Finite Element Methods in Engineering

What you will learn

This course is designed to introduce the fundamental skills and knowledge required to perform a computational heat transfer, structural or impact analysis using an industry standard finite element or hydrocode package, and to be able to critically assess such an analysis in terms of modelling and numerical error.

Core content

• Trusses: element and global geometries,
• Mathematical Foundations: overview of finite-elements in one dimension, weighted residuals, Galerkin method and weak form, shape and weight functions, one-dimensional elements, time-dependent problems, applications to heat transfer and mechanics,
• Two-dimensional Problems: review of 2D heat transfer and mechanics, 2D elements, linear and quadratic, rectangular and triangular elements, practical - 2D heat flow,
• Three-dimensional problems: review of 3D mechanics, 3D elements, grid generation, solution singularities, modelling failure, practical – 3D mechanics,
• Introduction to Design Optimisation: the design cycle; design as an optimisation process; objective and constraints; gradient-based versus heuristic methods; multi-objective problems
• Hydrocodes: background, Lagrangian and Eulerian approaches, time-integration, artificial viscosity, methods for material contact and large deformations, overview of material and explosive modelling, applications, practical – impact problem,
• Material modelling: stress-strain relations, equations of state, case studies,
• Dynamic Problems: finite element methods to determine natural frequencies.

Timetable

Residential: once per year

Upgrade to a professional qualification

When taken as a Short Course for Credit , 10 credit points can be put towards either the Gun Systems Design MSc or the Military Vehicle Technology MSc.

Find out more about short course credit points.

Who should attend

Engineers who need to:

• perform or understand how to perform a computational analysis of a simple problem in structures, heat transfer, or impact using an industry standard finite element or hydrocode package,
• critically assess an engineering finite element or hydrocode simulation using: knowledge of the underlying mathematical model and numerical algorithm; their engineering judgment.

Speakers

• Dr Shaun Forth,
• Dr Hugh Goyder.
• Dr Rachael Hazael
• Dr Stephanie Burrows

Location and travel

Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS) is a Cranfield School based at the Ministry of Defence establishment on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire borders.

Shrivenham itself lies in the picturesque Vale of the White Horse, close to the M4 motorway which links London and South Wales. It is 7 miles from Swindon, the nearest town, which lies off the M4 at the hub of Britain’s motorway network.

Bath, Cheltenham, Bristol and Oxford are all within an hour’s drive and London less than two hours away by car.

All visitors must be pre-booked in at reception by the person they are visiting on the campus.

For further location and travel details