---
title: Finite Element Analysis & CFD
description: FEA and CFD simulate stresses, heat and fluid flow numerically. You will learn the underlying methods, meshing, boundary conditions, validation and how to use tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus or OpenFOAM responsibly.
category: engineering
subcategory: mechanical-engineering
difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced
url: /subject/finite-element-analysis
---

# Finite Element Analysis & CFD

FEA and CFD simulate stresses, heat and fluid flow numerically. You will learn the underlying methods, meshing, boundary conditions, validation and how to use tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus or OpenFOAM responsibly.

## Available Resources

2 Books • 3 Courses

## Courses

### 1. Finite Element Procedures for Solids and Structures (MIT RES.2-002)

**Author:** Klaus-Jürgen Bathe

Two video series from 1982 and 1986 teaching the principles, assumptions and implementation of finite element procedures for linear and nonlinear static and dynamic analysis. Includes 34 lecture videos with accompanying notes, giving engineers a rigorous foundation for structural finite element work.

**Difficulty:** Advanced | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/res-2-002-finite-element-procedures-for-solids-and-structures-spring-2010/

**Tags:** finite-element-method, structural-analysis, computational-mechanics, nonlinear-analysis, solid-mechanics

### 2. OpenFOAM Introductory Training (self-paced)

**Author:** Joel Guerrero

Free self-paced OpenFOAM training with video lectures, a long slide deck and downloadable tutorial cases, based on OpenFOAM 9. Covers case setup, meshing with blockMesh and snappyHexMesh, solvers, numerics, turbulence, post-processing, and Linux and C++ crash courses.

**Difficulty:** Advanced | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://www.wolfdynamics.com/tutorials.html?id=181

**Tags:** openfoam, cfd, meshing, snappyhexmesh, turbulence-modeling

### 3. CFD Python: 12 Steps to Navier-Stokes

**Author:** Lorena A. Barba, Gilbert F. Forsyth

Twelve Jupyter notebooks that build a finite-difference solver one step at a time, starting from 1D linear convection and ending with 2D cavity and channel flow under the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Covers discretization, CFL stability and pressure Poisson solvers in Python. This is the best free way to see what a CFD solver does internally before using a black-box tool like Fluent or OpenFOAM, which is the 'use tools responsibly' part of the topic.

**Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://github.com/barbagroup/CFDPython

**Tags:** cfd, navier-stokes, finite-difference-method, python, jupyter

## Books

### 1. The Finite Element Method: Linear Static and Dynamic Finite Element Analysis

**Author:** Thomas J. R. Hughes

Graduate-level treatment of finite element theory: variational formulations, isoparametric elements, mixed and penalty methods, convergence analysis, and time integration for parabolic and hyperbolic problems including Newmark and stability analysis.  It gives a mathematically rigorous second view of FEM alongside the Bathe course. Inexpensive Dover reprint.

**Difficulty:** Advanced | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid

**Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486411818?tag=edmonddante07-20

**Tags:** finite-element-method, variational-formulation, structural-dynamics, time-integration, computational-mechanics

### 2. An Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics: The Finite Volume Method (2nd ed.)

**Author:** H. K. Versteeg, W. Malalasekera

Textbook covering the finite volume method: conservation equations, discretization schemes, SIMPLE-family pressure-velocity coupling, turbulence modelling, boundary conditions, unstructured meshes, and a chapter on CFD uncertainty, verification and validation. It covers the theory behind commercial solvers such as Fluent, STAR-CCM+ and OpenFOAM, including the V&V chapter. Includes worked examples.

**Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid

**Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0131274988?tag=edmonddante07-20

**Tags:** cfd, finite-volume-method, pressure-velocity-coupling, turbulence-modeling, verification-and-validation

## Youtubes

### 1. Fluid Mechanics 101 (CFD lecture series)

**Author:** Aidan Wimshurst

About 80 free video lectures on the practical side of CFD: wall functions and y+, k-epsilon and k-omega SST turbulence models, LES, mesh quality and inflation layers, boundary conditions, residuals, relaxation, gradient schemes and pressure-velocity coupling algorithms.

**Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free

**Link:** https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcqQi9LT0ETkRoUu8eYaEkg

**Tags:** cfd, turbulence-modeling, finite-volume-method, meshing, boundary-conditions

---

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