MEEM 4405 Finite Element Method - Gregory M. Odegard

MEEM 4405 – Introduction to Finite Element Method
Department of Mechanical Engineering - Engineering Mechanics
Michigan Technological University
Spring 2010

Instructor: Dr. Gregory M. Odegard
Office: 930 MEEM Building
Phone: (906)487-2329
Email: gmodegar@mtu.edu
Lecture: Monday, Wednesday 3:05 - 3:55 pm in MEEM 111
Lab: Tuesday 8:05-9:55 am, 10:05-11:55 am, and 4:05-5:55 pm in MEEM 120
Office hours: M,W: 9-10 am, T: 3-4 pm in the MEEM Learning Center Room 201 (if I am not in 201, please come to my office). Please do not email me questions about specific homework problems. Use the office hours for these types of questions.

Course description:

Introduces the use of the finite element method in stress analysis, heat transfer, fluid flow, and vibration. Emphasizes the modeling assumptions associated with different elements and uses hand-calculations and commercial software to solve many different types of problems.

Prerequisite courses:

Please be mindful of and respectful to each other by extending certain courtesies. These courtesies include being on time to class and not leaving early, not reading newspapers or doing other work during class, and turning off your cell phones during class. Simple respect to both instructor and other students requires that you do not talk during class except to join in class discussion or to ask a question. The topics of each lecture and corresponding book sections will be posted on WebCT.

Homework assignments will be posted on WebCT and are due at 4:00 pm on the listed due date. No late homework will be accepted, however, the lowest homework score will be dropped. Homework assignments must be stapled together for credit (no paper clips or fold-overs). The reading assignments are part of your homework and you will be responsible for this material on exams whether covered in class or not. For each problem, the following items are required for full credit:

Each homework problem must start at the top of a new page
Complete problem statement
Clear step-by-step solution with necessary diagrams
Neat, legible handwriting
Answers with appropriate units must be boxed

The homework problems will not be rigorously graded. Students may work with others to complete homework assignments, however, all work turned in must be original, not a simple copy of someone else’s work. Such copying with be considered as a breach of academic honesty and appropriate action will be taken.

The two in-class exams and the final exam will cover material from the homework problems, assigned reading, and from the lectures. Exams are closed-book. Exams missed due to documented medical problems and other (very) exceptional circumstances will be made up either by oral or written examination on an individual basis. The final exam will only be given at the scheduled time. Students need to check the final exam schedule before planning return flights or other events at the end of the semester.

Starting in the second week of class (Tuesday, January 19, 2010), a two-hour lab will be conducted every week until the end of the semester. The commercial software program Abaqus will be used. The lab instructor is Mr. Joe Wlodyka. Completed lab reports are due to Mr. Wlodyka on the Monday following the corresponding lab. Complete instructions will be provided during the assigned lab times.

Final grades will be based on the the students' score relative to the average scores of the top members of the class. Therefore, student performance plays a role in determining the final grade and the number of students who can earn each grade is not limited. Letter grades: A (90-100%), AB (85-89%), B (80-84%), BC (75-79%), C (70-74%), CD (65-69%), D (60-64%)