MENG 453

Finite Element Method and Applications in Design

Course Description

Introduction

The finite element analysis technique has found wide applications in Mechanical Engineering. This course deals with the basic principles of the technique and its applications to stress analysis and heat conduction problems. Practical training on finite element packages is a necessary element in this course.

Prerequisites: MENG 355

By topics:	1. Mechanics of Materials
	2. Heat Transfer
	3. Matrices

Primary Text

“Finite Element Analysis, Theory and Practice”, M.J. Fagan, Longman Scientific Technical, 1992.

Supplementary Text

“Computational Methods in Mechanical Engineering”, Y.C. Das, M. Younan, A.S. Wifi, M. Megahed and M. Elsherbini, Center of Advancement of Post-Graduate Studies in Engineering Sciences, Cairo University, 1982.
“The Finite Element Method in Mechanical Design”, Charles E. Knight. PWS Kent Publishing Company, 1993.
“Finite Element Modeling For Stress Analysis”, Robert D. Cook. John Wiley & Sons, INC

Instructor

Dr. Abdallah Wifi

Office

New Falaki Building, part-timers room

Office hours

1:30-2:30 Monday and Wednesday

Course Structure

Lecture (3 hours/week) and One 3 hour lab/week

Grading

Two midterms:	30%
Final:	25%
Homework:	25%
Project:	20%

Attendance Policy

While attendance will not be taken, it is expected that students will attend every lecture class and all assigned labs. Students are responsible for material covered in class, even if they are absent. Excessive, unexcused absences may result in a lower grade, or even course failure, if the instructor feels such absences are detrimental to the student’s progress in the course.

Academic Integrity

Acts of academic dishonesty such as fraud and deception will not be tolerated and will be punished by academic and/or disciplinary sanctions. Sanctions may include actions affecting the student’s grade (including failure of course) and/or warnings, probation, dismissal, or expulsion.

Course Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

Develop the stiffness matrix for several classes of elements including

i. i. Truss elements

ii. ii. Plane beam elements

iii. iii. Two dimensional constant strain triangular elements

iv. iv. Isoparametric elements

v. v. One dimensional heat transfer elements

Assemble equations, apply boundary conditions and solve for displacements, strains, stresses or temperature for simple problems.
Using a general-purpose finite element package, model, apply boundary conditions, and analyze several structures including:

1. i. Trusses

2. ii. Two dimensional solids

3. iii. Three dimensional solids

4. iv. Heat transfer and thermoelastic problems using a finite element package.

Analyze a real component using a finite element package. This includes:

1. i. Geometric modeling of component

2. ii. Applying boundary conditions

3. iii. Solving for stresses and strains

Course Contents

1. 1. Introduction (2 classes)

2. 2. Development of equations for simple elements in structural mechanics: plane truss element, plane beam element, plane two-dimensional elements. Generalization to 3-dimensional elements (10 classes)

3. 3. Overview of finite elements: variational principles, transformation, assembly, boundary conditions, solutions, convergence and stability (6 classes)

4. 4. Isoparametric elements (6 classes)

5. 5. Application of finite elements to heat conduction problems (6 classes)

6. 6. Other finite element applications and coupled problems (2 classes)

Computer and Problem Sessions

The lab session will be used as a problem solving session and training on using a general-purpose finite element package to model realistic structures. The computer lab sessions will include:

i. Introduction and familiarization with the computer system and package.

ii. Solution of simple problems to develop abilities in: geometric modeling, structural modeling and post processing of results.

iii. Applications to real structures with different complexities.

Design Project

Students are required to submit a project on the analysis of a realistic component using finite elements. Students select the component and have to verify their results by comparing it with some other technique.