| At Michigan, Finite Element methods is a popular technical elective among juniors and seniors. (ME305) It gives you some perspective on how engineering analysis is done in the real world. I also took a graduate level Fluid Dynamics course, which is basically fluids finite element modeling, they are time consuming classes, and whether your model is right or wrong is often a fine line, this is especially true for fluids. You have to know the theory behind it to use the tool properly, ie. knowing the right parameters to set, the right modes, and different settings for each individual problem.
I know a few grad students who ended up doing analysis for big defense contractors, doing flow analysis for commercial and military planes, and they seem to like it. I personally thought it was way too one dimensional of a career. |