Current course offerings

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Course description

Structural engineers around the world depend on reliable and effective structural analysis to study the behaviour of complex structures and to design them. Numerical methods play a key role in modern day structural analysis, and enable structural engineers to effectively use geometry and material combinations to design efficient structures. This course will provide knowledge on the theory of finite element (FE) methods their applications to structures and other civil engineering problems by the use of open-source finite element software. The key focus of the course will be on the practical aspects of applying the FE method appropriately to structural analysis and design. Students will be equipped with the fundamentals of finite element principles that will enable them to understand the behaviour of various finite elements so as to be able to select appropriate elements to analyse structural problems. Series of examples on the use of FE in design of structures (using an open-source FE software) will be presented to demonstrate the use of FE in structural design. Students will also complete the design of a real-world structure, thereby obtaining hands-on experience on the use of FE method for analysis and design of structures.

Archived offerings