FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

BY

Prof.(Dr.) G.A.Harmain
Professor, Mechanical Engg. Dept.
National Institute of Technology
Hazrabal, Srinagar
Introduction
 Finite Element is a numerical method applicable to real world problems
involving complicated physics, geometry or boundary conditions.
 Numerical methods are used for approximating the solutions of mathematical
models. Mathematical models are mathematical problems formulated so as to
precisely state an idea of some aspect of physical reality i.e. the finite
element method (FEM) is a numerical technique for finding approximate
solutions
 The finite element method (FEM), or finite element analysis (FEA), is based
on the idea of building a complicated object with simple blocks, or, dividing a
complicated object into small and manageable pieces.
 In FEM, a given domain is represented by a collection of sub-domains and over
each subdomain the governing equation is approximated by any other
traditional methods.
Introduction (contd.)

 Analogous to the idea that connecting many tiny straight lines can
approximate a larger circle, FEM encompasses methods for connecting many
simple element equations over many small sub-domains, named finite
elements, to approximate a more complex equation over a larger domain.

 The subdivision of a whole domain into simpler

parts has several advantages:
 Accurate representation of complex geometry.
 Inclusion of dissimilar material properties.
 Easy representation of the total solution.
 Capture of local effects.
Introduction (contd.)
 A typical work out of the Finite Element
method involves:
 Finite element discretization : dividing
the domain of the problem into a
collection of sub-domains.
 Element equations : each sub-domain
represented by a set of element
equations.
 Assembly of element equation and
solutions : systematically recombining all
sets of element equations into a global
system of equations for the final
calculation.
 History of FEM
While it is difficult to quote date of invention of FEM, the method originated from
the need to solve complex elasticity and structural analysis problems in civil and
aeronautical engineering.

FEM development can be

tracked back in early 1940 Courant's approach divides the
from the work of Alexander domain into finite triangular
sub-regions to solve second
Hrennikoff and R. Courant
order elliptic partial differential
equations (PDEs) that arise
from the problem of torsion of a
Hrennikoff's work
cylinder.
discretizes the
domain by using
lattice analogy Courant's contribution was evolutionary, drawing on
a large body of earlier results for PDEs developed
by Rayleigh,Ritz and Galerkin.

Hrennikoff, Alexander (1941). "Solution Courant, R. (1943). "Variational methods for the solution of
of problems of elasticity by the problems of equilibrium and vibrations". Bulletin of the
framework method". Journal of Applied American Mathematical Society. 49: 1–23. doi:10.1090/s0002-
Mechanics. 8 (4): 169–175. 9904-1943-07818-4
 History of FEM
Ioannis Argyris, around the same time (1960), developed similar technique in
Germany

The words "finite element method" were first used by Clough in his paper in the
Proceedings of 2nd ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineering) conference on
Electronic Computation in 1960.

Leonard Oganesyan, introduced the practical application of the method in the

USSR.

K.Feng (early 1960s) proposed a systematic numerical method for solving partial
differential equations in China based on the computations of dam constructions.
The method was called the finite difference method based on variation principle,
which was another independent invention of the finite element method.

The Courant's technique is called as applied mathematician's version of FEM where

as that of Clough and Argyris is called as engineer's version of FEM.

Although the approaches used by these pioneers are different, they share one
essential characteristic: mesh discretization of a continuous domain into a set of
discrete sub-domains, usually called elements.
 History of FEM (1960-1975) (contd.)
The finite element method obtained its real impetus in the 1960s and 1970s by the developments
of J. H. Argyris (University of Stuttgart), R. W. Clough (UC Berkeley), O. C. Zienkiewicz, Ernest
Hinton, Bruce Irons (Swansea University), Philippe G. Ciarlet (University of Paris) and Richard
Gallagher (Cornell University).

• dynamic (i.e., vibration and transient) problems,

Static, small • small deformation fracture, contact and elastic -
deformation, elastic plastic problems,
problems • non-structural problems like fluid flow and heat
transfer problems.

integral form of the balance law (total potential energy

Structural problems
expression) is used to develop the finite element equations

Non-structural
problems like the integral form of the balance law was developed
fluid flow and heat using the weighted residual method.
transfer problems
 History of FEM (1960-1975) (contd.)
Further impetus was provided in these years by available open source finite element
software programs

NASA sponsored UC Berkeley made In Norway the ship classification society

the original version the finite element Det Norske Veritas (now DNV GL) developed
of NASTRAN program SAP IV Sesam in 1969 for use in analysis of ships

A rigorous mathematical basis to the finite element method was provided in 1973 with
the publication by Strang and Fix. (Strang, Gilbert; Fix, George (1973). An Analysis of The Finite Element
Method. Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-032946-2.)

were solved by FEM only around 1976 using the

The large updated Lagrangian formulation.
deformation (i.e.,
geometrically non- This technique was soon extended to other
linear) structural problems containing geometric non-linearity :
problems, where the • dynamic problems,
domain changes • fracture problems,
significantly • contact problems,
• elastic-plastic (i.e., materially non-linear)
problems
New FEM packages for
analyzing large NASTRAN, ANSYS, and ABAQUS etc. were
deformation problems developed.
(1960-1975)

Recent Developments
 Extended Finite Element method (XFEM)
 Meshfree/ Meshless Techniques
 Element free Galerkin method (EFGM)
 Free Mesh method (FMM)
 Smooth particle hydrodynamics method (SPH)
 Diffuse element method (DEM)
 Meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method (MLPG)

 Coupled Finite Element - Element free Galerkin method

(Coupled FE-EFGM)
 Applications
 Mechanical/Aerospace/Civil/Automobile Engineering.
 Structure analysis (Static/dynamic/linear/nonlinear)
 Thermal/fluid flows
 Biomechanics.
Available Commercial FEM Software Packages

ANSYS SDRC/I-DEAS NASTRAN

(General purpose, PC (Complete CAD/ CAM/ (General purpose FEA
and workstations) CAE package) on mainframes)

ABAQUS COSMOS ALGOR

(Nonlinear and dynamic
(General purpose FEA) (PC and workstations)
analyses)

PATRAN HyperMesh Dyna-3D

(Pre/Post Processor) (Pre/Post Processor) (Crash/impact analysis)
 Advantages of FEM
 The method can be used for any irregular-shaped
domain and all types of boundary conditions.
 Domains consisting of more than one material can be
easily analyzed.
 Accuracy of the solution can be improved either by
proper refinement of the mesh or by choosing
approximation of higher degree polynomials.
 The algebraic equations can be easily generated and
solved on a computer. In fact, a general purpose code
can be developed for the analysis of a large class of
problems.
Objectives of FEM course
 Understand the fundamental ideas of the FEM
 Know the behavior and usage of each type of elements covered in this course
 Be able to prepare a suitable FE model for given problems
 Can interpret and evaluate the quality of the results (know the physics of the
problems)
 Be aware of the limitations of the FEM (don’t misuse the FEM - a numerical tool)
 To develop the finite element formulation for a model one-dimensional problem
like axially loaded bar for the case of simplest approximation (i.e., linear
approximation).
 To develop the frame work of a finite element code to solve the one- dimensional
problem.
 To extend the finite element formulation to other one-dimensional problems like
the beam problem.
 To develop the two-dimensional finite element formulation for a model 2-D
problems.
Books Recommended
 Segerlind L.J, “Applied Finite Element Analysis”, John Wiley Publishers,
Second Edition, 1976.
 Bathe, K.J. and Wilson, E.L., “Numerical Methods in Finite Element Analysis”,
Prentice Hall,1976.
 Reddy, J.N, “An Introduction to the Finite Element Method”, McGraw Hill
Education,1984
 NPTEL Lectures by
 Prof. C.S.Upadhyay, IIT Kanpur
 Prof. Nachiketa Tiwari, IIT Kanpur
 Prof. R. Krishnakumar, IIT Madras
 Prof. P.M. Dixit, IIT Kanpur