MECH 4395: Applied Finite Element Analysis

Spring 2010

CRBL 305, MWF 9:30-10:20 am

Course Information

Instructor: Jack Chessa
Email: jfchessa@utep.edu
YIM: jckchessa@yahoo.com
Office: Engineering Annex A-309
Phone: (915) 747-6900
Office Hours: by appointment, use email or yim
Prerequisites: Mechanics of materials or equivilent
Textbook: "Finite Element Modeling for Stress Analysis", 1st edition, Robert D. Cook (required)
Grading: (3) exams 50%, final exam 40%, assignments 10%

Overview

This 3 credit hour class is intended to provide the students with an introduction to the theory, skills and nomenclature to confidently perform linear elastic and modal finite element analysis for mechanical engineering systems with a particular emphasis on aerospace structures. This will be done with exposure to the basic theory of finite element analysis with hand-on applications in MATLAB® and using Hypermesh® and Optistruct®.

Policies

There will be three in class exams which will constitute some typical written problems and possibly some exercises that are to be done on the computer. The final exam will be in the same format. There will be assignments that are required and will be graded. These will often require access to a computer with MATLAB, Hypermesh and Nastran. It is your responsibility to schedule your time with the computer lab's operating hours to get your work done in light of the due dates. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED! The class assignments and some materials will be delivered on the courses Blackboard site, please ensure that you have access to this. Also, this class will use MATLAB and a basic understanding of linear algebra. If you are weak in these areas there will be background material in these areas on Blackboard. These materials will not necessarily be explicitly covered in this class and again it is your responsibility to get up to speed on these materials.

Cheating/Plagiarism

Cheating is unethical and not acceptable. Plagiarism is using information or original wording in a paper without giving credit to the source of that information or wording: it is also not acceptable. Do not submit work under your name that you did not do yourself. You may not submit work for this class that you did for another class. If you are found to be cheating or plagiarizing, you will be subject to disciplinary action, per UTEP catalog policy. Refer to here for further information.

Sutdents with Disabilities

I will make any reasonable accommodations for students with limitations due to disabilities, including learning disabilities. Please see me personally before or after class in the first two weeks or make an appointment, to discuss any special needs you might have. If you have a documented disability and require specific accommodations, you will need to contact the Disabled Student Services Office in the East Union Bldg., Room 106 within the first two weeks of classes. The Disabled Student Services Office can also be reached in the following ways:

Web: http://www.utep.edu/dsso
Phone: (915) 747-5148 voice or TTY
Fax: (915) 747-8712
E-Mail: dss@utep.edu

Topics

  1. Overview of linear finite element theory
  2. Elasticity with finite elements
  3. Introduction to Hypermesh and Optistruct
  4. Finite element input
  5. Discussion of beam and shell formulations
  6. Modeling of welds and fasteners
  7. Modal analysis and dynamics response methods
  8. Optimization

Outline

Week Topics Reading Assignment
1 Introduction to Hypermesh Cook Chapt 1 Hypermesh tutorials
2 Bar element stiffness matrix, solving simple finite element problems by hand Cook 2.1, 2.2, 2.4 Cook
3 Element assembly, beam element stiffness matrix Cook 2.3, 2.6, 2.7 Cook

Video Lectures