MAE141 - Conceptual Foundations of Finite Element Analysis

Course Description

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a computational technique used to predict how a part or assembly behaves under given conditions, thus reducing the need for physical prototypes in product design while enabling the exploration of a large number of potential designs. It can be used, for example, to simulate the buckling of a wind turbine blade, the deformation of a pressure vessel, or the vibrational response of an electronics enclosure; these are all problems that can be solved computationally that would otherwise be impossible to do by hand. FEA also helps you generate clear visual representations of your solution that make interpretation by humans much easier and enable us to develop physical intuition. To ensure that your solutions accurately represent reality, however, you first need to understand how the "black box" of your modeling software functions and have methods to verify and validate your results.

In this course, you will investigate the major elements of what is inside the black box to gain a deep conceptual understanding of how FEA software produces solutions. This will help you build an intuitive understanding of the fundamental mathematical models and physics underlying simulations of static and dynamic behavior of engineering structures. You will also familiarize yourself with the numerical solution strategy employed to solve the mathematical models using the finite element method as well as how to minimize errors. Ultimately, this course will prepare you to build reliable and valid FEA simulations for practical problems using industry-standard simulation software such as Ansys.

Faculty Author

Benefits to the Learner

• Explore the major elements of what's inside the FEA black box
• Solve an example problem by hand using the finite element method on a bar in extension
• Solve a challenge problem by hand using the finite element method on a bar under gravity force

Target Audience

• Mechanical engineers
• Simulation engineers
• Civil engineers
• Aerospace engineers
• Prospective engineers
• Biomedical engineers
• Design engineers
• Undergraduate and graduate students in engineering

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Finite Element Analysis : Core Courses