CIV3505 Structural Analysis (FOENS)

Semester 1 (ONC)Toowoomba (EXT)Toowoomba

Units 1.0 (Structural Engineering) Band 2

Pre-requisite: MEC2402

Synopsis

These days the analysis of all but the simple structures is carreid out with the aid of computer programmes, in particular the finite element method (FE). The user of the FE method has to decide what kind of elements should be used, and how many of them? Where should the mesh be fine and where may it be coarse? Can the model be simplified? How much physical detail must be represented? Is the behaviour static, dynamic, nonlinear, or what? How accurate will the answers be, and how can they be checked? One need not understand all the mathematics of the finite element to answer these questions. However a competent user must have an understanding of the preliminary mathematics of stress strain and material behaviour, and must be able to understand how elements behave in order to choose suitable kinds, sizes and shapes of elements, and to guard against misinterpretations and unrealistically high expectations. A user must also realise that the FE method is a way of implementing a mathematical theory of physical behaviour. Accordingly, assumptions and limitations of the theory must not be violated by what we ask the software to do. This course is a balanced theoretical and practical introduction to the use of the FE method. The first few chapters will introduce students to new theory essential for competent use of the FE method, for example linear and nonlinear stress and strain definitions, weighted residual methods, finite element approximation. The second part of the course emphasises the behaviour of finite elements and includes computational work in which problems are solved using Matlab and commercial software (MSC Nastran). Students will be provided with a free limited nodes (300) verison of this software for the duration of the course. However, they will need to purchase a student version of MATLAB, and a programmable calculator to be used in the exam.