ME-411:

INTRODUCTION TO FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS 1

o Course: ME-411 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

o Credit Hours: 2-1

o Textbook: Saeed Moaveni, Finite Element Analysis – Theory and

Applications with ANSYS, Prentice Hall, latest ed
o Ref. Book: M J Fagan, Finite Element Analysis – Theory and Practice,
Pearson Publications

o Prerequisite: Fundamental Knowledge in Solid Mechanics, Thermo-

fluids, Dynamics, computer programming

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o All students must come to class on time
o Students should remain attentive during class and avoid use of cell phone, laptops, or any
gadgets
o Obedience to all laws, discipline code, rules, and community norms (HEC plagiarism policy)
o Respect peers, faculty and staff through actions and speech
o Bring writing material and books
o Class participation is encouraged
o Lectures are shared in advance; students are encouraged to study them in advance for better
understanding

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o Introduction to FEA and Element Performance
o FE Methods, Shape Functions, Stiffness Matrix and Transformation
o Static Structural Analysis
o Heat Transfer and Thermal Stress Analysis:
o Dynamic Analysis

Lab work (1 credit)

o FEA software-based analysis conducted in lab

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CLO CLO Level of Linked
Learning with
PLO

1 UNDERSTAND the basic knowledge of FEA, Software tools; C2 1

element performance, FEA methods, formulations of 1-D, 2-D
and 3-D elements

2 APPLY knowledge for linear, structural, thermal, dynamic, and C2 5

couple field problems

3 ANALYZE structural, thermal, dynamic problems C4 2

4 WORK individually and as team member during assignments, and A3 9

projects using software.

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 Theory 66.67% of total

Assignments 5-10 %

Quiz (no extra quiz) 10-15 %

Mid 30%

Final 50%

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o Mechanics
o The branch of Physics that studies the effect of forces and energy on
physical bodies

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o FEM is a numerical procedure used to obtain solution to a
large class of engineering problems involving stress
analysis, fluid flow and heat transfer

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o Engineering Problems are the mathematical models of physical
situations
o Mathematical models are the differential equations with a set of
corresponding boundary and/or initial conditions
o Differential equations are derived by applying the fundamental
laws of principles of nature to a system of CV
o These governing equations represent balance of mass, force or
energy

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o When possible, the exact solution of these governing
equations renders the detailed behavior of the system
under a set of initial or boundary conditions

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Beam Boundary Condition

Governing Equation

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Spring-Mass System Initial Condition

Governing Equation

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Heat Transfer in Fin Boundary Condition

Governing Equation

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o Homogeneous part
o Provide info regarding natural behavior of the system
o Include material, geometric properties, E, thermal conductivity, second
moment of area, viscosity, area
o Particular part
o The parameters that produce disturbance in a system
o Force, moment, temp difference across a medium, pressure difference in a
fluid flow

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Modulus of Elasticity E
Cross sectional Area A

Modulus of Elasticity E

Modulus of Elasticity E
Second moment of area I

Modulus of Rigidity G
Polar moment of inertia J

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Thermal conductivity K
Area A
Thickness L

Thermal conductivity K
Cross sectional area A

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Viscosity u
Pipe roughness e
Pipe dia D

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 o Equation of motion, using Newton’s Law

o Homogeneous Solution, xh(t))

o 3 Cases (Under, Over & Critically Damped)

o Particular solution, xP(t)

o Represents the steady-state vibration.
o The steady-state motion is present as long as the forcing
function is present.

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 o 3 Cases
o Underdamped
o Critically Damped
o Over Damped

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System Response

System Response, Initial Condition

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o The system characteristics will always show up in the
stiffness matrix, conductance matrix, or resistance matrix

o The disturbance parameters will always appear in the load

matrix

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o For many practical engineering problems, we cannot obtain exact
solutions
o Reasons?
o complex nature of governing differential equations
o difficulties of dealing with the boundary and initial conditions
o We go for numerical approximations
o Approximate exact solutions only at discrete points, called nodes
o Analytical solutions show the exact behavior of a system at any point within
the system
o The first step of any numerical procedure is discretization
o This process divides the medium of interest into a number of small sub-
regions (elements) and nodes.

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o Finite difference methods
o The differential equation is written for each node, and the derivatives are replaced by
difference equations
o Results in a set of simultaneous linear equations
o Easy to understand and employ in simple problems
o Difficult to apply to problems with complex geometries or complex boundary conditions
or problems with non-isotropic material properties
o Finite element methods
o Uses integral formulations to create a system of algebraic equations
o A continuous function is assumed to represent the approximate solution for each
element
o The complete solution is then generated by connecting or assembling the individual
solutions, allowing for continuity at the inter-elemental boundaries

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o Consider a body in which the distribution of an unknown variable (d or T) is required
o The part is divided into assembly of subdivisions (elements)
o Elements are connected by joints (nodes)
o Variable is assumed to act over each element in predefined manner
o With the number and type of elements, the distribution over whole body can be
approximated
o The Eqs. of each element are calculated and assembled to get sys eq.

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Perimeter = 2pr

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o General equation have the form
[K] {U} = {F}
Stiffness matrix * Nodal displacement vector = Nodal force vector

{U} = [K]^-1 {F}

o Very large [K] is not easy to invert

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o Self study

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o Create and discretize the solution domain into finite elements; that is,
subdivide the problem into nodes and elements.
o Assume a shape function to represent the physical behavior of an
element; that is, a continuous function is assumed to represent the Preprocessing
approximate behavior (solution) of an element. Phase
o Develop equations for an element
o Assemble the elements to present the entire problem: construct the
global stiffness matrix
o Apply boundary conditions, initial conditions, and loading
o Solve a set of linear or nonlinear algebraic equations simultaneously to
obtain nodal results, such as displacement values at different nodes or Solution Phase
temperature values at different nodes in a heat transfer problem.
o Obtain other important information. At this point, you may be Postprocessing
interested in values of principal stresses, heat fluxes, and so on. Phase

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1. Direct formulation
2. The minimum total potential energy formulation
3. Weighted residual formulations

o basic steps involved in any finite element analysis,

regardless of how we generate the finite element model,
will be the same as those listed above.

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o Consider a bar with a variable cross section
supporting a load P. The bar is fixed at one
end and carries the load P at the other end.
o We are interested in approximating how
much the bar will deflect at various points
along its length when it is subjected to the
load P.
o We will neglect the weight of the bar in the
following analysis, assuming that the
applied load is considerably larger than the
weight of the bar:

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o Subdividing the problem into nodes and elements.
o We use five nodes and four elements for simplicity

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o Av normal stress in each element

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o P = 1000 lb at any section

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o Solve Example 1.1 for 8 elements and submit in the next class
o Please don’t copy, try to solve I yourself for understanding
o No late submission

o Make equations on paper and solve in any program (matlab, mathematica,

excel etc.)

o Read example 1.2

o You will be asked in next class

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Boundary conditions

Solution

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