A hands‐on finite element modeling experience in a multidisciplinary project‐based freshman course

Computational methods are being widely used in engineering analysis, design, and research. In order to prepare the students for engineering practice or graduate school, the undergraduate engineering curriculum needs to provide sufficient exposure to computational methods during the 4‐year undergraduate education. This paper summarizes the introduction of freshman students to finite element modeling as a part of a hands‐on multidisciplinary project‐based course. The project focuses on improving students' understanding of structural behavior through experimental and computational methods. The goals of implementing finite element modeling in this project are to enhance the mechanics understanding of students, to increase the students' interest in engineering, and to introduce computational methods to undergraduate students at an early stage during their undergraduate education. The incorporation of finite element modeling in the project provides a powerful tool to visualize the theoretical concepts that are new to the freshman level students such as stress and strain and help to improve their understanding of the experimental observations made in the laboratory setting. The student evaluations show that the finite element modeling part of the project is intellectually stimulating and leads to development of new knowledge and skills. The exposure of freshman students to finite element modeling through a project‐based course is expected to help their development as engineers and increase their preparedness for engineering practice or graduate school after graduation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 21: 294–299, 2013