Abstract
This paper describes how programming projects are used to help students understand the theory of finite element (FE) methods in the author's class. The implementation of FE theory in FE-based commercial software is made clearer through programming simple FE analysis codes. From the experience gained in the coding, students have a better understanding of the theory and numerical processes used in FE commercial software. As a result, they have more confidence in using commercial software, knowing that the computer programs are not simply ‘black boxes’ that process data and produce colourful results. More importantly, they understand the limitations of the programs, how to use them correctly and interpret the generated output correctly. Two projects are described in which students develop codes and then compare the results with those from commercial software.
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