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If you cannot explain simply, then you have not understood well enough
- Albert Einstein

B. Sankar
Assistant Professor - Mechanical Engineering,
Thiagarajar College of Engineering,
Madurai, Tamilnadu
 Source: ANSYS Structural Analysis of a Gear Box Source: ANSYS Electronic Circuit Cooling Simulation

Source: Simscale Modal Analysis of a Bridge Source: Simscale HVAC Computer Server Simulation
15-Nov-19 2
 14ME770 – FINITE
ELEMENT ANALYSIS

15-Nov-19 Source: www.designit4u.com 3

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS LECTURE:

 Where does this FEA Come into play?

 What is FEA?
 How does FEA Works?
 How to solve a problem using FEA?
 Why is this FEA needed?
 How is the FEA Useful to academicians/industries?

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WHERE DOES FEA COME INTO PLAY?
 How is a Product Made?

15-Nov-19
Source: KQED QUEST Youtube Channel 5
WHERE DOES FEA COME INTO PLAY?

Prototype Test

Source: Apple Inc

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WHERE DOES FEA COME INTO PLAY?

Prototype using Computer Aided Modelling Test

(CAD) (FEA)

Source: Go Engineer
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WHERE DOES FEA COME INTO PLAY?

Source: Simscale
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WHERE DOES FEA COME INTO PLAY?
Test

15-Nov-19 Source: Toyota 9

WHERE DOES FEA COME INTO PLAY?

Prototype using Computer Aided Modelling Test

(CAD) (FEA)

Source: Go Engineer
15-Nov-19 10
 WHAT IS FEA or FEM?
Finite Element Analysis:
The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is the simulation of any given physical
phenomenon such as structural or fluid behaviour of a product/process/system, thermal
transport, wave propagation, electromagnetic wave response, the growth of biological
cells, reaction of chemicals etc using a tool or technique in Numerical Methods called
Finite Element Method (FEM).

Engineers use it to reduce the number of physical prototypes and experiments and
optimize components in their design phase to develop better products, faster.

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 ANEx METHODS TO SOLVE ENGINEERING PROBLEMS

Analytical Method Numerical Method Experimental Method

• Classical Approach • Techniques to approximate • Actual Measurement
• 100% Accurate Results mathematical equations which • Time Consuming , Needs
• Applicable only for Simple otherwise cannot be solved easily expensive setup
problems like Cantilever , • Applicable to real life complicated • Applicable only if physical
Nonlinear & complex problems prototype is available
simply supported beams and
• Results can not be believed blindly • Results can not be believed blindly
Cylinders etc.. and must be verified by experimental and Minimum 2 or more prototypes
• Complete in itself methods or Hand Calculations. must be tested.
Although applicable to simple Finite Element Method: Linear , Nonlinear , -Strain Gauge
shaped geometries only , Analytical Buckling , Thermal, Dynamics & Fatigue - Photo elasticity
methods are considered as Closed analysis -Tensile Test
Boundary Element Method: Acoustics /
form solutions i.e. 100% Accurate -Drop Test
NVH analysis
Finite Volume Method: CFD - Vibration measurement
15-Nov-19 (Computational Fluid Dynamics) & (accelerometers) 12
Computational Electromagnetic - Sensors for Temp & pressure etc…
Finite Difference Method: Thermal & Fluid - Fatigue test
Flow analysis (in combination with FVM)
HOW DOES FEA WORKS?

BASIC LAWS OF FEA:

Law 1: “Divide and Conquer”

Law 2: “Every Motion in Nature can be written in the form of

a Mathematical Equation”
(Newton’s Second Law of Motion)

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 HOW DOES FEA WORKS?
BASIC LAWS OF FEA:
Law 1: “Divide and Conquer”

• Large Problems are complex and are

hard to solve
• Split the large problem into small
number of pieces
• Each small pieces is easy to solve
“USE LESSER or
• This Law of FEA have been used by us CONVERT THINGS TO
from our Childhood and in our day SMALLER”
15-Nov-19 today life. 14
 HOW FEA IS APPLIED BY US IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE?

A B

Source: Google Images

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CONCEPT OF FEA IN ANCIENT TAMIL LITERATURE:

Though Small as Millet seed the Problem may deem

As palm tree vast to those who fear will seem.

A Problem may seem larger like a palm tree when you fear on how to Source: Google Images
solve it but as you divide it into small pieces like millet seed then it would
be very easy to solve

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 HOW DOES FEA WORKS?
BASIC LAWS OF FEA:
Law 2: “Every Motion in Nature can be written in the form of a Mathematical
Equation”

15-Nov-19 Source: Google Images 17

HOW DOES FEA WORKS?

Steps in FEA: (DMESS)

Definition of the Problem (Basic Properties and conditions)
Meshing or Discretization(Law 1)
Equation Formulation or Mathematical Modelling (Law 2)
Solving the Equations
Solution or Results

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 HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM USING FEA

Step – 1: Definition of the Problem

To find the circumference of a drum with a known Radius ‘R’.

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 HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM USING FEA

Analytical Solution:
To find the circumference of a drum with a known Radius ‘R’.

Circumference = 2 π R = π D

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 HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM USING FEA

Experimental Solution:
To find the circumference of a drum with a known Radius ‘R’.

15-Nov-19
Source: Google Images 21
 HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM USING FEA

Step – 2: Meshing or Discretization or Divide and Conquer

To find the circumference of a drum with a known Radius ‘R’.

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 HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM USING FEA

Step – 3: Equation Formulation or Mathematical Modelling

To find the circumference of a drum with a known Radius ‘R’.

𝑏
𝜃 2 𝑏
𝑆𝑖𝑛 = =
2 𝑅 2𝑅
3600 2 𝜋
𝜃= =
𝑛 𝑛
2𝜋 𝝅
𝒃 = 2 𝑅 sin = 𝟐 𝑹 𝐬𝐢𝐧
2𝑛 𝒏
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 HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM USING FEA

Step – 4: Solving the Equations

To find the circumference of a drum with a known Radius ‘R’.

Let the circumference of the circle = P

𝑃=𝑛𝑏
𝜋
𝑏 = 2 𝑅 sin
𝑛

𝝅
𝑷 = 𝒏 𝟐 𝑹 𝒔𝒊𝒏
𝒏
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 HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM USING FEA

Step – 5: Solution or Results

To find the circumference of a drum with a known Radius ‘R’.

The Circumference of the circle = P

𝝅
𝑷 = 𝒏 𝟐 𝑹 𝒔𝒊𝒏
𝒏
Analytical Formula is
P=2πR
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 WHY IS THIS FEA NEEDED?

Advantages of FEA:
• Cost
• Design Cycle time
• No. of Prototypes
• Testing
• Design Optimization
15-Nov-19 Source: Altair Hyperworks 26
 IS THIS FEA REALLY USEFUL?

Disadvantages of FEA:
1. Computational time involved in the solution of a large complex problem is high.

2. FEA is a Numerical Tool. Proper Engineer’s judgment is to be exercised to interpret results.

2. It requires large computer memory to obtain the results.

3. There are certain categories of problems where other methods are more effective, e.g., fluid
problems having boundaries at infinity are better treated by the boundary element method or Finite
Volume Method

4. The Error in input data or round off error in FEA may sometimes leads to erroneous results.

5. FEA just gives only an approximate solution to the problems

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HOW IS FEA USEFUL TO ACADEMICIANS/INDUSTRIES?
• Structural Analysis
• Static Analysis
• Linear Analysis
• Non linear Analysis
• Dynamic Analysis
• Modal Analysis
• Harmonic Analysis
• Thermal Analysis
• CFD Analysis
• Fatigue Analysis
• Crash or Impact Analysis
• NVH Analysis
• Electromagnetic Analysis Source: Google Images
• Biomechanics & Biology
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HOW IS FEA USEFUL TO ACADEMICIANS/INDUSTRIES?

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 HOW IS FEA USEFUL TO ACADEMICIANS/INDUSTRIES?

Applications of FEA:

• Aerospace Domain

• Automotive Domain

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 HOW IS FEA USEFUL TO ACADEMICIANS/INDUSTRIES?

Applications of FEA:

• Hi-Tech /Electronics

• Medical domain

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Source: Google Images
 HOW IS FEA USEFUL TO ACADEMICIANS/INDUSTRIES?

Applications of FEA:

and many more ….

15-Nov-19
Source: Google Images
32
 CLOSURE:

Summary:
1. FEA is a numerical tool which can be used to solve complex engineering
problems
2. FEA is used to reduce the cost and design cycle time in the process of
designing a products.
3. FEA works on a simple method of dividing a large problem into small number of
elements.
4. FEA works in almost many applications except in the wife preparing a new dish
scenario.

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THANK YOU
&
ANY
QUESTIONS
?