Foundations of Engineering Simulation

📘 Module Overview

The Engineering Simulation Training Module is a complete hands-on journey that teaches you how to set up, run, and automate physics-based simulations using open-source tools. It takes you from the basics — installing your environment — all the way to running large-scale studies on remote servers and visualizing the results professionally.

The goal is to help you build real engineering workflows — the kind used in research labs and industry — using tools like FEniCS, Salome, ParaView, Docker, and VS Code.

Instead of focusing on theory alone, this module is built around doing — running real problems, documenting them properly, and creating repeatable workflows.

🎯 Who Is This For?

This training is designed for learners who want to go beyond classroom theory and build practical simulation pipelines.

It’s ideal for:

• Engineering students and researchers working with FEM, CFD, or multiphysics problems.
• Professionals transitioning from commercial solvers (ANSYS, COMSOL) to open-source tools.
• Anyone who wants to understand how to create, automate, and deploy simulations efficiently.

If you’re looking to learn how modern simulation workflows are structured — from mesh to post-processing — this course is for you.

🏗️ Module Structure

The training is organized into ten core modules, each covering a specific part of the workflow. By the end, you’ll know how to run a complete study — from geometry creation to cloud deployment.

Module 1: Getting Started

Set up your Linux (WSL) environment, install FEniCS, and test your first simulation.

Module 2: Docker for Simulation

Learn how to containerize your solver environment using Docker for consistent, portable runs.

Module 3: Essential Tools

Set up VS Code, GitHub, and Obsidian for coding, version control, and documentation.

Module 4: Communication & Documentation

Develop habits for professional research documentation — from commit messages to study reports.

Module 5: Terminal & Linux Essentials

Get comfortable with Linux commands, file navigation, automation scripts, and remote access.

Module 6: Salome Geometry & Meshing

Create and mesh geometries, define physical groups, and export ready-to-use simulation meshes.

Module 7: ParaView Visualization

Visualize results with ParaView — apply filters, plot fields, and explore time-dependent data.

Module 8: Workflow Integration

Automate repetitive steps using Python and shell scripts, and integrate everything into Docker.

Module 9: Cloud & Remote Servers

Learn to connect securely to remote servers, run long jobs using tmux or SLURM, and visualize remotely.

Module 10: Exercises & Capstone Project

Complete guided exercises — then tie everything together in a capstone simulation project.

🎓 What You’ll Gain

• The ability to set up full simulation pipelines using open-source tools.
• Confidence in working with remote systems and automating workflows.
• Experience with real tools used in engineering research and industry.
• A structured approach to documenting, visualizing, and sharing simulation studies.

By the end, you won’t just know how to run FEniCS — you’ll know how to build an efficient, reproducible simulation workflow from start to finish.

🛠️ Requirements

• Basic understanding of engineering physics or numerical simulation.
• Familiarity with Python (recommended but not required).
• A system with Windows, macOS, or any Linux distribution installed.
• Internet connection for package installations and remote access setup.