Course outline
Programming Techniques and use of specialised software for Structural Engineering is an optional course of Structural Division and it is taught in the 9th Semester since the academic year 2004-2005 . It is aimed to demonstrate new Information Technologies in the field of Structural Engineering and to tech modern programming and Finite Element simulation techniques that the students can apply both in research and design. The course is structured in two main parts:
Software and application development for Structural Engineering problems with the implementation of visual programming (Visual Basic and Visual Basic.NET). Utilization of the fundamental programming skills developed for the management of database systems (MS Access) and spreadsheets (MS Excel) using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).
Implementation of widely used commercial Finite Element packages for the simulation and Analysis of Structural Engineering problems. Emphasis is given in the fundamentals of FE representation while specific cases of non-linearity handing as well as 3D simulation are also demonstrated. Applications are performed using the FE program ANSYS.