Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

(FEA) or Finite Element Method (FEM)

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) or Finite
Element Method (FEM)
The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a
numerical method for solving problems of
engineering and mathematical physics.

Useful for problems with complicated

geometries, loadings, and material properties
where analytical solutions can not be
obtained.
 The Purpose of FEA
Analytical Solution
• Stress analysis for trusses, beams, and other simple
structures are carried out based on dramatic simplification
and idealization:
– mass concentrated at the center of gravity
– beam simplified as a line segment (same cross-section)
• Design is based on the calculation results of the idealized
structure & a large safety factor (1.5-3) given by experience.

FEA
• Design geometry is a lot more complex; and the accuracy
requirement is a lot higher. We need
– To understand the physical behaviors of a complex
object (strength, heat transfer capability, fluid flow, etc.)
– To predict the performance and behavior of the design;
to calculate the safety margin; and to identify the
weakness of the design accurately; and
– To identify the optimal design with confidence
 Brief History

Grew out of aerospace industry

Post-WW II jets, missiles, space flight
Need for light weight structures
Required accurate stress analysis
Paralleled growth of computers
 Common FEA Applications
Mechanical/Aerospace/Civil/Automotive
Engineering
Structural/Stress Analysis
 Static/Dynamic
 Linear/Nonlinear
Fluid Flow
Heat Transfer
Electromagnetic Fields
Soil Mechanics
Acoustics
Biomechanics
 Discretization

Complex Object Simple Analysis

(Material discontinuity,
Complex and arbitrary geometry)

Real Simplified Mathematical Discretized

Word (Idealized) Model (mesh)
Physical Model
Model
 Discretizations

Model body by dividing it into an

equivalent system of many smaller bodies
or units (finite elements) interconnected at
points common to two or more elements
(nodes or nodal points) and/or boundary
lines and/or surfaces.
Elements & Nodes - Nodal Quantity
 Feature

Obtain a set of algebraic equations to

solve for unknown (first) nodal quantity
(displacement).

Secondary quantities (stresses and

strains) are expressed in terms of nodal
values of primary quantity
Object
Elements
Nodes

Displacement Stress

Strain
Examples of FEA – 1D (beams)
Examples of FEA - 2D
Examples of FEA – 3D
 Advantages
Irregular Boundaries
General Loads
Different Materials
Boundary Conditions
Variable Element Size
Easy Modification
Dynamics
Nonlinear Problems (Geometric or Material)

The following notes are a summary from “Fundamentals of Finite Element Analysis” by David V. Hutton
 Principles of FEA
The finite element method (FEM), or finite element analysis
(FEA), is a computational technique used to obtain approximate
solutions of boundary value problems in engineering.

Boundary value problems are also called field problems. The field
is the domain of interest and most often represents a physical
structure.

The field variables are the dependent variables of interest governed

by the differential equation.

The boundary conditions are the specified values of the field

variables (or related variables such as derivatives) on the boundaries
of the field.
 For simplicity, at this point, we assume a two-dimensional case with a
single field variable φ(x, y) to be determined at every point P(x, y) such
that a known governing equation (or equations) is satisfied exactly at every
such point.

-A finite element is not a differential element of size dx × dy.

- A node is a specific point in the finite element at which the value of the
field variable is to be explicitly calculated.
 Shape Functions
The values of the field variable computed at the nodes are used to
approximate the values at non-nodal points (that is, in the element interior)
by interpolation of the nodal values. For the three-node triangle example,
the field variable is described by the approximate relation

φ(x, y) = N1(x, y) φ1 + N2(x, y) φ2 + N3(x, y) φ3

where φ1, φ2, and φ3 are the values of the field variable at the nodes, and
N1, N2, and N3 are the interpolation functions, also known as shape
functions or blending functions.

In the finite element approach, the nodal values of the field variable are
treated as unknown constants that are to be determined. The interpolation
functions are most often polynomial forms of the independent variables,
derived to satisfy certain required conditions at the nodes.

The interpolation functions are predetermined, known functions of the

independent variables; and these functions describe the variation of the
field variable within the finite element.
 Degrees of Freedom
Again a two-dimensional case with a single field variable φ(x, y). The
triangular element described is said to have 3 degrees of freedom, as three
nodal values of the field variable are required to describe the field variable
everywhere in the element (scalar).

φ(x, y) = N1(x, y) φ1 + N2(x, y) φ2 + N3(x, y) φ3

In general, the number of degrees of freedom associated with a finite
element is equal to the product of the number of nodes and the number of
values of the field variable (and possibly its derivatives) that must be
computed at each node.
 A GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
• Preprocessing
– Define the geometric domain of the problem.
– Define the element type(s) to be used (Chapter 6).
– Define the material properties of the elements.
– Define the geometric properties of the elements (length, area, and the like).
– Define the element connectivities (mesh the model).
– Define the physical constraints (boundary conditions). Define the loadings.

• Solution
– computes the unknown values of the primary field variable(s)
– computed values are then used by back substitution to compute additional, derived variables, such as
reaction forces, element stresses, and heat flow.

• Postprocessing
– Postprocessor software contains sophisticated routines used for sorting, printing, and plotting
selected results from a finite element solution.
 Stiffness Matrix
The primary characteristics of a finite element are embodied in the
element stiffness matrix. For a structural finite element, the
stiffness matrix contains the geometric and material behavior
information that indicates the resistance of the element to
deformation when subjected to loading. Such deformation may
include axial, bending, shear, and torsional effects. For finite
elements used in nonstructural analyses, such as fluid flow and heat
transfer, the term stiffness matrix is also used, since the matrix
represents the resistance of the element to change when subjected
to external influences.
 LINEAR SPRING AS A FINITE ELEMENT
A linear elastic spring is a mechanical device capable of supporting axial
loading only, and the elongation or contraction of the spring is directly
proportional to the applied axial load. The constant of proportionality
between deformation and load is referred to as the spring constant, spring
rate, or spring stiffness k, and has units of force per unit length. As an
elastic spring supports axial loading only, we select an element coordinate
system (also known as a local coordinate system) as an x axis oriented
along the length of the spring, as shown.
Assuming that both the nodal displacements are zero when the spring is
undeformed, the net spring deformation is given by
δ= u2 − u1
and the resultant axial force in the spring is
f = kδ = k(u2 − u1)
For equilibrium,
f1 + f2 = 0 or f1 = − f2,
Then, in terms of the applied nodal forces as
f1 = −k(u2 − u1)
f2 = k(u2 − u1)
which can be expressed in matrix form as

or

where

Stiffness matrix for one spring element

is defined as the element stiffness matrix in the element coordinate system (or local
system), {u} is the column matrix (vector) of nodal displacements, and { f } is the
column matrix (vector) of element nodal forces.
 with

known {F} = [K] {X} unknown

The equation shows that the element stiffness matrix for the linear spring element
is a 2 × 2 matrix. This corresponds to the fact that the element exhibits two nodal
displacements (or degrees of freedom) and that the two displacements are not
independent (that is, the body is continuous and elastic).

Furthermore, the matrix is symmetric. This is a consequence of the symmetry of

the forces (equal and opposite to ensure equilibrium).

Also the matrix is singular and therefore not invertible. That is because the
problem as defined is incomplete and does not have a solution: boundary
conditions are required.
 SYSTEM OF TWO SPRINGS

These are external forces

Free body diagrams:

These are internal forces

 Writing the equations for each spring in matrix form:
Superscript refers to element

To begin assembling the equilibrium equations describing the behavior of the

system of two springs, the displacement compatibility conditions, which relate
element displacements to system displacements, are written as:

And
therefore:

Here, we use the notation f ( j )i to represent the force exerted on element j at node i.
 Expand each equation in matrix form:

Summing member by member:

Next, we refer to the free-body diagrams of each of the three nodes:

 Final form:

(1)

Where the stiffness matrix:

Note that the system stiffness matrix is:

(1) symmetric, as is the case with all linear systems referred to orthogonal coordinate
systems;
(2) singular, since no constraints are applied to prevent rigid body motion of the
system;
(3) the system matrix is simply a superposition of the individual element stiffness
matrices with proper assignment of element nodal displacements and associated
stiffness coefficients to system nodal displacements.
(first nodal quantity)

(second nodal quantities)

 Interpolation Functions for General
Element Formulation
In finite element analysis, solution accuracy is judged in terms of
convergence as the element “mesh” is refined.
There are two major methods of mesh refinement.

In the first, known as h-refinement, mesh refinement refers to the process

of increasing the number of elements used to model a given domain,
consequently, reducing individual element size.

In the second method, p-refinement, element size is unchanged but the

order of the polynomials used as interpolation functions is increased.

The objective of mesh refinement in either method is to obtain sequential

solutions that exhibit asymptotic convergence to values representing the
exact solution.