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Finite Element Methods

The Finite Element Method is a widely used numerical method for the solution Part I - 3 R 10 650
of physical problems. The aim of this course is to present the theory underly- Part II - 2 R 8 100
ing the finite element method (FEM) and the practical implications of using FEM
software. Stationary heat flow, linear static structural analysis as well as basic Part I&II - 5 R 15 750
techniques for non-linear structural analysis are covered. CPD CREDITS EARLY BIRD
Stellenbosch (Part I) Stellenbosch (Part II)
Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering
3,4 & 5 February 2020 23 & 24 March 2020
UNIVERSITEIT•STELLENBOSCH•UNIVERSITY
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
Candidates that have successfully completed the Finite Element Methods (FEM) course should be able to:
• interpret the mathematical formulation of engineering problems in the form of differential equations, and the integral form of such equa-
tions, specifically for stationary heat flow and linear- and non-linear solid and structural mechanics
• use and interpret basic numerical techniques for interpolation and integration
• be able to formulate and interpret the finite element (FE) system of equations
• have an understanding of methods for solving the FE system of equations, as well as the programming techniques used to implement
these methods,
• apply FE techniques for basic linear and non-linear static structural problems and develop basic FEM computer code in Java, MATLAB
or any other programming language.
• develop FEM models to solve stationary heat flow and structural analysis problems using commercially available FEM software packages
• interpret and critically evaluate FEM results, the graphical representation thereof and its use in engineering design

COURSE FOCUS AREAS

There are two distinct reasons for emphasising the theory underlying the FEM in this course.
• Firstly, the course aims to expose postgraduate students to the FEM theory necessary to perform research in the field, either during their MEng.
studies or later.
• Secondly, the course aims at providing the South African structural analysis and design industry with competent and responsible users of FEM
software.
COURSE PROGRAMME - Part I
• Introduction – Objectives of and arrangements for the course
• Formulating a boundary value problem for stationary heat flow:
Problem definition, geometry and physics of the body
• Heat flow theory - strong form of the state equations:
Temperature gradient, heat flux, material law, boundary conditions
• Formulating a boundary value problem for elastic continua:
Problem definition, geometry of deformation, transmission of force, elastic constitutive theory, boundary conditions
• Solid and structural mechanics theory - strong form of the state equations
• Weighted residuals, partial integration and integral form of the state equations for stationary heat flow and solid continua
• Concept of the Finite Element Method:
Approximate field values, interpolation over finite intervals, assembling the system, system equations for approximate field values
• Interpolation and integration techniques:
Physical and normalized coordinate systems, linear and quadratic interpolation using shape functions in 1D, 2D and 3D, isoparametric
intervals
Numerical integration using the method of Gauss.
• Finite Element Method (FEM):
Approximation of geometry and physical state, domain and boundary terms, transformation of integral form to finite element equation
system using Galerkin weighing functions
• Solving the FE equations - Solving a system of linear equations using Cholesky’s method
• Basic 1D finite element and 3D Solid finite element formulation, plane stress and plane strain finite elements in structural mechanics
applications
• Implementing a finite element model on the computer - Structure of the application, using the FEM model and an application program.
COURSE PROGRAMME - Part II
• Introduction – Objectives of and arrangements for the course
• Concise overview of finite element theory and system formulation
• Truss, beam and frame elements, isoparametric elements, plate elements, axi-symmetric elements, integration schemes
• Congruent transformations, rotation and assembly of models, sub-structuring and static condensation techniques
• Non-linear analysis techniques
• Non-linear geometry and material modelling
• Structural stability of frame and truss structures
• Software use and numerical computation considerations

COURSE MATERIAL SUPPLIED

• Digital version of notes as well as example files
• Printed copy of a text book on advanced finite element methods included in course material

USE OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• Problem solution scripts in MATLAB will be made available
• Sample application programs in Java will also be supplied
• CPD candidates need to have access to commercial software of their choice to set up example FEM models and complete assignments
PRESENTERS
Dr GC (Gert) van Rooyen obtained a BSc degree at the University
of the Free State and studied Civil Engineering at Pretoria (B.Eng).
He later specialised in Structural Engineering (M.Eng) and Civil En-
gineering Informatics (PhD) at Stellenbosch University and the Tech-
nical University of Berlin.
He spent four years in construction and then joined the Institute
for Structural Engineering in Stellenbosch, performing finite element
analyses and design of industrial structures, where he worked for
eight years. Gert joined the academic staff of the Department of Civil
Engineering of Stellenbosch University in 1992, where he spent the
remainder of his career. He lectured Mechanics, Structural Analysis
and Design and later focussed on Civil Engineering Informatics. He
strongly believed that computational modelling and methods, like the
Finite Element Method, should be included as core components of the
undergraduate Civil Engineering curriculum and developed courses
to make it possible. He supervised a significant number of Master
and Doctoral studies, with diverse topics ranging from Structural En-
gineering to the optimisation of Sewer networks and Project schedul-
ing. However, the research was always rooted in computational mod-
elling, with a specific focus on meta-heuristic optimisation techniques.
Dr JAvB (Breda) Strasheim retired as a Senior Lecturer in Structural
Engineering at Stellenbosch University in 2018. Presently he still sup-
ports the Department of Civil Engineering with post graduate course
development and presentation. He graduated in civil engineering in
1974 at Pretoria and subsequently obtained a BSc in Computer Sci-
ence, an M Eng, a MBA and a PhD. His professional engineering
career included a period with the Department of Water Affairs work-
ing on dam design and monitoring as well as being involved in dam,
canal and pipeline construction on the Usutu-Vaal scheme for water
supply to Sasol 2. He spent a decade in the consulting engineering
practice of Geustyn Forsyth & Joubert Inc. doing municipal infras-
tructure design, construction and management projects as well as
business system projects. He has been involved in a wide range of
structural analysis, design and appraisal projects ranging from road
and pedestrian bridges, arch dams, high rise buildings, lattice towers
and guyed towers, mining ore crusher buildings and conveyor sys-
tems, reservoirs, dock structures, offshore pipelines, turbine support
structures, irrigation installations, as well as specialised vehicles and
piezo-electric equipment and structures for solar power plants. He
also lectures on engineering management and is involved in organ-
ising and presenting course work for the Construction Management
Programme (CMP).
 CPD CREDITS
The courses are accredited for 3/2/5 Continued Professional Development credits with the Engineering Council of South Africa
(ECSA).

REGISTRATION
To register, please provide your details on the registration template provided at LINK TO FOLLOW. Our system will
generate an invoice for your records.

PAYMENT - Part I / Part II / Part I&II - Prices include VAT

Early Bird: R10 650 / R 8 100 / R 15 750 Payment must be received by 25 January 2020

Normal Bird: R 12 300 / R 9 200 / R 18 500 Payment must be received 5 working days prior to the course date

PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE EMAIL PROOF OF PAYMENT TO:

On registering for this course you will receive an automated email Ms. Tsholofelo Seroalo
stating the bank details for payment.
Stellenbosch University, Department of Civil Engineering
If you are paying your own registration and do not require an invoice,
please use this method. Email: civilcourses@sun.ac.za
If however your company is making payment on your behalf and Enquiries: 021 808 4131
requires an official tax invoice, please indicate this on the registration
form and wait until receiving the invoice before making payment.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU AT THIS COURSE

UNIVERSITEIT•STELLENBOSCH•UNIVERSITY
jou kennisvennoot • your knowledge partner
 University of Stellenbosch – Department of Civil Engineering
FINITE ELEMENT METHODS - 2020
PROGRAMME: PART I – 3 day (Stellenbosch)
Date Lecture Topics – PART I of Course - 3 Days
3 February 2020

08:00 - 08:30 Registration

Objectives of and arrangements for the course

08:30 – 10:30 L1 Formulating a boundary value problem for stationary heat flow:
Problem definition, geometry and physics of the body

10:30 – 11:00 Tea

11:00 – 13:00 L2 Heat flow theory - strong form of the state equations:
Temperature gradient, heat flux, material law, boundary conditions

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

L3 Formulating a boundary value problem for solid mechanics:

14:00 – 15:00 Problem definition, geometry of deformation, transmission of force, elastic constitutive theory,
boundary conditions

15:00 – 16:00 L4 Solid and structural mechanics theory - strong form of the state equations

4 February 2020
L5 Weighted residuals, partial integration and integral form:
Method of weighted residuals, partial integration and the integral form of the state equations for
08:30 – 10:30
stationary heat flow Weighted residual methods for solid mechanics -
Basic 1D FEM application and 3D Solid finite elements

10:30 – 11:00 Tea

L6 Concept of the Finite Element Method:

11:00 – 13:00
Approximate field values, interpolation over finite intervals, assembling the system, system
equations for approximate field values
L7 Numerical Interpolation techniques:
Physical and normalized coordinate systems, linear and quadratic interpolation using
shape functions in 1D, 2D and 3D, isoparametric intervals

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 16:00
L8 Numerical integration techniques:
Numerical integration and using the method of Gauss.

5 February 2020
L9 Finite Element Method (FEM):
08:30 – 10:30 Approximation of geometry and physical state, domain and boundary terms, transformation of inte
to finite element equation system using Galerkin weighing functions

10:30 – 11:00 Tea

11:00 – 13:00 L10 Solving the FE equations - Solving a system of linear equations using Cholesky’s method

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 15:00 L11: Plane stress and plane strain finite elements in structural mechanics applications

15:00 – 15:45 L12: Implementing a finite element model on the computer - Structure of the application, Using
the FEM model and an application program.
15:45 – 16:00 Review of Tutorial Homework assignment for submission at start of Part II of course

 
 University of Stellenbosch – Department of Civil Engineering
FINITE ELEMENT METHODS - 2020
PROGRAMME: PART II - 2 day (Stellenbosch)
 
Date Lecture Topics – PART II of Course - 2 Days
23 March 2020

08:00 - 08:30 Registration

08:30 – 9:30 L13 Concise overview of finite element theory and system formulation

08:30 – 10:30 L14 Truss, beam elements and frame elements

10:30 – 11:00 Tea

L15.1 Isoparametric elements, integration schemes

11:00 – 13:00
L15.2 Plate elements,

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

L16 Congruent transformations, rotation and assembly of models, sub-structuring and static

14:00 – 15:00
condensation techniques

15:00 – 16:00 Tutorial

24 March 2020
08:30 – 10:30 L17 Non-linear analysis techniques
L18 Non-linear geometry and material modelling

10:30 – 11:00 Tea

11:00 – 13:00 L19:Structural stability of frame and truss structures

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

L20 Cable Elements

14:00 – 16:00
L21 Software use and numerical computation considerations

15:00 – 16:00 Tutorial