Special Topics of Finite Element Analysis of Structures

Mesh generation methods. Isoparametric Timoshenko beam elements in two and three dimensions. Natural mode triangular elements under plane and bending stresses. Isoparametric quadrilateral elements for plates and shells. Mixed type finite elements of displacement-stress and displacement-stress-strain formulations. Derivation of equilibrium equations. Adaptive finite elements, error estimation, h, p and hp adaptivity. Simulation methods of structures with finite elements. Simulation of shear walls, plates, beam-plate, diaphragm-column systems. Direct and iterative solution methods of equilibrium equations. Storage techniques for the stiffness matrix. Programming the finite element method. Data handling, memory management, stiffness matrix formation, stress computation. Applications with open and commercial finite element codes.