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The Finite Element Method

The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a numerical method that subdivides complex geometries into simple elements to analyze systems with unknown structural behavior. It involves identifying the geometry and loads, meshing the geometry into finite elements, calculating the structural behavior of each element, and numerically solving the resulting matrix equation system for displacements. FEM allows for the analysis of problems described by partial differential equations that cannot be solved through classical methods due to complex geometries or loads.

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61 views2 pages

The Finite Element Method

The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a numerical method that subdivides complex geometries into simple elements to analyze systems with unknown structural behavior. It involves identifying the geometry and loads, meshing the geometry into finite elements, calculating the structural behavior of each element, and numerically solving the resulting matrix equation system for displacements. FEM allows for the analysis of problems described by partial differential equations that cannot be solved through classical methods due to complex geometries or loads.

Uploaded by

Praveen Sreedharan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Finite Element Method Page 1 of 2

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Concept: The Finite Element Method


The Finite Element Method
The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a method that subdivides complex geometry with unknown structural
behavior into a finite number of simple geometric elements with known structural behavior. At the element
boundaries, the displacements are equated with the neighboring elements and a matrix equation is developed.
The equation is numerically solved and the results are graphically viewed using a postprocessor.

Classical methods express the problem using a partial differential equation. This partial differential equation is
typically the result of simplifying assumptions, such as linearly elastic material, or small displacements. These
equations may not yield answers because the geometry and loading are too complicated. Therefore, a numerical
solution is required, and a method that provides it is the FEM.

The FEM includes the following:

• Identify the geometry and loadcase.

Figure 1 – Geometry and Loadcase

• Mesh the geometry into a finite number of elements – A mesh is an arrangement of nodes and elements.
Finite elements can have quadrilateral and/or triangular shapes. The nodes are the locations where the
elements are connected to one another. In general, the finer the mesh, the more accurate the results.

Figure 2 – Meshed Geometry (h-type Finite Elements Used)

• Calculate the structural behavior of each single element – In stress analysis problems, the dependent
variable that is used is the displacement from a reference position, typically the unloaded position. In
thermal analysis problems, the dependent variable used is the temperature.

Figure 3 – Simplified Structural Behavior of a Single Element

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The Finite Element Method Page 2 of 2

Click below to listen to the audio version (3:32):

• Numerically solve the resulting matrix equation system for the displacements – After the displacements
have been calculated, the strains, displacement per unit length, can also be calculated by taking the
derivative with respect to position. If stresses are required, they can be calculated from the strains.

If the interpolating polynomial for the spatial variation of the displacement field is linear within an element, then
the strains and stress within are constant. Furthermore, the stresses are only continuous (smooth) within an
element. At the border to the neighbor element, stresses may become discontinuous (jump). This difference is
usually smoothed away in the postprocessor by different averaging techniques. This difference can also be used
for error estimation and convergence improvement during the solution process. Simulate uses superconverged
stresses for this purpose, as described in a later module.

http://precisionlms.ecorp.cat.com/precisionlms/standard-content/coach_cp_2b2ec2c6-b99... 09-03-2018

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