BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani

Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

FIRST SEMESTER 2022-23

COURSE HANDOUT
Date: 27.08.2022

In addition to the part I (General Handout for all courses appended to the Time table), this portion gives further specific
details regarding the course.
Course No : ME G512
Course Title : Finite Element Method
Instructor In-Charge : Gaurav Watts

1. Course Description: Mathematical modelling of almost every physical phenomenon involves partial differential
equations (PDEs). Analytical solutions for PDEs are not readily available, and therefore numerical methods are used to
obtain approximate solutions. Finite Element Method (FEM) is one of the most popular, accurate and robust numerical
methods which transforms PDEs into algebraic equations that can be easily solved using computers. Most of the
commercially available software used by design engineers are based on FEM. Numerical simulations have allowed
design engineers to evaluate different designs and predict their performance under various service conditions before
choosing a few designs for costly prototype development. It has cut down drastically the time and cost of product
development and has revolutionized the design process, resulting in better efficiency, better performance and improved
reliability of systems.
2. Scope and Objective of the Course:

The scope of the course is limited to an introduction to FEA as applied to elasticity problems in solid and structural
mechanics. This course will train the students to analyze real-world structural mechanics problems using the finite
element method. Students will be introduced to the mathematical basis of finite element analysis, on which nearly all
structural analysis software are built. The objectives of the course are:

No Course Objectives

CO1 Understand strong and weak formulations, methods of weighted residuals, interpolation functions
and their properties.

CO2 Understand the finite element method procedure, which converts a given boundary value
problem into a set of algebraic linear equations that is much easier to solve numerically.

CO3 Understand the implementation of FEM for linear analysis of 1D and 2D problems of solid
mechanics and heat transfer.

3. Text Books:
T1 J. N. Reddy, An Introduction to the Finite Element Method, Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing
Company Ltd., 4th Edition, 2020, Indian Edition.

4. Reference Books:

R1 K. J. Bathe, Finite Element Procedures, Prentice Hall India, 2006, Eastern Economy Edition

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

R2 T. R. Chandrupatla and A. D. Belegundu, Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering,

Pearson Education, 4th Edition, 2015, New Delhi.
R3 O. C. Zienkiewicz, The Finite Element Method, TMH, New Delhi, 3rd Edition, 2002.

5. Course Plan:
Module Title: Introduction to FEM
Lecture 1-6

Topic Topic Title Reference

No.

1.1 Introduction Class notes

1.2 Introduction to Programming in MATLAB Class notes
1.3 Variational Methods, Weak Form Class notes

Module Title: Static Analysis of a Bar

Lecture 7-10

Topic Topic Title Reference

No.
2.1 Derivation of Shape Functions and Stiffness Matrix Class notes
2.2 Example problems on Stepped Bars Class notes

Module Title: Static Analysis of Truss Structures

Lecture 11-12

Topic Topic Title Reference

No.
3.1 Stiffness matrix for truss element Textbook
3.2 Solving problems on trusses Textbook

Module Title: Static Analysis of Beams and Frames

Lecture 13-16

Topic Topic Title Reference

No.
4.1 Stiffness matrix for beams and frames Textbook
4.2 Example problems on beams and frames Textbook

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

Module Title: 2-D problems using CST elements

Lecture 17-21
Topic Topic Title Reference
No.
5.1 Derivation of interpolation function in terms of area Textbook
coordinates using 2-D triangular elements.
5.2 Examples on Plane Stress Problems using CST elements. Textbook

Module Title: 2-D problems using Quadrilateral Elements and Numerical Integration
Lecture 22-25

Topic Topic Title Reference

No.
7.1 Numerical Integration Textbook
7.2 Shape Functions for 4-Noded Quadrilateral Elements Textbook
7.3 Examples on Plane Stress Problems using rectangular Textbook
elements

Module Title: Modal analysis of Structures

Lecture 26-29

Topic Topic Title Reference

No.
8.1 Introduction to modal analysis of structures R2
8.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Bar, Beam, Truss and other R2
structures

Module Title: Heat transfer analysis

Session 30-35

Topic Topic Title Reference

No.
9.1 Steady state heat transfer anaysis R2
9.2 Heat transfer analysis using 1-D elements R2

Module Title: Analysis of Axisymmetric problems (Time Permitting)

Lecture 36-38

Topic Topic Title Reference

No.
6.1 Axisymmetric formulation R2
6.2 Axisymmetric problems R2

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

Module Title: Prelude to Advanced Topics (Time Permitting)

Lecture 39-42

Topic Topic Title Reference

No.
6.1 Nonlinear Problems in Structural Mechanics, Sources of Class notes
Nonlinearity, Solution Procedures
6.2 Drawbacks of FEM, Alternative Numerical Methods Class notes

6. Evaluation Scheme:
Evaluation Component Weightage Duration Date of Evaluation
Mid-Semester Exam 25% 90 minutes <TEST_1>
(Open Book) As announced in the TimeTable
MATLAB based 1.5 Hours
Assignments 30% (One lab
(Open Book) session per Continuous Evaluation

ANSYS based week)

10%
assignments
Comprehensive Exam 35% 120 minutes <TEST_C>
(Open Book) As announced in the TimeTable

7. Chamber Consultation Hour: Room No. 6020-L, Every Wednesday, 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
8. Notices: Concerned notices will be displayed on the course webpage on CANVAS.
9. Make-up Policy: There is no makeup for class assignments. Make-up request for Mid-Semester Exam /
Comprehensive examination must be submitted atleast one day before the exam.

Instructor-in-charge
ME G512