MATH 4230   FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
 

Fall 2001
Time:  MWF 11:00 A.M. - 11:50 A.M.
Instructor:  Dr. Dongming  Wei
Tel: 280-6123
Office hrs: MWF 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. ,   Room 231, Math Bldg.
Textbook: Applied Finite  Element Analysis by Larry J. Segerlind, 2nd Ed., ISBN 0-471-80662-5
 

We will cover most of the sections in  Chapter 1 through  Chapter 16 of the textbook.  We will also cover topics on
Ritz-Galerkin's method and variational principles for boundary value problems by using materials in the book
Finite Element Solutions of Boundary Value Problems, by Axelsson and Barker. We will introduce  a finite element  package -ANSYS by using some sections in  Finite Element Analysis- Theory and Application with ANSYS, by Saeed Moaveni as well as materials from ANSYS training manuals.
If time permits, we will cover some additional topics .

Homework problems  are to be handed in on a regular basis. The homework problems assigned are due  one  week after the day they are assigned unless the instructor specifies another due day. There will be at least course project involving  the use finite element codes (your own or other specified codes such as  the ones given  in class or ANSYS), one for the mid-semester and one for the  end of the semester. There will be at leat one  closed book exam   The  two projects  should include with following content:
1) Back ground information about a proposed problem (derivation, physicalconstants ,  applications etc) to be solved by using the finite element method;
2) Mathematical model ( differential equation,  boundary and/ initial  condition,  geometry of domain);
3) Description of the finite element code used including:
       i) Derivation of the  finite elements used in the code (element shape functions, connectivity matrices and mesh,    local stiffness and  load matrices, etc),
      ii) Algorithms ( computational flow charts  etc);
 4) Numerical solutions of  ( graphs, postprocessing etc)
        i) An ideal or special case of the proposed problem which may have an  analytic solution,
        ii)The proposed (more practical) problem for which a analytic solution is not   known;
5) Interpretation of the numerical solutions ( physical meaning of numerical  solutions, etc.)
6) References used for the project.

The final project includes a 15 minute  in class presentation of the above content using transparencies and an overhead projector or a computer software such as power point. The presentation is to be completed in the final's  week.

Each project is to be assigned by the instructor. However, students are welcome to suggest problems related to their field of interests  and the project problem  must be approved by the instructor before the project begins.  Do not hesitate to contact the instructor  to discuss  homework problems and projects.

Grading Method (% of total course grade)

1) Home work problems :  20%    3) Midterm Project : 15%

2) Exam (closed book): 40%         4) Final project : 25%

Homework problems:10 points each for eachsolved  problem  turned in on time.      Problems  turned in late will cost 2  points each in addition to the  normal lost of points for  errors and will not be accepted two weekdays after    the due day.
Projects:  Due days will be stated in class and the cost for each day past the due  day is  2% of the total single project points.  Any  incomplete portion  of a due project will not be accepted two week days past the due day.

Note:   only a reasonable written excuse (such as  those  from a medical   doctor or a police /or a court)  can be accepted for make-up exam or extension of a homework due date for a student on an  individual basis.
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ANSYS is installed on the HPC (High Performance Computing) machine located in the Computer Center.  To access this machine, you need a special account on this machine and a program called VNC (Virtual Network Computing).  VNC is installed on the UCC Student Labs.  To access ANSYS follow the following procedures:

Telnet to blue.ucc.uno.edu
Click Start...Programs...Command Prompt.
Type 'telnet blue.ucc.uno.edu' and hit enter.
Login with your HPC account.
Start the VNC Server
Type 'vncserver' and hit enter.
The first time it will ask you to create a password.  I suggest using the same password you login to the server with.
Once you changed your password type 'vncserver' to start the server.
Record the Number (#) of your server.  It will be preceded by a colon (e.g. :8)
Logout.
Once the server is started, it will remain so throughout the semester.
Connect to the VNC Server
In the Student Labs (CC-101, CC-104, Lib 101), click Start...Programs...VNC.
The address of your server is blue.ucc.uno.edu:#.
# is the number given to you when you started the server.
Type in the password you created for your VNC sessions.
Open ANSYS
At the UNIX prompt type 'tansys56' and hit enter.
Select Application (First time using ANSYS ONLY)
Click on Interactive.
Click on Product Selection.
Click on the button at the top labeled '...'
Choose 'ANSYS/University High Option' and click OK.
To Run ANSYS click Run.
Run ANSYS Application
To run ANSYS, without going through the Produce Selection, just Click Run interactive after Opening ANSYS.
Exiting ANSYS
After Quitting ANSYS right click on the blue bar at the top of the window and click close.  The connection will close, but the Terminal Server will stay active awaiting your next connection.
Stopping the VNC Server
If you choose, you can stop the VNC server.  It will run, for all intents and purposes, indefinitely just fine.  But if you want to stop the VNC server you can telnet to blue.ucc.uno.edu as above and enter the following command 'vncserver -kill :# (where # is your vnc server number you got when you started it).

ANSYS is also available in the Sun Ultra machines in the Mathematics Department.
Students taking thes course will be given accounts at both os these places.