Finite Element Analysis

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 Finite Element Analysis
Books

• A First Course in FINITE ELEMENT EMTHODS

By Daryl L. Logan
• A First Course in Finite Elements
By Jacob Fish & Ted Belytschko
• FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS :Theory &
Applications using ANSYS
By Saeed M. Moaveni
• Finite Element Modelling for Stress Analysis
By Robert D. Cook
 STRESS ANALYSIS
• Stress analysis is an engineering discipline that determines the stress in
materials and structures subjected to static or dynamic forces or loads.
• The aim of the analysis is usually to determine whether the element or
collection of elements, usually referred to as a structure, can safely
withstand the specified forces.
• Traditional analytical stress analysis approaches leads to Partial / Total
differential equations, representing the system behavior for which
solution is not always available.
• Experimental stress analysis techniques:
– Brittle Coatings.
– Photo elasticity.
– Strain Gauges.
• Alternately Numerical methods are used for solving problems that cannot
be solved analytically (e.g., due to complicated geometry, different
materials)
 Need for Computational Methods
• Many Applications Involve Cases with Complex Shape, Boundary
Conditions and Material Behavior
• Therefore a Gap Exists Between What Is Needed in Applications
and What Can Be Solved by Analytical Closed-form Methods
• This Has Lead to the Development of Several
Numerical/Computational Schemes Including: Finite Difference (FD)
, Finite Element (FE) and Boundary Element (BE) Methods
Classification of Numerical Methods in
Continuum Mechanics
 Classification of numerical methods in
continuum mechanics
Finite Difference Method
• In this method, the derivatives in the governing partial differential
equations are written in terms of difference equations.
• For a two-dimensional domain, a grid of 'cells' is placed inside the
domain and the differencing approximation applied to each interior
point.
• This results in a system of linear algebraic equations (with a banded
solution matrix) which yields a unique solution provided the
boundary conditions of the actual problem are satisfied.
• Main and serious drawback in practical engineering problems is that
it is not suitable for problems with awkward irregular geometries.
• It is not suitable for problems of rapidly changing variables, such as
stress concentration problems.
 Classification of numerical methods in
continuum mechanics (1)
Boundary Element Method
• In this approach the governing differential equations are
transformed into integral identities which are applicable over the
surface or boundary.
• These integrals are numerically integrated over the boundary which
is divided into small boundary segments (boundary elements).
• The BE method can easily accommodate geometrically complex
boundaries. Furthermore, since all the approximations are
restricted to the surface, it can model regions with rapidly changing
variables with better accuracy than the FE method.
 Classification of numerical methods in
continuum mechanics (1)
Finite Element Method
• In this approach, the entire solution domain is divided into small
finite segments (hence the name 'finite elements').
• Over each element, the behavior is described by the differential
governing equations. All these small elements are assembled
together and the requirements of continuity and equilibrium are
satisfied between neighboring elements.
• Provided that the boundary conditions of the actual problem are
satisfied, a unique solution can be obtained to the overall system of
linear algebraic equations (with a sparsely populated solution
matrix).
• The FE method is very suitable for practical engineering problems of
complex geometries.
• To obtain good accuracy in regions of rapidly changing variables, a
large number of fine elements must be used.
 Application Areas of FEA/M
Static analysis Used for static loading conditions.
Nonlinear behavior such as large deflections, large strain, contact, plasticity,
hyperelasticity, and creep can be simulated.
Dynamic analysis Includes mass and damping effects.
Modal analysis calculates natural frequencies and mode shapes.
Harmonic analysis determines a structure’s response to sinusoidal loads of
known amplitude and frequency.
Transient Dynamic analysis determines a structure’s response to time-varying
loads and can include nonlinear behavior.
Thermal analysis is used to determine the temperature distribution in an
object. Other quantities of interest include amount of heat lost or gained,
thermal gradients, and thermal flux.
All three primary heat transfer modes can be simulated: conduction,
convection and radiation.
 Application Areas of FEA/M (1)
Electromagnetic analysis is used to calculate magnetic fields in
electromagnetic devices.
Static and low-frequency electromagnetics
To simulate devices operating with DC power sources, low-frequency AC, or
low-frequency transient signals.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) To determine the flow distributions and
temperatures in a fluid.
Simulate laminar and turbulent flow, compressible and incompressible flow,
and multiple species. Applications: aerospace, electronic packaging,
automotive design
Typical quantities of interest are velocities, pressures, temperatures, and film
coefficients.
 Application Areas of FEA/M (2)
Acoustics to simulate the interaction between a fluid medium and the
surrounding solid.
Example: speakers, automobile interiors, sonars
Typical quantities of interest are pressure distribution, displacements, and natural
frequencies.
Contained-Fluid Analysis To simulate the effects of a contained, non-flowing fluid
and calculate hydrostatic pressures due to sloshing.
Example: oil tankers, other liquid containers
Heat and Mass Transport
Calculate the heat generated by mass transport between two points, such as in a
pipe.
Coupled-Field Analysis considers the mutual interaction between two or more
fields. The fact that each field depends upon another makes it impossible to solve
each separately, therefore you need a program that can solve both physics
problems by combining them.

And more…
 Application Areas of FEA/M (3)
• Mopvies and pics
 Steps in FEA/M
Pre Processing
• Create and discretize the solution domain into finite
elements, that is subdivide the problem into nodes and
elements
• Assume a shape function to represent the physical
behavior of an element, that is an approximate
continuous function is assumed to represent the solution
of an element.
• Develop equations for an element.
• Assemble the elements to present the entire problem.
Construct the global stiffness matrix.
• Apply boundary conditions, initial conditions and loading
 Steps in FEA/M (1)
Solution
• Solve a set of linear or non linear algebraic equations
simultaneously to obtain nodal results such as
displacement values at different nodes or
temperature values at different nodes in a heat
transfer problem.
Post Processing
• Obtain other important information. At this point
you may interested in values of principle stresses,
heat fluxes etc.
 Steps in FEA/M (2)
Divide complex structure into Compute Assemble
many finite elements Element Stiffness Structure Stiffness Matrix
connected at nodes Matrices (global Coords.) and applied load vector

Introduce Supports
(partitioning)

Compute element Solve partitioned system

Compute element internal
nodal displacements determine reactions and
stresses, strains and actions
in local coords nodal displacements
 Development of Finite Element Equation
• The Finite Element Equation Must Incorporate the Appropriate Physics of the
Problem
• For Problems in Structural Solid Mechanics, the Appropriate Physics Comes from
Either Strength of Materials or Theory of Elasticity
• FEM Equations are Commonly Developed Using Direct, Variational-Virtual Work
or Weighted Residual Methods
Direct Method
• Based on physical reasoning and limited to simple cases, this method is worth
studying because it enhances physical understanding of the process
Variational-Virtual Work Method
• Based on the concept of virtual displacements, leads to relations between
internal and external virtual work and to minimization of system potential energy
for equilibrium
 Development of Finite Element Equation
Weighted Residual Method
• Starting with the governing differential equation, special mathematical
operations develop the “weak form” that can be incorporated into a FEM
equation. This method is particularly suited for problems that have no
variational statement. For stress analysis problems, a Ritz-Galerkin
WRM will yield a result identical to that found by variational methods.
 Common Misconceptions About FEA
1. Meshing is Everything
2. FEA Replaces Testing
3. Finite Element Analysis is Easy
4. Finite Element Analysis is Hard
5. Learning the Interface Equals Learning FEA
 Discretization Examples

Three-Dimensional
One-Dimensional Two-Dimensional Brick Elements
Frame Elements Triangular Elements
 Common Sources of Error in FEA
• Domain Approximation
• Element Interpolation/Approximation
• Numerical Integration Errors
(Including Spatial and Time Integration)
• Computer Errors (Round-Off, Etc., )
Finite Element Analysis