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

Fall term 2025

Last updated: December 1, 2025

Final exam: Monday December 8, 11:10-1 pm

Lecture notes                      HW solutions             Abaqus units

Course modality:  Lectures will be synchronously broadcast via Zoom during class times on Mondays. EB 420 is available for viewing the lectures, if you have no other Zoom viewing option. In addition, there will be supplemental video examples/tutorials available. All lectures will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing via PSU Media Space. Virtual office hours will also be provided using the Zoom conferencing tool. All assignments and exams will be submitted via Canvas.

See the course Canvas link below for more information and announcements, including office hours: https://canvas.pdx.edu/courses/104905

You can also find announcement for Zoom and Media Space links on the canvas page. Zoom link for lectures:  https://pdx.zoom.us/j/3030958798

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: send email to hormoz@pdx.edu.

Lecture notes:   There are no textbook requirements for the class. Prepared lecture notes are available in lieu of textbook. In class lecture notes will also be posted on the course web page.  All notes will be in PDF format. They will be supplemented with video tutorials for Abaqus/CAE software.

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 (Please note the following dates are estimates and subject to change):

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 (exact date will be posted)
•  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	30%
Midterm exam 1 (Monday November 10)	30%
Final exam (comprehensive)	40%

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

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 Canvas. You must follow HW submission guidelines. Failure to do so will result in HW not being graded!

                 ^*Numerical-based solution includes those generated with Mathcad, MATLAB or Maple Flow

 FE software availability

• To demonstrate the concepts, as well as solving homework problems, ABAQUS/CAE software is available in computer labs (EB 420 and EB 325) for your use.  A free version of ABAQUS (limited to 1000 nodes), known as learning edition is available for download from MCECS Computer Action Team (CAT) web site https://intranet.cecs.pdx.edu/software/abaqus/ .
• 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 issues to your instructor. Questions regarding lab hardware, networking, e-mail, printing and web access should be brought to the attention of the college computer support staff (support@cecs.pdx.edu)

Notice to Graduate Students

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

Homework Submission guidelines:

Homework solutions must be presented neatly and clearly laid out with section titles such as Given, Find, Solution and Results, as appropriate for each problem.

Results must be boxed or otherwise clearly highlighted. 

All homework will be due at the time/date indicated and no late homework will be accepted, except in extraordinary cases of illness, etc.

All hand-written homework must be done by separated lettering and not scribbled. It must be written in dark pencil or ink such that the (scanned) pdf submission is legible.

Furthermore, note the following important rules:

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 Canvas alerting the grader about the changes.