Learning FEA

Engineering Software general discussion FEA (Finite Element Analysis)
#1

SOURCE https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=454131

QUESTION

Good Day to you all. Is there a simple self study material for learning FEA concepts. I want to specialize in FEA but, unfortunately I have not undergone a course. If you find it please share with me.

REPLIES

klaus
Unfortunately FEA ist not that ‘simple’ …
Do you want to study the theoretical background or just learn how to use a FEA Program ??
There are plenty of good books on the market…

Erik Panos Kostson
This is a very good course that covers both theoretical and practical aspects (learning to use a FEA software), that I would strongly recommend (many thousands have already taken this course):

https://www.edx.org/course/a-hands-on-introduction…

GandalfTheGrey
+1 to Erik,

https://confluence.cornell.edu/display/SIMULATION/…

Here’s another useful resource by the same author, Rajesh Bhaskaran, of Cornell University

rickfischer51
Take a look at Building Better Products with Finite Element Analysis by Adams and Askenazi. I think it’s out of print but maybe a used copy on bookfinder

FEA way
I can recommend this book too. It’s the best practical guide to FEA. Another interesting book of this kind is “Practical Finite Element Analysis” by Gokhale. However books can’t replace courses and especially own practice.

ukbridge
Despite being an avid self-learner, there’s really no experience for working in a consultancy from a talented senior engineer.

After all you can’t become the worlds best racecar driver through reading a few mechanical engineering textbooks.

Abaqus_FEM
Erik +1: Just enrolled for the course. Thank you for the link.

SparWeb
I haven’t used it recently, but last year I went a long way with https://www.simscale.com/ for a CFD problem.
It does FEA, too: https://www.simscale.com/product/fea/

NRP99
Learning through books and accompanied by software verification problems/examples will be easy and very effective.

#2

@rb1957 and @GregLocock Any additional thoughts?

#3

I just picked up (about a year back) a copy of “Finite Element Design of Concrete Structures” by Rombach. It’s a pretty good book, but, emphasis on concrete. It has a very good (clear and concise) introduction on the FEM. My original text from 40 years back was given to a Mexican student visiting Canada who was lamenting the lack of good texts; myself and several of my classmates… sent him a crate of books. Do an internet search for “zienkiewicz the finite element method” and you’ll find a *.pdf.

The text is dated and there are much better ones… but, was top in it’s time.

FEM is very powerful and is based on continuity (check continuity equations) of materials. It can be applied to almost any continuum. For CFS sections check CUFSM (finite strip method). For fluids (gas and liquid) there is CFD, etc.

Dik

1 Like
#4

I added “continuity equations” as a tag to this thread.

1 Like
#5

Sure… wasn’t really necessary since there is no real description of them. I’ll see if I can find a link to add to make the tag relevant.

https://www.continuummechanics.org/continuityequation.html :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Dik