MEEN 672 Professor J. N.

Reddy

Fall Semester 2013

An Introduction to the Finite Element Method

Tel: 862 2417; Room: 404 MEOB (O) e-mail: jnreddy@tamu.edu Web: http://www.tamu.edu/acml PROPRIETARY MATERIAL. c JN Reddy. All rights reserved.

Time: T,Th - 2:153:45

Room: ETB 1034

COURSE INFORMATION
The nite element method is a numerical technique of solving dierential equations arising in the analytical description of physical phenomena, such as heat transfer, uid mechanics, and solid mechanics, as well as other applied sciences. The objectives of the course include: 1. The theory and application of the nite element method to representative continuum problems of heat transfer, uid mechanics, and solid mechanics. 2. Applications of the nite element computer programs )from the textbook) to simple problems of heat transfer, uid mechanics, and solid mechanics. 3. Computer implementation of the nite element analysis steps for the model problems discussed in the course. Both one-dimensional and two-dimensional problems will be studied for their numerical solution by the nite element method. An introduction to nite element models of three-dimensional problems involving a single variable will also be briey discussed.

PREREQUISITES
All students taking the course must have a graduate standing in engineering or equivalent, a course on ordinary and partial dierential equations, a working knowledge of FORTRAN (77 or 90), MatLab, or equivalent, and the motivation to learn.

TEXTBOOK AND COURSE SYLLABUS

An Introduction to the Finite Element Method by J. N. Reddy, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 2006 (Third Edition), is used as the textbook for the course. The course material and assignment problems will be mostly taken from the book. Chapters 3 through 11 and Chapter 13 of the book will be covered. Chapters 1 and 2 are for self-study, although certain material from Chapter 2 is covered as a background in Chapter 3. The tools and understanding that are gained through this course include: 1. A review of physical principles and governing equations of problems considered (an opportunity to refresh and gain further insights into the derivation as well as limitations of governing equations of heat transfer, uid mechanics, and structural mechanics). 1

2. The Ability to develop nite element models form the governing equations of any physical phenomenon. 3. An exposure to the practical aspects of modeling a physical problem with regard to boundary conditions (including singularities in the data), symmetry considerations, calculation of physical variables of interest, and so on. 4. Computer implementation of the major steps of the nite element analysis. 5. The basic understanding of the method gained in this course is sucient to develop, with aid of the programs and discussions in the class, simple computer programs and interfaces to commercially codes to analyze linear problems in one and two dimensions, and to develop appropriate data input for a commercially available computer program.

ASSIGNMENTS, TESTS, FINAL EXAM, AND GRADES

There will be several assignments at regular intervals (every week) during the semester. You are required to submit the assigned work on or before the deadline. No late submissions please! Also, you will be writing computer subroutines in Fortran (or MatLab) to implement element formulations as a part of the assigned work. There will be two tests and a comprehensive examination during the semester. The following percentages of the assignments, tests, and the comprehensive examination will constitute the basis for assigning of the nal grade in the course: Assignments: 25% Two Tests = 40% Comprehensive Examination: 35%

OFFICE HOURS
The ocial oce hours will be on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week, from 9am5pm, except when I am in meetings or classes. However, you may visit me at any time during the week days if I am available in my oce. Thus, you may come and see me at times convenient to you. Early in the semester (before November) there will be help sessions, as deemed useful, to answer specic questions and work out additional examples. The place and time of each help session will announced in the class.

SPECIAL NOTE
The current class time and meeting room may be changed after we determine the suitable class time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As a part of the professional activities, I will travel to participate in technical conferences or present seminars at other universities during the semester. Thus, I will miss some classes during the semester. To make up for the lost classes, we may schedule several special classes outside of the scheduled class times, and the two tests and nal exam will be conducted in the evening hours. Your understanding and cooperation is appreciated.