2152 MAE409A Sec2 7144 FEMethods I

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
MAE 409A FINITE ELEMENT METHOD I
Spring 2015
Description:
Introduction to finite element methods and its applications to static

strength analysis of one, two and three-dimensional structures represented
by truss, beam, plane-stress/membrane, plane strain, and solid elements.
Objective:
This course introduces students the fundamentals of finite element

structural analysis to help them understand the concepts and approaches of
analyzing complex structural systems using finite element methods.
Instructor:
Dr. George Tzong
Email:
tzong1@yahoo.com
Schedule:
Mon 7:00-9:45 PM
Classroom:
ECS-208
Office:
ECS-641
Office Hours:
Mon 5:30-6:30PM & Tue 5:00-6:00PM
Prerequisite:
Senior standing in engineering and consent of instructor; MAE373 or

equivalent course strongly recommended
Textbook:
Chandrupatla, T.R., and Belegundu, A.D., Introduction to Finite Elements

in Engineering, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2012
Computer Software: ABAQUS v6.13 and computer programs provided in the textbook
Grading:
HW:
2 Midterms:
Final Project:
Final Exam:
20%
44%
10%
26%
Homework:
Homework (HW) will be assigned, collected, and graded, but not

corrected. The grades will be based on students effort to complete the
HW. Students are encouraged to work on the assignments collaboratively

to better understand the course materials and prepare for the midterm and
final exams. Each student must submit their individual homework
assignment in order to receive credit. No late homework will be
accepted.
Exams:
There will be two midterm and the final written exams. The midterms and
final will be open-book, open-note and with a calculator only. Makeups for the midterms and final can only be arranged for excused
absences (per University Policy). Make-ups are generally more
difficult than the original exam. It is the students responsibility to bring
books, notes, calculator, etc., to the midterm and final exams. Borrowing
or sharing any item with your classmates during test is prohibited.
No Lap-top computer or hand device is allowed to be used.
Final Project:
It is a take-home. Each student shall work on the project individually and

independently. No project package or packing is required. Do follow the
problem statement to provide proper results for evaluation.
Others:
It is students responsibility to get the graded Exam and HW back in

the class, usually the week after the Exam/HW due date. Otherwise,
they will be discarded.
Course surveys:
As part of the course continuous improvement process, course surveys

will be conducted at the end of the semester
Course Outline
1. Introduction to finite element analysis and matrix operations
2. Stress, strain and their relationship; equations of equilibrium; coordination transformations
3. Energy method, Galerkin method and finite element weak formulations; one-dimensional (1-D)
finite element, and associated shape functions and stiffness matrix
4. Loads including body and traction forces, concentrated force, and temperature; and boundary
conditions for structures with 1-D finite elements
5. Structural application problems for trusses
6. Finite element formulations for beam element and its applications
7. Finite element formulations and their shape functions for two- and three-dimensional elements
8. Structural application problems with plane-stress, plane-strain and solid elements
Class Policy and Philosophy
Class materials, announcements and links will be posted on BeachBoard. You will need
to have a CSULB e-mail account to use BeachBoard. If you need help for computer
usage, the CSULB Technology Help Desk is now available for students. The URL for
the Help Desk is: http://helpdesk.CSULB.edu; Phone at 985-4959.
Attendance is strongly recommended. Experience has shown that good grades are
strongly correlated with attendance, practice and participation. Students who miss the
class are often surprised at how quickly they fall behind.
Due Dates. Check the due dates for assignments carefully. Assignments are expected to
be turned in at the due class. No grade will be given to any assignment that is late more
than a week.
Accommodation: It is the students responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of

the need for accommodation of a disability that has been verified by the University.
Withdrawal Policy Course withdraws must be made according to University Policy. See
Schedule of Classes for deadlines and important information. It is the students
responsibility to withdraw from classes. The instructor has no obligation to withdraw
students who do not attend courses. Unauthorized withdraws will lead to a letter grade
WU, which is equivalent to an F.
Cheating and Plagiarism: Written work that you hand in is assumed to be original
unless your source material is documented appropriately. Using the ideas or words of
another person or a web site, as if it were your own, is plagiarism. Computer programs
that are substantially similar will be considered cheating by all students involved.
Cheating and plagiarism are serious academic offenses and will be punished by a grade of
F. Each student is responsible for protecting his/her own work from being copied by
others.

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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH

Introduction to finite element methods and its applications to static

This course introduces students the fundamentals of finite element

Dr. George Tzong

Mon 5:30-6:30PM & Tue 5:00-6:00PM

Senior standing in engineering and consent of instructor; MAE373 or

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

Homework (HW) will be assigned, collected, and graded, but not

HW. Students are encouraged to work on the assignments collaboratively

It is a take-home. Each student shall work on the project individually and

It is students responsibility to get the graded Exam and HW back in

As part of the course continuous improvement process, course surveys

Class Policy and Philosophy

Accommodation: It is the students responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of

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