An interactive educational computer program for teaching finite element method (FEM) has been developed mainly for beginning students as an application of computer-assisted instruction. The developed program can serve not only as a text and a teacher, but as a computational tool for small size engineering problems.
There are six lessons in this courseware, following basic steps in the finite element method. In Lesson 1, an introduction to the finite element method is presented and in Lesson 2, system idealization and input data preparation are explained. In Lesson 3, the methods of derivation of finite element matrices are offered with basic theory. In Lesson 4, solution methods for equilibrium equations and eigenvalue problems are presented. Lesson 5 covers post-processing and Lesson 6 contains the FEM program itself for application. This program is applicable for two and three dimensional structures composed of trusses and beams, two dimensional and axisymmetric elasticity, plate bending problems. Presently the program can solve static problems and modal shapes.
The lessons are organized in three different modes, drill and practice, tutorial, and simulation mode. The student can take lessons, based on his background and understanding. Also the program offers the student the opportunity to do comparative study especially for the alternatives in modelling and solution methods of finite element equations. For future improvement, user response is critical and should be reflected in addition to better organization.
