This is an introductory course in the finite element method (FEM). The focus is on understanding the basics and being able to code a finite element solver for linear equations. The course starts slowly with one-dimensional problems and picks pace over two and three-dimensional problems as familiarity with the method is gained.
While the course is slightly biased towards civil and mechanical engineering problems such as stress analysis, flow in porous media, and heat conduction, the ideas and codes can be used to simulate other engineering problems which are governed by mathematically analogous equations: chemical diffusion, electrostatics, acoustics and other problems which are modeled by Poisson type equations.
Lecture notes and example computer codes will be provided.
