This course is a Graduate Course which is intended for students in biosystems engineering. The course is aimed to introduce to the finite element method (FEM) as an applicable numerical solution to a range of problems in physics and engineering sciences. After attending the course, the students will be able to comprehend FEM as a numerical technique to solve partial differential equations representing various physical phenomena in biosystems engineering.

The course contents include:

• One-dimensional boundary value problems with second-order governing equation (mathematical considerations)
• Guess solution of second-order differential equations: introduction of Ritz's variational method and weighted residual methods
• One-dimensional boundary value problems: linear and higher order elements
• One-dimensional scalar and vector problems
• Rod element (truss)
• Two-dimensional scalar and vector problems
• Triangular and quadrilateral elements