FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

INTRODUCTION
In
building
such
advanced
engineering systems, engineers and
designers go through a sophisticated
process of modelling, simulation,
visualization, analysis, designing,
prototyping, testing, and lastly,
fabrication.
That much work is involved before
the fabrication of the final product or

Cont
Therefore, techniques related to
modelling and simulation in a rapid
and
effective
way
play
an
increasingly important role, resulting
in the application of the FEM being
multiplied numerous times because
of this.

Cont
FEM was first used to solve problems of stress
analysis, and has since been applied to many
other problems like thermal analysis, fluid flow
analysis, piezoelectric analysis, and many
others.
Basically, the analyst seeks to determine the
distribution of some field variable like the
displacement in stress analysis, the temperature
or heat flux in thermal analysis, the electrical
charge in electrical analysis, and so on.

Cont

Mesh for the design of a scaled model of an aircraft for

dynamic testing in the laboratory
(Quek 199798)

Cont
The procedure of computational
modelling using the FEM broadly
consists of four steps:
Modelling of the geometry.
Meshing (discretization).
Specification of material
property.
Specification of boundary, initial
and loading conditions.

THEORY
Solids and structures are stressed
when they are subjected to loads or
forces.
The stresses are, in general, not
uniform, and lead to strains, which
can
be
observed
as
either
deformation or displacement.

Cont
Solid mechanics and structural
mechanics
deal
with
the
relationships between stresses and
strains, displacements and forces,
stresses (strains) and forces for given
boundary conditions of solids and
structures.

Cont
Forces can be static and/or dynamic.
Statics deals with the mechanics of
solids and structures subjected to
static loads such as the deadweight
on the floor of buildings.

Cont
In this case, the stress, strain and
displacement will be involved and
analyzed.