ETM 467 Applied Finite Element Analysis

Application of the finite element method using commercially available finite element software for structural engineering applications including linear, static, modal, buckling, and thermal stress analyses in addition to conductive and convective heat transfer analyses.  Overview of essential topics from linear algebra including matrix multiplication, matrix inversion, and determinants.   Development of the finite element stiffness method for one-dimensional spring problems.  Study of truss, beam, plane stress, plane strain, axisymmetric, shell, and solid continuum finite elements; mixed element models; symmetry; stress singularities; and mesh convergence.  3 hours of lecture per week.