Finite Element Analysis in Structural Mechanics

Code	School	Level	Credits	Semesters
CIVE4061	Civil Engineering	4	10	Autumn Malaysia

Code: CIVE4061
School: Civil Engineering
Level: 4
Credits: 10
Semesters: Autumn Malaysia

Summary

The module covers the following topics

Introduction to the FE method, its history, applications, and comparison with other numerical techniques in computational mechanics.

Introduction to programming and use of MATLAB with examples.

Review of general concepts in structural mechanics: 2D stresses, strains, equilibrium, compatibility, and FE formulation using principle of potential energy.

Introduction to the direct stiffness method and its applications in solving 2D trusses and frames.

Introduction to the Isoparametric FE method and its application in solving 2D plane stress and plane strain problems.

Programming to solving a 2D continuum problems.

Introduction to a FE package (ANSYS).

Target Students

Part III MEng and MSc students in Civil Engineering

Classes

One 2-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks
One 2-hour computing each week for 6 weeks

There are 7*2hr lectures (14 hrs) and 4*2hr computer based tutorials (8 hrs)

Assessment

10% Coursework 1: Displacement based finite element method
20% Coursework 2: The Isoparametric finite element method
70% Exam 1 (2-hour): 2 hour exam

Educational Aims

1) To develop knowledge about the formulation and basic principles of the Finite Element (FE) method. 2) To develop knowledge about analysing civil engineering structures, namely 2D frames and continuum, using the FE method. 3) To learn about developing own codes in FE. 4) To learn about commercial software packages and to have a hand-on experience with one.

Learning Outcomes

On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1) Derive Finite Element (FE) formulation for 2D Structural Elements.
2) Analyse 2D frames problems using the stiffness method.
3) Analyse continuum problems using FE method by developing own programming code and using specialist software.

Conveners

Dr Wael Mohamed Ali Elleithy

View in Curriculum Catalogue

Last updated 09/01/2025.