Finite Element Learning Modules for Undergraduate Courses

Ashland O. Brown: University of the Pacific
Daniel D. Jensen: United States Air Force Academy
Joseph J. Rencis: University of Arkansas
Paul Schimpf: Eastern Washington University
Chuan-Chiang Chen: Tuskegee University
Vladimir Labay: Gonzaga University
Essam Ibrahim: Tuskegee University

Project Goals 

  1. Developmental. Develop FE Learning Modules in different engineering areas that are easily accessible and require minimal instructor effort.
  2. Educational. Provide undergraduate engineering students with understanding of a specific engineering topic and FE theory, along with an ability to apply commercial FE software to typical engineering problems.
  3. Assessment. Accurately and comprehensively assess each educational objective and effectiveness of the FE Learning Modules.

Project Educational Objectives

  1. Engineering Topics. Understand the fundamental basis of engineering topics through the use of finite element computer models.
  2. FE Theory. Understand fundamental basis of FE theory.
  3. FE Modeling Practice. Be able to implement a suitable finite element model and construct a correct computer model using commercial FE software.
  4. FE Solution Interpretation and Verification. Be able to interpret and evaluate finite element solution quality, including the importance of verification.

Sample FE Learning Modules

  • Objectives
    • Develop and implement a closed loop (iterative) assessment system.
    • Gain insight into the effectiveness of the FE learning modules across various personality types and Learning Styles.
  • Assessment Tools (Tools Improved Once)
    • End-of-Course Student Survey
    • Pre-quiz and Post-quiz
  • Modules Span Spectrum of
    • Learning Styles: Felder-Solomom
    • Personality Types: Myers Briggs Type
  • Summary of Assessment Program
    • Demonstrated Learning Improvement
    • No Bias towards Learning Styles and Personality Types

Dissemination of Results of Research

This website is in place to share the results of 3 years or research into finite element learning modules designed and developed to provide a new learning resource for engineering educators in undergraduate engineering schools. This work was conducted under a National Science Foundation DUE CCLI award number 0536197 from 2006 to 2009. We wish to thank the program directors at the National Science Foundation DUE division for their generous support of this work. The initial results of this work were presented at the 2008 American Society of Engineering Educators Annual Conference and Exposition in Pittsburg, PA June 22 through June 25.

Details of the motivation , project goals, pedagogical foundations of this project ,overview of the FE learning modules, the formative evaluation and summative evaluation of the learning modules can be found in the 2008 ASEE Conference literature under accepted paper AC 2008-548: FINITE ELEMENT LEARNING MODULES FOR UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING TOPICS USING COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE.

The website is broken into sections for the researchers who conducted this research , along with the finite element learning modules developed by the various researchers. These sections include a portrait and short bibliography of each researcher along with power point slides of the various learning modules. These modules are free to undergraduate educators in the United States and are all copyrighted by the various authors. These sections also include copies of the various assessment instruments used to assess the effectiveness of these learning modules and we ask any engineering educators who download these modules to help us continue or assessment of their effectiveness using the attached assessment instruments in their engineering classes. The software used in these finite element learning modules was commercial software and proprietary software develop by one of the researchers. We also wish to thank our corporate sponsors SolidWorks Corporation, and ANSOFT Corporation for their support of this work and the use of their software in the development of the modules
Ashland O. Brown, PI for this research , Structural Analysis and Heat Transfer Finite Element Modules- software used COSMOSWorks by SolidWorks Corp.
  1. Curved Beam Tutorial
  2. Thermal Analysis of a Rectangular Bar Tutorial
  3. Transient Heat Conduction of an L-Bar
  4. Structural Stiffness Tutorial
Joseph J. Rencis, Co-PI for this research, Assessment Manager , Technical Editor
Daniel Jensen, Co-PI for this research, Assessment Manager, Technical Editor
Chuan-Chiang Chen, Researcher , Vibrational Finite Element Modules- software used COSMOSWorks by SolidWorks Corp.
  1. Vibration Tutorial #1
  2. Vibration Tutorial #2
Essam Ibrahim, Researcher, Computational Fluid Dynamics Finite Element Modules- software used COSMOSFloworks by SolidWorks Corp.
  1. Cylinder Drag Tutorial
  2. Friction Flow through a Pipe Tutorial
Paul Schimpf, Researcher, Biomedical Finite Element Modules-proprietary software developed by Dr. Schimpf
  1. Biomedical Electromagnetic Field Modeling and Source Localization Using the Finite Element Method
Vladimir Labay, Researcher, Electromagnetic Finite Element Modules –software used ANSOFT Maxwell 2D and 3D by Ansoft Corp.
  1. Finite Element Tutorial in Electromagnetic #1
  2. Finite Element Tutorial in Electromagnetic #2
  3. Finite Element Tutorial in Electromagnetic #3

  4. Electromagnetic Fields Basic Knowledge Quiz