Structural strength calculations in modern engineering are considered as a component of automated design and analysis systems (CAD/CAE). To master this calculation technique, the student is first given an overview of modelling and numerical methods (discretization of the real structures, matrices, eigenvalue problems, differentiation, integration and systems of linear algebraic equations), then FEM programmes, stress analysis software options, and finally, the student independently performs structural strength calculations with FEM, from simpler cases to advanced tasks including the theory of elasticity.