements; Kirchoff vs. Mindlin formulations; constitutive relationships; interpretation of analysis results (principal moments and shears). Flat shell elements; superposition of membrane and plate bending; drilling DOF. Axisymmetric elements Volume (solid) elements (3-D): Isoparametric volume (solid brick) elements; shape functions; constitutive relationships | ||||||||
| Recommended and/or required reading: | |||||||||
| Textbooks |
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| References |
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| Planned learning activities and teaching methods | The course will be presented through theoretical lectures in class. The lectures will present to the student the course content and allow for questions. Part of the material will be presented using visual aids. The aim is to familiarize the student with the different and faster pace of presentation and also allow the instructor to present related material (photographs etc.) that would otherwise be very difficult to do. The learning process will be enhanced with the requirement from the student to solve exercises. These include self evaluation exercises which will be solved in class. These exercises will not be graded. Exercises will also be given as homework (final project) which will be part of their assessment. Besides from the notes taken by students in class, all of the course material will be made available through the class website and also through the eLearning platform. Finally the instructor will be available to students during office hours or by appointment in order to provide any necessary tutoring. | ||||||||
| Assessment methods and criteria |
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| Language of instruction | English | ||||||||
| Work placement(s) | NO | ||||||||
