Introduction to

Finite Element Method

Tai Hun Kwon

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

POHANG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

© 2005 by T. H. Kwon
1. INTRODUCTION

* Numerical Methods

1. Finite Difference Method (FDM)

z Pointwise approximation to differential equation (DE)
z Array of grid points

2. Finite Element Method (FEM)

z Global approximation or integral approximation to DE
z Assembly of finite elements (subdomains, subregions)

3. Boundary Element Method (BEM)

z Deal with integral equation rather than differential equation
z Discretization over boundary only

4. Finite Volume Method (control volume method)

5. Spectral Method (spectral element method)

* FEM is

good for i) various problems (engineering, physical problems)

ii) arbitrary geometry (complicated, irregular)

difficult in implementation

© 2005 by T. H. Kwon 1
* Application Examples of FEM

z Structural Analysis (steady, time-dependent dynamics, eigenvalue)

Beam Plate and Shell

z Thermal System Analysis

T1 T2

Conduction

z Flow Analysis

Flow + Convection
Heat transfer

z Thermomechanical Process Analysis

Forging Rolling Injection Molding

© 2005 by T. H. Kwon 2
* Notation Convention

[ A] m x n : m x n matrix

⎣ A⎦1 x n : 1 x n row matrix

{A}n x 1 : n x 1 column matrix

[C ]m x n = [A]m x l [B ]l x n : matrix multiplication

l
C ij = ∑ Aik Bkj = Aik Bkj (Einstein summation convention)
k =1

[A]{x} = { f } : matrix equation

{x} = [ A]−1 { f } : inverse matrix

[A][A]−1 = [A]−1 [A] = [I ] : identity matrix

A ji = Aij
T
: transposed matrix

[A]{x} = λ{x} : eigenvalue, eigenvector

[[A] − λ[I ]]{x} = 0

det[[ A] − λ[I ]] = 0 : characteristic equation

− λ3 + Iλ2 − IIλ + III = 0

where I = Aii

II =
1
(Aii A jj − Aij A ji ) : invariants of [ A]
2

III = det[ A]

© 2005 by T. H. Kwon 3
 ⎧0 : i ≠ j
δ ij = ⎨ : Kronecker delta
⎩1 : i = j

⎧ 1 : even permutation
⎪
ε ijk = ⎨ - 1 : odd permutation : permutation symbol
⎪0 : any other indices are repeated
⎩

det[ A] = A = ε ijk Ai1 A j 2 Ak 3 = ε pqr A1 p A2 q A3r

⎣ A⎦1 x n {B}n x 1 = scalar

{A}m x 1 ⎣B ⎦1 x n = [C ]m x n = matrix

© 2005 by T. H. Kwon 4
* General Procedure of FEM

1. Identify the system (governing) equation. (usually DE)

L(φ) = 0. (1.1)

2. Introduce an integral form equation. (Weak form equation) FEM Formulation

z Direct Approach

z Variational Approach : weak form

z Method of Weighted Residual Approach : weak form

∫ ψL(φ)dΩ = 0
Ω
⇒ ∫ L′(ψ) L′′(φ)dΩ = 0
Ω
(1.2)

3. Discretize the domain of interest into elements. Element Types

4. Introduce an approximation of the field variable over an element. Interpolation

φ3
y

φ(x)
φ1
x φ2

φ(x) = N 1 (x)φ1 + N 2 (x)φ 2 + N 3 (x)φ 3 (1.3)

φi : Nodal values of the field variable

Ni : Interpolation functions, Shape functions

© 2005 by T. H. Kwon 5
 5. Evaluate the integral form over each element. Numerical Integral

[K ]e {φ}e = { f }e (1.4)

6. Assemble the global matrix equation. Assembly Procedure

[K ]{φ} = {F } (1.5)

7. Solve the matrix equation to get the unknowns Solution Techniques

{φ} = [K ]−1 {F } (1.6)

8. Calculate the values of interest from the approximate solution.

∂φ ∂φ
e.g. , , etc.
∂x ∂x

© 2005 by T. H. Kwon 6