Ramana Pidaparti

A new book written by the UGA College of Engineering’s Associate Dean for Academic Programs explores finite element analysis, a numerical method for solving problems in engineering.

“Engineering Finite Element Analysis,” written by Ramana M. Pidaparti, was recently released by publisher Morgan & Claypool.

The book is aimed primarily at undergraduates majoring in civil, biomedical, mechanical, electrical and aerospace engineering as well as other fields involving engineering analysis. The publication provides an introductory treatment of finite element analysis with an overview of its various fundamental concepts and applications.

“All engineering students need to understand the concepts of finite element analysis to be productive engineering analysts in a variety of industries,” said Pidaparti. “This is a problem-solving method that’s important in many areas including structural analysis, heat transfer, fluid flow, mass transport, electromagnetics and dynamics.”

A veteran educator and researcher with more than 25 years of experience, Pidaparti joined the faculty of the UGA College of Engineering in January 2014. He was named associate dean for academic programs in 2015. Prior to his arrival at UGA, Pidaparti served as a professor of mechanical engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. While at VCU, he also served as graduate program director for the mechanical engineering department.

Pidaparti holds a doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University, a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Andhra University.

Pidaparti is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

His current research interests include multidisciplinary design from arts and biomimicry, bioinspired materials and structures, and computational mechanics and informatics.