A First Course in the Finite Element Method Using Algor

For undergraduate students in civil and mechanical engineering whose main interest is in stress analysis and heat transfer, Logan (U. of Wisconsin-Platteville) provides a simple and basic approach to one of the most widely used techniques for solving practical physical problems in engineering. Proceeding from basic to advanced topics, he presents general principles followed by traditional applications, and then computer applications. As part of the treatment, he introduces the Algor computer software for finite element analysis in its Release 12 version. The material can be squeezed into one semester or fluffed out into two. No date is noted for the first edition; the second updates the software version and adds a chapter on plates and plate bending. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)