Washington University

Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Structural Engineering

MASE 5510 Finite Element Analysis

Fall semester, 2009
Time: M-W-F 5:30-7:00 (Make-up class, when necessary; Fridays)
Location: Sever Hall 102
Instructor: Barna A. Szab (Jolley Hall 203, 935-6352, szabo@wustl.edu)
Course web site:
Text: B. Szab and I. Babuka, An Introduction to Finite Element Analysis (manuscript).
Will be made available on the course web site.
Laboratory reference: StressCheck Version 8.0. Documentation is available on
DVD.
Scope: Students are expected to master the theoretical foundations of finite
element analysis (FEA) and must demonstrate that they are able to solve
practical problems of moderate complexity with FEA methods and estimate the
errors of approximation.
Catalog description: Basic concepts. Generalized formulations. Construction of
finite element spaces. Extensions. Shape functions. Parametric mapping,
numerical integration. Mass matrices, stiffness matrices and load vectors.
Boundary conditions. Modeling techniques. Computation of stresses, stress
resultants and natural frequencies. Control of the errors of approximation. Term
paper project: Students are expected to solve an engineering problem of
moderate complexity by the finite element method.
Prerequisite: At least one course in Strength of Materials.
Credit: 3 units.
Homework: Homework assignments must be prepared in a neat and legible
manner and submitted on standard 8-1/2 x 11 paper. The due date for
homework assignments is shown on page 3. Homework assignments submitted
late will be graded, however only half of the score will be credited. Some
homework assignments will require the use of an FEA software product. Any
FEA software product may be used for this purpose, however instruction and
technical support will be provided for StressCheck (V8.0 on Windows operating

systems) only. StressCheck will be made available to registered students for the
duration of the course, free of charge. A minimum of 512 MB RAM is required.
StressCheck will be accessible through the Center for Engineering Computing.
Term paper: A term paper is required. Students are expected to present their
term paper in a form that conforms to generally accepted professional standards.
Detailed instructions will be provided.
Examinations: One mid-term examination (80 min.) and two quizzes (25 min.
each) will be administered during the semester. The final examination will cover
the entire course. All examinations will be open book and open notes. In the
case of unexcused absence the score will be recorded as zero.
Grading: Final grades will be based on homework scores; the scores of the
examinations (quizzes, mid-term and final), and the term paper score. The
following weights will be assigned: Homework assignments: 20%; quizzes and
exams: 40%; term paper: 40%.
Office hours: 4:30-5:30 MW or by appointment.

MASE 5510 Fall 2009

Page 2 of 3

MASE 5510 Finite Element Analysis

Syllabus for part of the fall semester, 2009
Assignments are subject to change
Rev. 11/18/09
Date

Topic

Aug. 26
31
Sept. 2
7
9
14
16
21
23
28
30
Oct. 5
7
12
14
19
21
26
28
Nov. 2
4
9
11
16
18
23
25
30
Dec. 2
7
9
11

Introduction to finite element analysis

Outline of FEM in 1D
Outline of FEM in 1D
Labor day
Outline of FEM in 1D
Outline of FEM in 1D
Outline of FEM in 1D
Outline of FEM in 1D
Outline of FEM in 1D
Review and Quiz 1
Laboratory session 1
Heat transfer an overview
Linear elasticity an overview
Generalized formulations in 2D & 3D
Elastostatic models (1)
Elastostatic models (2)
Review
Mid-term examination
Laboratory session 2
Finite element spaces
Finite element spaces
Regularity
Rates of convergence
Rates of convergence
Post-solution methods
Dimensional reduction - Beams
Thanksgiving break
Dimensional reduction - Plates
Dimensional reduction - Shells
Review
Reading period
Final examination 3:30-6:30

MASE 5510 Fall 2009

Reading
Chapter 1
2.1
2.2

Exercises

Due
Date

2.1.1, 2.1.2
2.2.2, 2.2.3

9/9
9/14

2.3.3, 2.3.4
2.4.3, 2.5.2
2.5.7, 2.5.10
2.5.12, 2.5.15
2.5.16, 2.5.20

9/16
9/21
9/23
9/28
10/5

Lab assignment
3.1.1, 3.2.9
3.4.3, 3.4.10
4.1.3, 4.2.1
4.3.1, 4.3.2
4.3.10, 4.4.4

10/21
10/12
10/14
10/19
10/21
10/28

12/7
11/9
11/11
11/16
11/18

7.1 to 7.5
8.1

Term paper
5.4.1, 5.4.4
5.6.1, 5.7.1
6.3.2, 6.3.3
6.4.1, 6.4.2
No homework assigned
7.3.6
8.1.8

8.2
8.3

8.2.5
No homework assigned

12/7

2.3
2.4, 2.5.1. 2.5.2
2.5.3 to 2.5.5
2.5.6 to 2.5.8
2.5.9, 2.6.1 to 2.6.4
Chapter 2
3.1, 3.2, 3.3
3.4, 3.4.1 to 3.4.4
4.1, 4.2
4.3, 4.3.1
4.3.2, 4.4
Ch. 3 and Ch. 4

5.1 thru 5.4

5.5 thru 5.7
6.1, to 6.3
6.4

Page 3 of 3

11/30
12/2