ME 455/555 Intro. to Finite Element Modeling and Analysis

Fall term 2019

Last updated: November 28, 2019

Final exam: Wednesday  December 11  12:30-2:20

Lecture notes	Abaqus Tutorials  (  Truss element   Axisymmetric element  )
HW solutions	Graduate project

Course Objective:

• To acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the introductory concepts and applications of Finite Element (FE) Modeling and Analysis.
• To develop the ability to analyze and solve problems using FE concepts as well as commercially available FE software.

 

Contact information:    Please visit the contact page for the latest information on office hours, phone number, etc.

Lecture notes:     There is no textbook requirements for the class. Lecture notes will be posted on the course web page.  These will be supplemented with tutorials for Abaqus software.  I may also introduce NX (and NASTRAN) software as additional tools for modeling and solution.

Recommended readings: 

-        A First Course in the Finite Elements Method, by Daryl L. Logan (Any edition)

-        Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering, by T.R. Chandrupatala and A.D. Belegundu (Any edition)

-        Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis, by Cook, et al. (Any edition)  

 

Course syllabus (Lecture notes will be posted)

Week 1:   

•  Fundamental concepts, introduction to Finite Element Method
•  Introduction to stiffness method

Week 2:

•   Development of Truss Equations
•   Development of Beam Equations

Week 3:  

•  Development of Beam Equations (continued)
•  Frames and grids

 

Week 4: 

•  Development of 2-D Plane Stress and Plane Strain Equations
• Modeling issues, solution convergence

Week 5: 

• Isoparametric Formulation
•  Higher order elements

Week 6:

•  Midterm exam
•  Axisymmetric Elements

Week 7: 

•  Axisymmetric Elements (continued)
• Three-Dimensional Solids

Week 8: 

•  Intro. to Vibration (Structural Dynamics)

Week 9: 

•  Intro. to Heat Transfer problems

Further topics in Modeling, Pre and Post processing, Results interpretation, and Error analysis will be covered throughout the term.

 

Grading Policy Grades will be based on homework assignments and exams as follows:

Homework assignments	20%
Midterm exam 1	35%
Final exam (comprehensive)	45%

¹ No make up exams will be given. Percentage of missed midterm exam grade will be added to the Final exam percentage.

Note to DRC students: If you are approved by the DRC for test accommodations, it is your responsibility to schedule the exam with MME office staff or Testing Services. See note below:

Accommodated Testing: All accommodated tests should be scheduled during the first week of term through either the SHAC Testing Services or the CEE & MME (CEME) Testing Center. The CEME Testing Center requires all bookings to be requested at least 7 days prior to the exam date. The center may not be able to proctor your exam if notice is less than 7 days. CEME Testing Center requires a copy of your DRC accommodation letter to complete your booking. All proctored exam dates and times must be approved by your instructor prior to booking.

 

SHAC Testing Services: Schedule through https://www.pdx.edu/shac/testing-services

CEME Testing Center: Email cemetesting@pdx.edu

 

Note: The CEME Testing Center will only proctor exams for students who have DRC accommodations and/or emergency situations (with instructor approval).

Your exam cannot start earlier than one hour before or later than one hour after the scheduled exam time.  Notify me at least one week before each exam when your exam will start so that I can have the exam available to MME staff or at the Testing Center.  Schedule your testing times at the very beginning of the term to ensure you can get a test time that meets the start requirements.  See the department staff for accommodation outside Testing Services.

Homework Assignments and Due dates

Homework assignments will be posted below. Note the due date and time. Late submissions will not be graded. Submit HW electronically as pdf file to the course section of D2L. You must follow HW submission guidelines. Failure to do so will result in HW not being graded!

 Extra 10% credit will be given if MathCAD is employed for the solution of specifically marked (M) homework problems.

 

Class Policy

Attendance IS NOT mandatory. However, if you attend the class you are required to observe the following guidelines:

• Turn off mobile phones and other noisemakers. You must immediately leave the class for the remainder of the lecture session, should your device causes distraction/disturbance.
• The above policy applies during the exam period, your exam paper will be collected immediately, and you will be asked to leave the classroom.
• No eating is allowed during the class period but feel free to bring drinks.
• Be on time. You will be asked to leave the classroom if you arrive after the first 5 minutes of the class period.
• Be considerate of your classmates, and do not carry out conversations during lecture.
• Remember the class attendance is not mandatory!

 MCAE laboratory and FE software

• To demonstrate the concepts, as well as solving homework problems, ABAQUS/CAE and NX are available in MCAE laboratory (room 420 EB) and  EB 325 for your use.  A free student version of ABAQUS (limited to 1000 nodes) is also available. Alternatively, you could use any software of your choice as long as it allows you to complete the assignments. Be aware, however, that I cannot answer any questions regarding other FE software syntax, or commands.

Notice to ABAQUS users

Please remember to direct all your questions regarding ABAQUS and MCAE lab ( room 420 EB) software/hardware issues to your instructor. Questions regarding networking, e-mail, printing and web access should be brought to the attention of the college computer support staff (support@cecs.pdx.edu)

Student version of MathCAD:

Please contact OIT help desk (FMH lobby) regarding the availability of student version.  Cost of the software is $45 and the purchase form link is at:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_B2NqCyt6V-FKJcVZwc2O5JEchj2rSSPWu1wFoJr6ss/edit 

 

Notice to Graduate Students

Graduate students who register for ME 555 must complete extra work (project), usually during the last two weeks of the term. Details will be announced in class, and posted on the web page.

Homework Submission guidelines:

1)      Entire homework set must be submitted as one (single) PDF file

2)      Only PDF format will be accepted and graded. Other formats (including JPEG images) will be ignored and will not be graded.

3)      Use the following naming convention for homework:

 Last-name_First-name_HWxx   (where xx indicates the set number).    For example: Smith_Jane_hw2.PDF

4) If you revise your submission send a message from D2L alerting the grader about the changes.