Course Syllabus

MECH 417/517 Finite Element Analysis

Spring of 2012

General Information

Class hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 1:00 - 2:15 PM, Room 251 Mechanical Lab (NOT ME Building)

Office hours: MWF 1:00 - 3:00 PM, & TT 2:30-3:00, MEB 221 or by appointment

web-site: http://www.clear.rice.edu/mech517

Instructor

Prof. Ed Akin

Office: Mechanical Engineering Building, Room 221

Phone: (713) 348-4879

Email: akin@rice.edu

Course Description

The course provides a general introduction to finite element (FE) analysis as a common numerical analysis tool. It covers the fundamental theoretical approach beginning with a review of numerical integration, parametric geometry, and integral formulations. The implementation of FE analysis is taught through the modification of example Matlab scripts. Students are introduced to a commercial finite element system similar to one they would be expected to use upon graduation. The course gives students an understanding of finite element analysis as applied to stress analysis and heat transfer. Basic eigen-problem approaches are also covered.

Textbook

G.R. Buchanan, Finite Element Analysis

Reference Books

T.J.R. Hughes, The Finite Element Method, Dover, 2000, McGraw-Hill, 1995.

J.E. Akin, Finite Elements Analysis with Error Estimators,Elsevier, 2005, Draft copy at http://www.mems.rice.edu/~akin/Elsevier/

J.E. Akin, Finite Element Analysis Concepts via SolidWorks,World Scientific, 2010, Draft copy at http://www.clear.rice.edu/mech517/FEAC_final.pdf.

Notation

On line http://www.mems.rice.edu/~akin/Elsevier/Notation.pdf

Grading

Homework 65%

Test #1 10% (take-home)

Test #2 10% (take-home)

Final Exam 15% (take home)

Homework Policy

Homework will be assigned on the last class of the week (usually Thursday). It will be due, in hardcopy form, on the last class of the following week (usually the next Thursday). Homework is meant as an exercise and you are encouraged to consult anyone (students, teaching assistants, me) and anything (notes, books, your own experiments) if it helps you to understand the material. However, you may not consult another person's solution to any given problem or solutions from past years.

Exam Policy

The midterm exam will be assigned on a Thursday and will be due at the beginning of the next Wednesday class. The final exam will be assinged on the last day of classes and due at the end of the finals period. Tests are taken under the Rice Honor Code system. You may only consult the textbook, any materials posted on the website, any software used in class, and any notes that you have personally taken. You may use a calculator, including programmable calculators. The test must be taken during a 3-hour period, with an optional single 30-minute break.

Course Calendar 2012 -- (Revised 2/02/2012) --

Jan 10 Organization, Introduction, Matlab, SolidWorks

Jan 12 1D numerical integration

Jan 17 Parametric curves, 1-D parametric interpolation (C0)

Jan 19 Parametric matrix integrals, Integral Forms

Jan 24 Boundary Value and Wave Problems, Weak Forms

Jan 26 Heat transfer, element matrices, Assembly

Jan 31 Gather/Scatter

Feb 02 EBC, Matrix solution

Feb 07 Axial stress analysis

Feb 09 Implementation procedures

Feb 14 Bar Natural Frequency

Feb 16 Beam equation, Hermite interpolation

Feb 21 Beam matrices (Take Home Test 1)

Feb 23 Parametric Areas, 2D Interpolation

Students with disabilities

Any student with a disability requiring accommodations in this course is encouraged to contact me after class or during office hours. Additionally, students should contact Disabled Student Services at the Ley Student Center.