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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Engineering : Civil

Undergraduate Course: Finite Element Methods for Solids and Structures 4 (CIVE10022)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Engineering CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThe finite element method (FEM) originated from the need to solve complex problems in solid mechanics. FEM is used to obtain approximate numerical solutions to a variety of equations of calculus. Today it is used in a wide range of disciplines. This course is an introduction to FEM as applied to elasticity problems in solid and structural mechanics. As FEA is a computational tool, this course includes practical exercises and a computer project using an FEM software package.
Course description The course covers the following topics:

- Basics of the Finite Element Method.
- FE terminology, analysis steps, and input/output.
- FE Modelling: degrees of freedom; stress-strain and strain-displacement relations.
- Virtual Work Basis of Finite Element Method
- Triangular elements and numerical integration
- Quadrilateral elements and isoparametric formulations
- Beam elements for Structural Mechanics

AHEP outcomes: SM1b, SM3b, SM5m, EA2, EA3m, G1; Possible outcomes: EA6m, D3m, P2, P8
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Computer Methods in Structural Engineering 3 (CIVE09027) OR Structural Mechanics and Dynamics 3 (MECE09036) OR Structural Analysis 3 (CIVE09036)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Computer Methods in Structural Engineering 3 (CIVE10018)
Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesStructural Analysis/Mechanics
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  114
Course Start Semester 1
Course Start Date 16/09/2024
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10, Formative Assessment Hours 5, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 50 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework: 40%
Exam: 60%
Feedback Through short formative assessments and the project.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Finite Element Methods for Solids and Structures 42:120
Resit Exam Diet (August)Finite Element Methods for Solids and Structures 4 (CIVE10022) 2:120
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Describe the procedures which the finite element method uses to analyse elastic solid structures;
  2. Solve simple finite element problems by hand calculations.
  3. Analyse elastic structures using computer programs, showing results in appropriate formats.
  4. Assess the correctness of finite-element output and interpret the results.
Reading List
Recommended texts:
1. Cook, RD; Malkus, DS; Plesha, ME; Witt, RJ. Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis, Wiley, 2002.
2. Zienkiewicz, OC; Taylor, RL. The Finite Element Method for Solid and Structural Mechanics, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005.
3. Bathe, KJ. Finite Element Procedures, Prentice Hall, 1996.
4. Smith, IM; Griffiths, DV. Programming the Finite Element Method, Wiley, 2004.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Application of Mathematical concepts.
Computer Modelling skills.
Interpreting design problems.
Special Arrangements none
KeywordsNumerical Methods,solid mechanics,elasticity,computational modelling
Contacts
Course organiserDr Stefanos Papanicolopulos
Tel: (0131 6)50 7214
Email: S.Papanicolopulos@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Lorna Couttie
Tel:
Email: lcouttie@ed.ac.uk
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