Proposal

The project aims to build the department's finite element analysis platform, mainly for undergraduate and graduate students to perform large scale modeling for projects from graduate and undergraduate finite element courses, engineering design courses, and design projects. In the past, undergraduate and graduate students have to access to college servers to perform the modeling, which is very slow for large scale modeling. In recent years, large scale modeling of many advanced project such as biomechanics modeling in bioengineering related courses, thermal and stress analysis for mechanical and machine design, and CFD modeling for micro and nano channels and sensors for medical, environment and energy applications. Most of these modeling require multiple physics interaction and take few days, even few weeks to complete the modeling in the current college platforms. Therefore, there is a urgent need to build a clustering computer platform by connecting a number of local desk top PCs with servers provided by college as matched equipment, in which computer resources can be efficiently utilized to increase the computational power.

COMSOL is a multi-physics software. It is divided into different modules for different purposes of finite element modeling, which will provide a faster computing speed than the general purpose finite element software such as ANSYS. By combing the higher efficiency COMSOL software with the cluster computer platform, it will provide enough computing power for students to perform large scale finite element modeling for their projects and course works. We have identified five desk top PCs as an excellent starting choice at a cost around $4,120.50 and COMSOL software at $8,560.00. More desk top PCs can be added in the future if other funds are available. Some existing software can also be installed into this new cluster computer platform if needed.

The hardware and software can be purchased and made available to students as soon as funds are available.