INTRODUCTION

COURSE INFORMATION
• Course Name: Finite Element Method
• Course Code: CE - 808
• Credit hours: 3 (lecture)
• Objective:
– To introduce the application of Finite Element Methods for the
analysis of continuum structure.
– Plane stress and plane strain problems in structures should be
addressed.
• Outcome:
– The student should be able to use appropriate software for the
design of structures.
 ASSESSMENT
• QUIZ – 10%
• ASSIGNMENT – 10%
• MID SEMESTER EXAM – 30%
• END SEMESTER EXAM – 50%
 COURSE OUTLINE
– Introduction to Approximate Solution Methods for
Problems In Elasticity
– Weighted Residual Methods
– The Ritz Method
– Interpolation Functions
– Applications of the Finite Element Method
– Isoparametric Finite Elements
– Flexure Elements in Solid and Structural Mechanics
– Programming the Finite Element Method
 RECOMMENDED BOOK
• D. V. Hutton, (2004): Fundamentals of Finite Element
Analysis, McGraw-Hill Inc., New York.
• R. D. Cook, D. S. Malkus, and M. E. Plesha, (2002):
Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis,
4th Edition, John Wileyand Sons, New York.
• O. C. Zienkiewicz and R. L. Taylor, (2000): The Finite
Element Method: Volume 1 The Basis, 5th Edition,
Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford.
• K. J. Bathe, (1995): Finite Element Procedures, 2nd
Edition, Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
“The purpose of computation is insight.
Not numbers.” - Richard Hamming
 FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
• The finite element method (FEM), sometimes
referred to as finite element analysis (FEA), is
a computational technique used to obtain
approximate solutions of boundary value
problems in engineering.
 APPLICATIONS
• Mechanical engineering: In mechanical engineering, FEM applications include steady and transient
thermal analysis in solids and fluids, stress analysis in solids, automotive design and analysis and
manufacturing process simulation.
• Structural Engineering: FEM is used for several purposes in structural engineering such as structural
analysis for natural frequencies, modes shapes, response analysis and stress analysis.
• Geotechnical engineering: FEM applications include stress analysis, slope stability analysis, soil
structure interactions, seepage of fluids in soils and rocks, analysis of dams, tunnels, bore holes,
propagation of stress waves and dynamic soil structure interaction.
• Aerospace engineering: FEM is used for several purposes such as structural analysis for natural
frequencies, modes shapes, response analysis and aerodynamics.
• Nuclear engineering: FEM applications include steady and dynamic analysis of reactor containment
structures, thermo-viscoelastic analysis of reactor components, steady and transient temperature-
distribution analysis of reactors and related structures.
• Electrical and electronics engineering: FEM applications include electrical network analysis,
electromagnetics, insulation design analysis in high-voltage equipments, dynamic analysis of motors
and heat analysis in electrical and electronic equipments.
• Metallurgical, chemical engineering: In metallurgical engineering, FEM is used for the metallurgical
process simulation, moulding and casting. In chemical engineering, FEM can be used in the simulation
of chemical processes, transport processes and chemical reaction simulations.
• Meteorology and bio-engineering: In the recent times, FEM is used in climate predictions, monsoon
prediction and wind predictions. FEM is also used in bio-engineering for the simulation of various
human organs, blood circulation prediction and even total synthesis of human body.
 ADVANTAGES
• The physical problems which were so far insolvable and complex for any closed bound solutions
can be analysed by using this method.

• Modelling of complex geometries and irregular shapes are easier as varieties of finite elements
are available for discretization of domain.

• Boundary conditions can be easily incorporated in FEM.

• Different types of material properties can be easily accommodated in modelling from element
to element or even within an element.

• Higher order elements may be implemented.

• FEM is simple, compact and result-oriented and hence widely popular among engineering
community.

• Availability of large number of computer software packages and literature makes FEM a
versatile and powerful numerical method.
 DISADVANTAGES
• The accuracy of results from this method highly depends upon the
degree of discretization.

• Manual judgement is essential in discretization process.

• Finite element analysis requires large computer memory and time,

and hence cost involved is high.

• In this method, errors in the input data may go undetected and

erroneous solution obtained therefrom may appear acceptable.

• This method is complicated and so not useful for simple problems.

 BASIC TERMINOLOGIES
• Field – domain of interest and most often represents a physical structure
• Independent variables – Input or known variables such as position, time, etc.
• Dependent variables – Variables whose change is dependent on any change in the independent variable.
• Field variables – Dependent variables of interest governed by the differential equation. Depending on the type of physical problem
being analysed, the field variables may include physical displacement, temperature, heat flux, and fluid velocity to name only a
few.
• Boundary conditions – The boundary conditions are the specified values of the field variables (or related variables such as
derivatives) on the boundaries of the field.
• Nodes – A node is a specific point in the finite element at which the value of the field variable is to be explicitly calculated.
– Exterior Nodes – Exterior nodes are located on the boundaries of the finite element and may be used to connect an element to adjacent finite
elements.
– Interior Nodes – Nodes that do not lie on element boundaries are interior nodes and cannot be connected to any other element
• Finite element – A small element that encloses a finite-sized subdomain of the area
• of interest. This element is not a differential element.
• Interpolation / Shape / Blending 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 functions.
• Degrees of Freedom – 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 variables that must be computed at each node.
• Meshing – The process of representing a physical domain with finite elements is referred to as meshing, and the resulting set of
elements is known as the finite element mesh.
• Continuity – It ensures that the field variable at any connection should be same for each element connected to the node and the
field variable across interelement boundaries transition smoothly avoiding any gaps and jumps. In structural problems, such gaps
would represent physical separation of the material.
HOW FEM WORKS?
COMPARISON OF FINITE ELEMENT AND
EXACT SOLUTIONS
TAPERED CIRCULAR CYLINDER SUBJECTED TO
TENSILE LOADING
DISPLACEMENTS
STRESS
 GENERAL PROCEDURE
• Preprocessing
– Define the geometric domain of the problem.
– Define the element type(s) to be used.
– 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
– During the solution phase, finite element software assembles the governing algebraic
equations in matrix form and computes the unknown values of the primary field
variable(s). The computed values are then used by back substitution to compute
additional, derived variables, such as reaction forces, element stresses, and heat flow.
• Postprocessing
– Analysis and evaluation of the solution results is referred to as postprocessing.
 EXAMPLES
• For plane stress analysis, the geometry would represent a thin
plate with a central hole subjected to edge loading in the
plane depicted. In this case, the finite element solution would
be used to examine stress concentration effects in the vicinity
of the hole.
• In yet another application, the model shown could depict a
heat transfer fin attached to a pipe (the hole) from which heat
is transferred to the fin for dissipation to the surroundings.
 EXAMPLES
• The finite element model represent a
foldable truss for space station
construction. Designed to fold in
accordion fashion into a small volume
for transport into orbit.
• Truss is constructed of individual
modules of dimensions 1.4 m × 1.4 m ×
2.8 m when deployed.
• The objectives of the finite element
analysis were to determine the vibration
characteristics as the number of
modules, thus overall length, was varied.
 EXAMPLES
• The finite element model of a very thin tube designed for use
in heat transfer in a spacecraft application.
• The objectives of the finite element analysis were to examine
the bending, torsional, and buckling loads allowable.
 EXAMPLES
• The finite element model represents the main load-carrying
component of a prosthetic device. The device is intended to
be a hand attachment to an artificial arm.
• The finite element model was used to determine the stress
distribution in the component in terms of the range of weight
loading anticipated, so as to properly size the component and
select the material.