Chris Bickford
MANE 6960 Advanced Topics in Finite Elements
Questionnaire – Introduction
6/3/2015
1)
What is the objective of this course?
To deepen the student’s understanding of the fundamentals of the finite
element method and to further their ability to solve complex engineering
problems.
2)
What are the expected learning outcomes of this course?
The development of the ability to formulate, construct, solve, validate, and
verify the accuracy of finite element models of selected problems in mechanical
engineering. Students will be able to build reliable models for these carefully
selected problems.
3)
Make a list of topics that will be studied in this class.
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4)
Solid Mechanics
Fluid Mechanics
Heat Transfer
Acoustics
Electromagnetics
How will you and your instructor communicate in this class when not in
contact face-to-face?
The instructor will be available to meet face-to-face, however, much of the class
communication will be via interactive web streaming (skype), RPI email, prerecorded lectures, and the class website.
5)
Describe briefly the form in which course material will be covered and
discussed week to week.
The goal of this class is to go beyond the introductory aspects of the finite
element method by working on practical, relevant, and industrial type problems.
The Galerkin finite element method will be used exclusively with existing
commercial software rather than building finite element code from scratch.
6)
List the software requirements for this class and list those of which
personal student version copies are required by week 2.
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Maple (required)
Ansys (required)
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7)
MATLAB (optional)
ABAQUS (optional)
Describe the expected contents and formats of the student’s web
portfolios.
The student web portfolio must contain a complete archive of the materials
produced throughout the semester. The preferred format for the portfolio is pdf.
Large files should not be posted on the site, but rather, stored on dropbox.
8)
Describe the type and frequency of submission of the required
deliverables (homework assignments) in this class.
The homework assignment will be presented as a different engineering problem
every week. In class, the fundamentals of modeling the assigned problem will
be covered. The rest of the week, the student must construct a complete
validated model of the problem assigned. Each week the students will have to
produce a brief report summarizing the model development and results.
9)
List the three types of reading assignments for this class and list the texts
that will be used.
Three types of reading assignments:
 Textbook assignments
 Specific readings regarding the assigned engineering problems
 Software reference manuals
10) Describe how the student’s performance in this class will be graded.
Each week, homework will be assigned which will require the student to
produce a model and brief report for the assigned engineering problem. By the
end of the semester, there will have been 11 assigned homework problems and
the professor will determine grades based on his assessment of the quality of
the submitted homework assignments. Each assignment will carry a value of 10
points. To obtain an A in the class, the student must accumulate 90 points.
11) Write down and bookmark in your own personal computer the URL for the
course web- page. Also add me to your contact list in Skype. My ID is
ernesto.pedro.gutierrez.miravete.
12) Set up your RPI web portfolio page with a link to this class. Please contact
me if you need any assistance.
13) Navigate through and examine all the links in the class web page.
14) Watch the posted video on the Galerkin Finite Element Method; Write one
sentence describing each step involved in the implementation of the
method:
The partial differential equation modeling the problem must be in the variational
(weak) form. Define a mesh over the domain of the problem which has nodes at
the locations (coordinates) where an approximate solution will be found. Define
the finite element basis functions as langrange polynomials at each of the
nodes. Define the test function as the sum of the basis functions at the nodes.
Multiply both sides of the varational (weak) form PDE by the test function and
integrate both sides. By solving the resulting equation for each element (span
from node to node), you obtain a system of equations which can be solved with
matrix algebra.
15) Read through Chapters 1 and 3 in Text Z-I (See Links link).