Introduction to Finite Element Analysis/Method

Prepared by Portia Felix

 What is Finite Element Analysis (FEA)/Method (FEM)

• The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a numerical method for solving engineering problems by finding
approximate solutions of the partial differential equations that represent the problem. Therefore it is a
mathematical representation of a physical system and the solution of that mathematical
representation.

• In other words, FEM is a method for dividing up a very complicated problem into small elements that
can be solved in relation to each other.

• FEM is useful for problems with complex geometries, loadings and material properties where analytical
solutions cannot be obtained.

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 How does Finite Element Method work?
• FEM uses a system of points called nodes which form a grid called a mesh.

• This mesh is programmed to contain the material and structural properties which define how much the
structure will react to certain loading conditions.

• Nodes are assigned at a certain density throughout the material depending on the anticipated stress
levels of a particular area.

• Regions which will receive large amounts of stress usually have a higher node density than those which
experience little or no stress. Points of interest may consist of: fracture point of previously tested
material, fillets, corners, complex detail and high stress areas.

• The mesh acts like a spider web in that from each node, there extends a mesh element to each of the
adjacent nodes. This web of vectors is what carries the material properties to the object, creating many
elements.

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 Types of FEM Engineering Analysis
Structural Analysis:

• Structural analysis consists of linear and non-linear models.

• Linear models use simple parameters and assume that the material is not plastically deformed.
• Non-linear models consist of stressing the material past its elastic capabilities.
• The stresses in the material then vary with the amount of deformation.

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 Types of FEM Engineering Analysis
Vibrational Analysis:

• It is used to test a material against random vibrations, shock and impact.

• Each of these incidences may act on the natural vibrational frequency of the material, which, in turn,
may cause resonance and subsequent failure.

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 Types of FEM Engineering Analysis
Fatigue Analysis:

• Fatigue analysis helps designers to predict the life of a material or structure by showing the effects of
cyclic loading on the specimen.
• Such analysis can show the areas where crack propagation is more likely to occur.
• Failure due to fatigue may also show the damage tolerance of the material.

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 Types of FEM Engineering Analysis
Heat transfer Analysis:

• Heat transfer analysis models the conductivity or thermal fluid dynamics of the material or structure.
• This may consist of steady-state or transient transfer.
• Steady-state transfer refers to constant thermal properties in the material that yield linear heat diffusion.

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 Finite Element Analysis/Method
FEA requires three main steps:
• Pre-Processing – A finite element mesh is developed to divide the given
geometry into subdomains for mathematical analysis and the material properties
are applied and also the boundary conditions.

• Solving Matrices (solver) – In this phase, governing matrix equations are derived
and the solution for the primary quantities is generated.

• Post-Processing – In the last phase, checking of the validity of the solution

generated, examination of the values of primary quantities such as displacement
and stresses, errors involved is carried out.
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 FEA Pre-Processing
Meshing/Discretization of a domain:
Mesh is the way of communicating geometry to the
solver, the accuracy of the solution is primarily
dependent on the quality of the mesh.
The better the mesh looks, the more accurate the
solution is.
A nice-looking mesh should have well-shaped
elements, and the transition between densities should
be smooth and gradual without distorted elements.

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 Discretization
The body is modelled by dividing it into an equivalent system of many smaller
bodies or units (finite elements) interconnected at points common to two or more
elements (nodes or nodal points) and/or boundary lines and/or surfaces.
Example

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 FEA Pre-Processing

The problem to be solved is specified in a) the physical

domain and b) the discretized domain used by FEA
 FEA Pre-Processing
Boundary Conditions
In FEA, the name of the game is “boundary
condition”, that is calculating the load and figuring
out constraints that each component experiences in
its working environment.

“Garbage in, garbage out”

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 Boundary Conditions
Loads
Loads are used to represent inputs to the system.
They can be in the forms of forces, moments,
pressures, temperature, or accelerations.
Constraints
Constraints are used as reactions to the applied
loads. Constraints can resist translational or
rotational deformation induced by applied loads.

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 Boundary Conditions
Degrees of Freedom
Spatial DOFs refer to the three translational and three rotational
modes of displacement that are possible for any part in 3D
space. A constraint scheme must remove all six DOFs for the
analysis to run.
Elemental DOFs refer to the ability of each element to transmit
or react to a load. The boundary condition cannot load or
constrain a DOF that is not supported by the element to which it
is applied.

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 Boundary Conditions
A solid face should always have at least three points in
contact with the rest of the structure. A solid element
should never be constrained by less than three points and
only translational DOFs must be fixed.

Accuracy

The choice of boundary conditions has a direct impact

on the overall accuracy of the model.
Over-constrained model – an overly stiff model due
to poorly applied constraints.

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 Boundary Conditions
Linear Static Analysis
Boundary conditions are assumed constant from
application to final deformation of system and all loads
are applied gradually to their full magnitude.
Dynamic Analysis
The boundary conditions vary with time.

Non-linear Analysis
The orientation and distribution of the boundary
conditions vary as displacement of the structure is
calculated.

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 Boundary Conditions -Example
Excessive Constraints
Model of the chair seat with patches representing the tops of
the legs.

Patch 1

Patch 2
Patch 3 Patch 4

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 Boundary Conditions -Example
It may appear to be acceptable to constrain each circular patch
in vertical translation while leaving the rotational DOFs
unconstraint. This causes the seat to behave as if the leg-to-
seat interfaces were completely fixed (over-constrained).
A more realistic constraint scheme would be to pin the
center point of each circular patch (translational), allowing
the patch to rotate. Each point should be fixed vertically,
and horizontal constraints should be selectively applied so
that in-plane spatial rotation and rigid body translation is
removed without causing excessive constraints.

Patch 1

Patch 2
Patch 3 Patch 4

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 Boundary Conditions -Example
• Constraining the center point of patch 1 in all 3
translational DOFs.
• Constraining x and y translations of the center point of
patch 2.
• Constraining z and y translation of the center point of
patch 3.
• Constraining just the y translation of the center point of
patch 4.
This scheme allows in-
Patch 1
plane translation induced
Patch 2
by bending of the seat Patch 3 Patch 4
without rigid body
translation or rotation.
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 Summary of Pre-Processing

• Build the geometry

• Make the finite-element mesh
• Add boundary conditions; loads and
constraints
• Provide properties of material
• Specify analysis type (static or dynamic,
linear or non-linear, plane stress, etc.)
These activities are called finite element modeling.

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 Solving the Model - Solver
Once the mesh is complete, and the properties and
boundary conditions have been applied, it is time to solve
the model. In most cases, this will be the point where the
computer does the work.

Multiple Load and Constraint Cases

In most cases submitting a run with multiple load cases will
be faster than running sequential, complete solutions for
each load case.
Final Model Check

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 Post-Processing, Displacement Magnitude
Unexpectedly high or low displacements (by order of magnitude)
could be caused by an improper definition of load and/or elemental
properties.

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 Post-Processing, Displacement Animation
Animation of the model displacements serves as the best means of
visualizing the response of the model to its boundary conditions.

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Post-Processing, FEA of a connecting rod

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 Post-Processing, Stress Results
The magnitude of the stresses should not be entirely unexpected.

Second Mode (Twisting)

First Mode (Bending)

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Post-Processing, thermal analysis

Deformation of a duct under thermal load

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 View Animated Post-Processing
Displacements

No Review Boundary
Does the shape of deformations make sense?
Yes Conditions

View Displacement
Fringe Plot

Are magnitudes in line with your expectations? No Review Load Magnitudes

and Units
Yes
View Stress
Fringe Plot
Review Mesh Density
Is the quality and mag. Of stresses acceptable? No and Quality of Elements
Yes
View Results Specific
To the Analysis
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FEA - Flow Chart

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 Advantages of Finite Element Analysis/Method
• Can readily handle complex geometry.
• Can handle complex analysis types like vibration, heat transfer, fluids etc.
• Can handle complex loading:
1. Node-based loading (point loads)
2. Element-based loading (pressure, thermal, inertial forces)
3. Time or frequency dependent loading
• Can handle complex restraints: Indeterminate structures can analyzed
• Can handle bodies of nonhomogeneous materials: Can handle bodies comprised
of non-isotropic materials: Orthotropic and Anisotropic
• Special material effects are handled such as temperature dependent properties,
plasticity, creep, swelling etc.
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 Disadvantages of Finite Element Analysis/Method
• A specific numerical result is obtained for a specific problem.
• The FEM is applied to an approximation of the mathematical model of system.
• Experience and judgement are needed in order to construct a good finite element
model.
• A powerful computer and reliable FEM software are essential.
• Input and output data may be large and tedious to prepare and interpret.
• Numerical errors such as the limitation of the number of significant digits,
rounding-off occur very often.
• Fluid elements with boundaries at infinity can be computed and treated by using
boundary element method.

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 Software Packages for Finite Element Method
• ANSYS
• NASTRAN
• PATRAN
• NISA/DISPLAY III
• LS DYNA
• HYPERMESH
• CATIA
• Pro-E(CREO)
• SOLID WORKS
• COSMOS

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The End

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