Essentials of the Finite Element Method For Mechanical and Structural Engineers by Dimitrios G. Pavlou pdf download

After completing FEM courses, new engineers would be expected to have adequate knowledge to use a commercial FEM program in their first job. Among the targets of the book is to assist readers to  understand the architecture of FEM software, as well as its limitations. Since computer coding to solve FEM problems is the required background for subsequent learning how to use commercial package software intelligently and critically, effort has been made to teach readers how to develop their own programs in order to understand the fundamental abilities of commercial packages. Therefore, the aims of the book are:
(1) to provide the tools to help students and engineers to be software developers, and (2) to provide “how-to” knowledge in running a commercial FEM program. To achieve the first aim, the book uses a contemporary computer-aided learning platform, called CALFEM, which adopts the facilities of the well-known computational matrix laboratory MATLAB. For common types of structures (e.g., trusses, beams, frames, hybrid structures, structural dynamic problems, etc.), the book provides the logical steps for developing an FEM computer algorithm. In the offered examples, the analysis of the required  software commands, the computer code, and the numerical/graphic results are also exhibited. To achieve the second aim, a self-learning on “how-to” run the widely used commercial FEM program ANSYS is provided. To this end, most of the examples treated with the CALFEM/MATLAB platform are used for step-bystep ANSYS learning. Therefore, the ANSYS windows for data entry are provided and the required commands are described through a combination of text and graphics.

This book introduces FE methodology with simple concepts (e.g., the method of direct equilibrium) and progresses to more complicated principles (such as variational methods), allowing a smooth transition of the reader to deeper knowledge of the method.