Development Of A Course In Finite Element Analysis For Mechanical Engineering Technologists

An elective, senior level course in finite element analysis is developed for incorporation into a mechanical engineering technology program. The curriculum for the course is developed with the varied roles of the mechanical engineering technologist in industry today in mind. These roles are examined in detail in order to formulate appropriate course objectives. The course is taught in a computer lab setting. Students will gain hands on experience with a commercially available finite element analysis software package. The primary evaluation tool to assess if students are meeting the objectives of the course are reports submitted detailing the analysis undertaken in sample projects assigned in class. The reports are written in a format used successfully in industry. Introduction In its report recommending six-year accreditation for the mechanical engineering technology program at Buffalo State College in 1998, TAC-ABET cited as a weakness the lack of technical electives offered within the program. In order to address this weakness by our mid -term letter of 2001, it was decided by the faculty in the program to offer an elective in finite element analysis. As the faculty member with the most industrial and academic experience with finite element analysis, it fell upon the author to design the curriculum for the course and prepare a course outline for routing through the various curriculum committees at the college. At first, the prospect of performing this task was met with great excitement, as it would allow the author an opportunity to formulate and teach a course in his specialty area; however, this excitement soon gave way to skepticism. The author had taught the course on a graduate level; here, it must be taught on an undergraduate level. The course had been taught from a theoretical point of view that even university prepared students had difficulty with; here, the theoretical preparation would be lacking even more. Surely, a “traditional” course in finite element analysis would not be appropriate for an undergraduate mechanical engineering technology program. Rather than abandoning the task, the author decided to take a different approach. Could one design a finite element analysis course for mechanical engineering technologists? What would be the benefits of such a course to the students, to the employers of our graduates, to the author himself? P ge 706.1