Finite Element Analysis of Composite Structures

This course provides a structured introduction to the finite element analysis of composite structures, combining the theoretical foundations of composite mechanics (lectures) with practical modelling workflows in ANSYS (tutorials).

The course is designed for engineering students, researchers, and practicing engineers who want to understand not only how to build finite element models of composite structures, but also how to evaluate modelling assumptions and interpret simulation results critically.

The course begins with a focused review of the finite element method and introduces essential modelling practices through a classical stress-concentration problem involving a plate with a hole. You will work with material definitions, shell elements, boundary conditions, symmetry, structured meshing, element order, and mesh-convergence studies.

The following sections cover the micromechanics of composite materials, the mechanics of a unidirectional ply, laminate behavior, buckling, and failure analysis. You will learn how the properties of composite constituents influence the effective properties of a lamina, how stresses and strains are transformed between coordinate systems, how laminate layup affects structural response, and how the strength and failure of composite structures are assessed.

The practical tutorials demonstrate modelling workflows in ANSYS Workbench, Mechanical, Material Designer, Composite PrepPost (ACP), and DesignXplorer.

The final project brings the different topics together through the optimization of a composite helicopter driveshaft. The objective is to minimize structural mass while satisfying strength, buckling, vibration, and manufacturing constraints.

Throughout the course, the emphasis is placed on engineering judgment: understanding what the software calculates, identifying the limitations of a model, and evaluating whether the results are physically meaningful.

The course is taught by Dr. Aleksandr Cherniaev, P.Eng., Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Windsor, Canada, with 20 years of academic and industrial experience in composite materials and lightweight structures.

The instructor gratefully acknowledges ANSYS, Inc. for providing the software license used to prepare and record the tutorials included in this course.