Keltia’s CFD/FEA Fundamentals course introduces students to numerical simulation methods used across aerospace, automotive, mechanical and biomedical engineering. Students will learn the fundamentals of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and will gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools.

Software options (depending on license availability):

• ANSYS Mechanical + Fluent

• Siemens Simcenter + Star-CCM+

• Dassault Abaqus + CST / CFD

• Open-source: Code_Aster, OpenFOAM, CalculiX, Elmer

This course is available for both individuals and groups, with 4 to 40 hours of training delivered through our Keltia online portal: https://www.keltia-ireland.ie/online-cad-mentoring/. Classes typically run on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the late afternoon, but scheduling is flexible to accommodate students. 

Live engineer instructor-led sessions ensure hands-on learning for faster and higher-quality skill development. We also tailor our content to meet individual learning needs, so if there are specific topics you’d like to cover, let us know.  

Course Syllabus

FEA TRACK

Module 1: FEA Foundations

• Stress & strain tensors

• Material models: elastic, plastic

• Element types and selection

• Loads & boundary conditions

Hands-On: Linear static analysis of a bracket

Module 2: Meshing & Convergence

• Tetra vs hexa elements

• Mesh sizing & quality metrics

• Convergence criteria

Hands-On: Mesh refinement study

Module 3: Modal & Thermal Analysis

• Natural frequencies & mode shapes

• Heat transfer (conduction, convection)

• Transient thermal simulations

Hands-On: Modal analysis of a beam; thermal analysis of a heat sink

Optional: Advanced FEA

• Contact mechanics

• Non-linear materials

• Buckling

• Fatigue introduction

CFD TRACK

Module 1: Meshing for CFD

• 2D & 3D meshes

• Boundary layer mesh generation

• Quality metrics (skewness, y+)

Hands-On: Meshing an airfoil

Module 2: Turbulence Modelling

• RANS models (k-ε, k-ω SST)

• LES & DES overview

• Selecting the right model

Hands-On: Airfoil simulation at different angles of attack

Module 3: Heat Transfer & Multiphysics

• Convection & conduction in fluids

• Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT)

• Rotating machinery (MRF / sliding mesh)

Hands-On: Simulation of a fan or heatsink

Module 4: Post-Processing & Validation

• Using probes, planes, streamlines

• Exporting plots and animations

• Comparing results with engineering formulas or literature