ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The present course material is based on the lecture notes developed for the introductory Finite
Element Method (FEM) course taught at the University of Liège.

This course has been handled for over fifteen years by late Prof. G. SANDER, to whom large
tribute has to be paid for having launched new and synthetic ideas on teaching FEM to
undergraduate students and engineers.

It was then handled over more than fifteen years by Prof. M. HOGGE. I am very indebted to
these two people for influencing quite deeply my “thinking” over FEM and for their seminal
contribution to these notes.

I am also very thankful to Prof. C. FELIPPA, from the University of Boulder, Colorado, for
posting his own material notes on the web with free access.
 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FINITE
ELEMENT METHOD

J.P. PONTHOT
LTAS - Aerospace Laboratory
Computational Non Linear Mechanics
University of Liège
Belgium

CONTENTS:
1. INTRODUCTION
Overview
Brief History
Basic Concepts
Idealization process
Applications in aeronautics, space & automotive engineering

2. THE DIRECT STIFFNESS METHOD (PART I) OR A FIRST STEP INTO

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS

Goal of the Direct Stiffness Method

The linear spring
Energy considerations
A two spring assembly
Automatic assembly process
Boundary conditions

3. THE DIRECT STIFFNESS METHOD (PART II) OR A FIRST STEP INTO

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS

Goal of the method

A simple 1D truss/bar element
Truss structures
Spatial element formulation
Stiffness matrix
Assembly and Global stiffness matrix
Stress computation
4. CONSTRUCTING MoM MEMBERS, OR MATRIX STRUCTURAL
ANALYSES

What are Mom members?

The Bar element
The Spar element
The Shaft element
The Shear panel

5. PRINCIPLE OF VIRTUAL WORK AND VARIATIONAL PRINCIPLES

Calculus of Variations
Exact solutions for 3D linear elastic problems
Approximations
Finite differences solutions
Strong and weak forms
Variational Principle on Displacements
The Minimum Potential Energy Principle
The Hu-Washizu principle
The Hellinger-Reissner principle
The Fraeijs de Veubeke principle
Variational principle on stresses

6. RAYLEIGH-RITZ METHOD

Approximations methods
Rayleigh-Ritz approximation method
1D shearing problem
3D case

7. APPROXIMATION METHODS

The tightly stretched rope

Analytical solution
Approximations to the analytical solution
 Collocation method
 Least square method
 Galerkin’s method
 Rayleigh-Ritz Method
Finite element approximation in 1D
 Piecewise Rayleigh-Ritz approximation
 Characteristics of the approximation
 Solution procedure
 Shape function properties
 Summary
 Common features between Rayleigh-Ritz and FEM
8. VARIATIONAL PROCEDURE FOR FINITE ELEMENTS: APPLICATION
TO THE BAR ELEMENT

General procedure
Concept of kinematically admissible variation
Natural coordinates
Strain interpolation matrix
Stiffness matrix
Energy conjugated quantities
Example
Rigid body modes and assumed displacements

9. SHAPE FUNCTIONS AND CONSISTENT LOADING IN 1D

Introduction
Lagrange interpolation and Lagrange polynomial
Element interpolation and local coordinates
Consistent nodal forces
Hermitian interpolation

10. KINEMATICALLY ADMISSIBLE FINITE ELEMENTS

Introduction
Examples of applications
Variational formulation of FEM in 3D
Plane stress problems
Finite element models
Displacement approximation
Connectors
External work and consistent nodal loading
Assembly of the element
Principle of virtual work
Galerkin method
Constant strain triangle
Stress calculation
Linear strain triangle
Quadratic strain triangle
Linear and quadratic quadrilateral
Bilinear quadrilateral
Quadrilateral in bending
Wilson-Q6 element
Biquadratic element
Bubble modes
Patch test
11. ISOPARAMETRIC ELEMENTS

Introduction
Geometry interpolation
Isoparametric triangles
Completeness of isoparametric elements
Construction of shape functions for Lagrange elements
Quadrangular elements
Serendipity elements
Transition elements
3D Lagrange elements
3D Serendipity elements
Strains
Stiffness matrix
Gauss integration rule
Required order of integration
Reduced integration
Hourglass modes
Convergence requirements
Stress recovery

12. BEAM ELEMENTS AND FRAME STRUCTURES

Mechanics of beam
Variational Principle
Discretization & shape functions
Stiffness matrix
Generalized loading
Examples
Beam-column element
Assembly of trusses frame structures

13. FEM PRACTISE AND RECOMMANDATION

Basic steps of FEA

+ and – of FEA
General FEM modeling rule
Minimum support conditions
Using symmetries
Where finer mesh should be used
Element choice
Good practice of FEM

14. MORE ON VARIATIONAL PRINCIPLES

15. STATICALLY ADMISSIBLE FINITE ELEMENTS

16. PLATE AND SHELL ELEMENTS

Plate theory
Thin plate theory (Kirchhoff plate theory)
Governing equations
Boundary conditions
Thick plate theory (Mindlin plate theory)
Plate elements: Kirchoff plate element
Plate elements: Mindlin plate element
Shell theory
Shell elements

17. SUPERELEMENTS

Substructures
Static condensation
Global-local analysis

18. EXTENSION TO OTHER PROBLEMS (SURVEY)

Dynamics
Field Problems (Heat Transfer)
Extensions for nonlinear problems
BOOKS FOR LINEAR FEM:

Basic level:

ZIENKIEWICS & TAYLOR

The Finite Element Method, Vols I, II & III
Butterworth-Heineman, 2000

A comprehensive upgrade of the 1977 edition. Primarily an encyclopaedic reference work

that provides a panoramic coverage of FEM, as well as a comprehensive list of references.
Not a textbook. More and more editions appear.

BECKER A.A.
An introductory guide to Finite Element analysis
Professional Engineering Publishing, 2004

COOK R.D.
Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis – Second Edition
John Wiley and Sons, 1981

COOK R.D., MALKUS D. and PLESHA M.E.

Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis – Third Edition
John Wiley and Sons, 1989

COOK R.D.
Finite Element Modeling for Stress Analysis
John Wiley and Sons, 1995

THOMSON E.G.
Introduction to the Finite Element Method
John Wiley and Sons, 2005

AKIN J.E.
Finite Element Analysis for Undergraduates
Academic Press, 1986

FELIPPA C.A.
Introduction to Finite Element Method
Ebook !!!
Intermediate level:

HUGHES T.J.R.
The Finite Element Method
Prentice-Hall, 1987
Recently reprinted by Dover.

BATHE K.J.
Finite Element Procedures
Prentice Hall, 1996

MACNEAL R.H.
Finite Elements: their design and performance
Marcel Dekker, 1994

Mathematically oriented:

STRANG & FIX

An analysis of the Finite Element Method
Prentice-Hall, 1973

Most readable mathematical treatment for non-mathematicians, although outdated in several

subjects.

Most fun (if you like British “humor”):

IRONS & AHMAD

Techniques of Finite Elements
Ellis Horwood, 1986