Course Information:

Instructor: Professor Y. Tsompanakis

Course objectives:

Students will improve their knowledge of the issues covered in the context of the course in order to be able:

• To understand and optimize the process required to achieve an effective and reliable numerical simulation of complex problems in computational mechanics.
• To understand the basic principles of finite element method (FEM) and learn how to use various types of finite elements (beam, plane stress/strain, three dimensional, etc).
• To be able to deal with errors that may arise during the numerical simulation and the solution of static and dynamic problems in computational mechanics
• To perform linear and nonlinear static and dynamic analyses FEM and be able to understand and interpret the results.
• To understand the basic structure and functions of a complex FEM software.
• To master advanced FEM software capabilities and to be capable of effectively utilizing them for the static and dynamic analysis of various types of structures.

Course contents:

• Overview of numerical simulation issues in structural mechanics.
• Matrix stiffness method and its application in analysis of planar and spatial frame & truss structures.
• Application of the matrix stiffness method in computer software.
• Finite element method (FEM).
• Beam finite elements.
• Plane stress and strain finite elements.
• Three-dimensional finite elements.
• Finite element mesh generation, discretization errors - adaptive FEM.
• Numerical solution techniques for FEM equilibrium equations.
• Structure and storage of stiffness matrices.
• Domain decomposition methods - Parallel programming techniques.
• Non-linear structural analysis - Numerical integration of dynamic equilibrium equations for single- and multi-degree of freedom engineering systems.
• Special issues in computational mechanics.
• Application of the finite element method in the static and dynamic analysis of complex structures using advanced software (commercial and/or open-source).

Work load:

• Weekly exercises
• Semester project report

Assessment method:

• Weekly exercises (20%)
• Semester project report (50%)
• Final presentation (20%)

Last modification: 10-10-2018