CSM Training Survey




			CSM TRAINING SURVEY Cristina Beldica, NCSA and AAE/UIUC This file is available for download in *.pdf* format. Click here Research Objectives: The objective of the survey conducted by the ARL PET Training Team and The NCSA CSM Group was to assess the training needs of the DoD engineers and researchers in the area of Computational Structural/Solid Mechanics. The NCSA CSM Group is deeply committed to improve its performance in providing long-term strategic support to its DoD collaborators. Methodology: The CSM Training survey was administered via Internet through an easy to use web form. The questionnaire was relatively short and it focused on the training needs in two major categories: software training and technical area courses. Some demographic information was also collected. The survey respondents were anonymous. The survey has been advertised through e-mail to approximately 200 users from ARL and 400 from ASC in late January 2000. The web form was kept open for input until March 3, 2000. Results: The responses have shown that the DoD researchers have a crucial interest in fundamental and advanced engineering courses, such as fluid-solid interaction, grid generation, adaptive and dynamic grids, nonlinear and stochastic FEM. In terms of software training, the most requested were general use mathematical packages (Mathematica, Matlab), followed by FEM codes (DYNA-3D, LSDYNA, ABAQUS, ANSYS, etc). The survey also revealed that the respondents prefer the traditional-class setting, but that they are open to e-Learning methods. Significance: This survey has provided the NCSA CSM Group with substantial information about the training needs and preferences of the DoD engineers and scientists. It is an instrument for establishing an integrated CSM training program tailored to the specific interests and needs of the DoD engineers and researchers. The results have also confirmed that the PET training activities, projects, and services carried out to date by the NCSA CSM Group are well aligned with the needs expressed by the survey respondents. *Figure 1. Technical Area Training by Site*