98-Civ-B9 — Applications of the Finite Element Method, National
Examinations, May 2015. Three hours, closed book, two 8½ × 11 in pages of
handwritten notes permitted, one approved non-communicating calculator. Three problems
are set and the front page instructs the candidate to attempt all three; all
problems are of equal value. All three are solved in full here.
Reference texts for this subject.
- Logan, D. L., A First Course in the Finite Element Method, 6th ed., Cengage —
bar and beam elements, the constant-strain triangle, isoparametric quadrilaterals.
- Cook, R. D., Malkus, D. S., Plesha, M. E. and Witt, R. J., Concepts and Applications
of Finite Element Analysis, 4th ed., Wiley — element quality, integration order,
spurious modes, mass matrices and mesh transitions.
- Bathe, K.-J., Finite Element Procedures, 2nd ed. — variational basis,
convergence, hybrid and mixed formulations.
- Zienkiewicz, O. C., Taylor, R. L. and Zhu, J. Z., The Finite Element Method: Its
Basis and Fundamentals, 7th ed., Butterworth-Heinemann.
- Hibbeler, R. C., Structural Analysis, 10th ed., Pearson — shear and moment
diagrams, fixed-end moments.
- CSA A23.3, Design of Concrete Structures, and the ISIS Canada design manuals
— the Canadian code framework behind question 9.
