Introduction to Finite Element Method

In this subject there are introduce the basic principles of the Finite element method. There are introduced energy principles and their use in structural mechanics problems. The Ritz Method and its relations to the Finite Element Method is explained. Derivation of stiffness matrices of simple finite elements is given. Principles of computational model preparation and of result analysis are discussed. The practical part of the subject is based on preparation of simple computational code in a high-level computational language by students and on use of this code for solution of simple problems of structural mechanics.

Learning outcomes:
- define basic numerical procedures used in structural mechanics methods;
- describe the basic principles of the finite element method;
- memorise basic knowledge of the possibilities and limitations of finite elements used in the most common structural engineering problems.