xiv PREFACE
In view of this attitude toward practice, we provide guidance for using pre-programmed
software. Guidance is offered for both commercial software and academically developed finite el-
ement codes via the online video tutorials found at the wiki site SimCafe (https://confluence.
cornell.edu/display/SIMULATION/Home) [Bhaskaran, 2012]. e NSF-sponsored project
team at Cornell University [Bhaskaran and Dimiduk, 2010] has graciously supplied ANSYS tu-
torials for the collection of illustrative case studies presented here. All tutorials for this book can
be found at https://confluence.cornell.edu/display/SIMULATION/Prantil+et+al.
In summary, we write this book for student and faculty colleagues who are willing to un-
dertake
1. iterative learning in a supportive environment in which students are unafraid to make er-
rors, confront misconceptions, and revisit problems, and in which instructors are present to
provide support “when things go wrong;”
2. a strong navigational approach that is orderly and progressive, but not necessarily “top
down;” and
3. an approach in which MoM theory and FEA are intimately entwined.
WHAT THIS BOOK IS NOT INTENDED TO BE
Most current textbook treatments of the mathematical theory of finite elements draw on vari-
ational calculus and linear algebra. As suggested previously, we intend this book to serve as a
supplement for more advanced undergraduates and as a resource to inform teaching of earlier
stage students. Our focus is not on treatment of the mathematical rigor and underpinnings of the
finite element method, but rather a guide to good practice. erefore, this book is not intended to
be a reference or text on the formulation, theory, or mathematical underpinnings of the finite ele-
ment method. ere are many excellent treatments outlining the method [Cook et al., 2002, Kim
and Sankar, 2009, Logan, 2001, ompson, 2004, Zienkiewicz and Taylor, 2005, Zienkiewicz
et al., 2005]. Any one of these would be sufficient for an introductory course in an undergraduate
mechanical engineering curriculum.
is book is also not intended to be a tutorial guide for applying the method or a step-by-
step user’s guide to a particular commercial software package, e. g., Kurowski [2013], Lawrence
[2012], Lee [2012]. We assume that the instructor using this book is already providing such
tutorial instruction or that the reader already has a working knowledge of such. We emphasize,
however, that we do provide online video tutorials at the SimCafe wiki site, which include further
user guidance and suggested follow-up exercises. We encourage the student or novice reader to open
a tutorial or start an FEA session from scratch and directly attempt the exercises and examples that are
provided in both the tutorials and the book.
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