Computational Methods in Mechanical Engineering
Code
8452
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica e Industrial
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
António Paulo Vale Urgueira, Pedro Samuel Gonçalves Coelho
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
The purpose of the Computational Methods in Mechanical Engineering course is to provide the student with the ability to solve complex engineering problems with the help of the most recent software available. Besides acquiring theoretically knowledge about the finite element method and also about structural optimization the student acquires skills on the use of software and programming languages that allow him to solve practical problems. MATLAB and ANSYS are both commercial software used in this course.
Prerequisites
To enroll in this course it is strongly recommended that the students had done successfully the previous classes on Solid Mechanics I/II and Mechanical Vibrations.
Subject matter
MATLAB programming language applied to the matrix structural analysis. Introduction to the finite element method. Finite element method in beams. Static analysis, dynamic, instability and harmonic. MATLAB applications involving structures composed with elements such as bars and beams. Introduction to finite element commercial software ANSYS. Comparison of results between MATLAB and ANSYS. Introduction to the ANSYS programming language (APDL). Solution of plane elasticity problems by the finite element method. Applications in two-dimensional and three-dimensional with ANSYS.
Formulation of structural optimization problems. Optimization of size, shape and topology. Constrained and unconstrained optimization. Lagrange multiplier concept. Linear and nonlinear optimization. Optimality conditions. Continuous and discrete optimization and respective algorithms. Solution of size structural optimization problems using MATLAB and ANSYS programs.
Bibliography
An Introduction to the Finite Element Method
J.N. Reddy
McGraw-Hill
Problemas de Elementos Finitos em MATLAB
A.J.M. Ferreira
Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
Método dos Elementos Finitos - Técnica de Simulação Numérica em Engenharia
Teixeira-Dias, Pinho-da-Cruz, Fontes Valente e Alves de Sousa
ETEP
Introduction to Optimum Design
Jasbir S. Arora
McGraw-Hill
Teaching method
Theoretical Lectures and laboratory sessions are included. At the lectures notes at the blackboard are given as well as powerpoint slideshows. A the Lab sessions the students interact with PC machines using the installed software (MATLAB and ANSYS).
Evaluation method
The continuous evaluation finishes at the last day of classes in the semester and it consists of two projects and two mini-tests:
1st Project ( TR1 ) – Individual work.
2nd Project ( TR2 ) – Work group (maximum of three people).
1st Test ( T1 ) – Individual and covering first part of the contents of the classes (FEM).
2nd Test ( T2 ) – Individual and covering second part of the contents of the classes (Optimization).
All the projects and the test are mandatory and the attendance to the classes requested. The projects require the elaboration of reports and must have a minimum grade of 10 points. To be approved in the discipline, the student must have positive weighted average for the four classifications, computed by the following formula,
0,3 x TR1 + 0,2 x TR2 + 0,25 x T1 + 0,25 x T2 >= 10
In the case of failure in the previous evaluation it is possible performing an Exam (E) being the approvation dependent on:
0,3 x TR1 + 0,2 x TR2 + 0,5 x E >= 10
The minimum for the Exam is 9,5val. The projects here correpond to the previous mandatory projects developed during the semester.