Department of

Mechanical & Aerospace

Engineering

Finite Element Analysis I – MECH 5605

Fall 2018
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 Course Outline
Chapter 1: Introduction: Overview of the Finite Element Method

Chapter 2: Direct Approach

• Scalar spring elements
• 1D-problem: stress elements; heat conduction elements
• 2D-problem: truss structure; truss structure – Special cases (oblique constraints and MPC); Constant Strain Triangle (CST)

Chapter 3: Mathematical Approach

• Variational Formulations (Rayleigh-Ritz Method (minimum potential energy theory)) – Integral formulation
• Weighted Residual Method: Collocation method; Subdomain method; Least-squares method; Galerkin method

Chapter 4: Application of Mathematical Approach

• 1D elements: Axial members – Rod Elements; Beam elements; Frame elements; 1D heat conduction element
• higher order 1D elements: quadratic and cubic elements; Global, local and natural coordinates; Isoparametric elements
• 2D elements: Rectangular linear elements: Heat conduction element; Stress element
• Numerical integration (Gauss Quadrature)

Chapter 5: Special Topics: Model Order Reduction

• Model Symmetry
• Model Axisymmetry
• Model condensation
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 2. Direct Approach
 Note:

• In solid mechanics problems, the finite element formulation always leads to

[stiffness matrix] {displacement vector} = {load vector}

• In heat transfer problems, the stiffness matrix is sometimes called the conduction/convection
matrix (derived from laws of thermodynamics)

[conduction/convection matrix] {temperature vector} = {thermal flux vector}

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
• Consider a simple example of heat transfer in 1D, eg. heat transfer through a wall as shown in the figure.
• In this case, heat flux is applied on the left (with a value of 1 Watt) and the temperature at the right is fixed at 0;
where heat flux is heat flow rate in the form of energy (J) flow per unit of time (s).

q=1

• Using finite element analysis, find:

• intermediate temperature distribution
• internal heat fluxes
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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems
Solution Steps:

1. Idealize the problem and Discretize the domain

2. Assume interpolation functions that represent element behaviour

(interpolation polynomial)

3. Establish element properties through developing equations of motion for an

element (e.g. from linear elastic theory)

4. Assemble

5. Apply loads and boundary conditions

6. Solve

7. Post-process

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction

1. Idealize and Discretize the domain

• This model is idealized and discretized into three linear 1-

q=1
D elements,
• each element defined using 2 local node numbers
• The global FE model will have four nodes.

• Each element has different length Li and different material

property (thermal conductivity, kti) where i=1, 2 or 3. Superscript indicates the element number

(1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2)

1 2 3

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
2. Interpolation Functions

• Shape functions are the same as those derived for 1D structural element
• Use temperature as the field variable instead of displacement
X
The known conditions are thus i j
at at
Substitute into temperature equation:

Solve for and

• The temperature distribution within the element is thus

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
2. Interpolation Functions

Rearrange to collect and terms

= X
i j

• In matrix form

• Shape functions defined from terms in brackets

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
3. Establish Element Properties: Conduction

• Heat is conducted in the direction of decreasing temperature according to Fourier’s Law which gives the heat
flux as:

is thermal conductivity coefficient (W/mK)

is cross-sectional area of element (m2), perpendicular to heat flow
is the temperature gradient (K/m)
q is the heat flux - rate of heat energy transfer through a given surface (W).

• Temperature gradient can be written as a finite difference:

1 1
, 1 1
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Positive heat flow is in positive X direction
 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
3. Establish Element Properties:
• Note: Heat Convection
• Convective heat transfer is governed by Newton’s law of
cooling

Where
is the convective heat transfer coefficient (W/k.m2)
is the surface temperature (k)
is the fluid temperature (k)

• We can introduce a dummy element that transfers heat by

convection

1 1
1 1
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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
3. Establish Element Properties:
• Notes:

In general, we can write for a heat transfer element:

1 1
.
1 1

Where is the thermal transmittance (reciprocal of thermal

resistance or R-value)

Conductive element:
Convective element:

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
3. Establish Element Properties: Notes
• Notes:
Similarity with structural element:

1 1 1 1
thermal 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
structural
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
Elemental stiffness matrix
Flow variable Field variable
Sometimes called conductance
(for equilibrium) (degree of freedom)
matrix in heat transfer problems

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
3. Establish Element Properties:

Equation of element 1:

Equation of element 2:

Equation of element 3:

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
4. Assembly

The assembled global matrix is given as:

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
5. Applying Boundary Conditions

q=1
For our particular problem, our boundary conditions are

Essential boundary conditions (field variable) 0

Natural boundary conditions (flow variable) 1

(1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2)

After applying the boundary conditions, we get 1 2 3

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 2. Direct Approach
 1-D Problems: Heat Conduction
6. Solve

7. Post-Process the results

(1) (2) (3) (4)
(1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2)

• Find intermediate temperature(s) 1 2 3

• Find internal heat fluxes

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