ED-Elas2D: An Educational Program for Computer-aided Training in Structural Analysis Using the Finite Element Method

In this paper, a methodology for computer-aided training of structural problems by the finite element method is presented. The resulting educational program, named ED-Elas2D, has been developed by a group of researchers at the School of Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) in Barcelona, UPC. The program combines the standard concept which appears in the traditional teaching of finite element methods for structural analysis, such as the introduction to the basic structural theory, data definition (pre-processor), description of the analysis procedure (processor) and interpretation of results (post-processor). The program is addressed to both students who enrol in the study on finite element methods and to academic and technical staff in universities and companies who wish to update their knowledge of finite element techniques. The educational program ED-Elas2D works in the Windows system and it is characterized by its interactivity and graphic utilities