PROCEDURE OF FINITE ELEMENT

ANALYSIS

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How Finite Element Analysis?

Discretization

Element Stiffness matrix

Assembly of matrix

Boundary conditions

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 Discretization
Discretization is the process of dividing a region into nodes
and elements

(Node)


(Discretization with 228 Elements)



(Triangular Element)

(Discretization with 912 Elements)

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Node
 Point which meets the model boundary
 Load will act only on nodes
 Node allows load to be transferred from one element to other
Types of node
Primary external
 Secondary external
 Internal node

Primary external Secondary external Internal node

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Element
 A small unit having definite shape is called Element/ Finite element

Types of element
According to co-ordinates
 1D element (Temp. distribution in a rod, flow in a pipe, truss
subjected to axial load)
2D element
 3D element
 According to dof
 Continuous (all 2D, 3D elements)
 Discrete (Truss, beam, frame)
 According to polynomial
 Simplex
 complex
 Multiplex
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(a) element type
1D line element
2D element
3D brick element

(b) total number of element (mesh)

1D:
2D:
3D:
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 • Mathematical Models
“A model is a symbolic device built to simulate
and predict aspects of behavior of a system.”
Abstraction of physical reality
• Implicit vs. Explicit Modelling
Implicit modelling consists of using existent
pieces of abstraction and fitting them into the
particular situation (e.g. Using general
purpose FEM programs)
Explicit modelling consists of building the
model from scratch

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Factors to be considered in discretization

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Factors to be considered in discretization….
2. Size of element

 whenever steep gradients of field variable are expected use finer mesh

 Aspect ratio( length/ width)

 if the size of element is small, solution will be more accurate

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Factors to be considered in discretization….
3. Location of nodes
 If the body has no change in geometry, material properties and loading,
the body can be divided equally

 if there are discontinuities, nodes have to be introduced

4. Number of elements

Grid12/11/21
independence study 21
Factors to be considered in discretization….
5. Simplifying the model
 If the configuration of the body and external conditions are symmetric,
use one half or one fourth for idealization

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 Element Stiffness matrix
u1 u2

F1 F2
1 2
k

Equilibrium at Node 1  F1  ku1  ku 2

Equilibrium at Node 2  F2  ku1  ku2
or in Matrix Form
k  k  u1   F1 
 k    
 k  u2   F2 
[ K ]{u}  {F }
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 Boundary conditions
Restriction imposed on the degrees of freedom

Types

 Essential BC- Displacement constraint

 Natural BC- Force value

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 Solution
Apply the Boundary condition in Assembled equation

Equations can be solved using numerical method

 Equilibrium problem ( Gauss elimination, crout’s
decompostion)
 Eigenvalue problem(Power method, Jacobi
iteration,Gauss seidal)
 propogation problem (kalman filter, lattice boltzman)
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 Applications of Finite Element Method
-

Structural Problem Non-structural Problem

Stress Analysis Heat Transfer
- truss & frame analysis Fluid Mechanics
- stress concentrated problem Electric or Magnetic Potential
Buckling problem
Vibration Analysis
Impact Problem

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 Software packages
-
 Ansys
 Nastran
 Adams
 Ansa
 Nisa
 Abaqus
 Pro-Mechnica
 Comsol
 Cosmos etc.

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Historical Background
Chronicle of Finite Element Method

Year Scholar Theory

1941 Hrennikoff Presented a solution of elasticity problem using one-dimensional elements.

1943 McHenry Same as above.

1943 Courant Introduced shape functions over triangular subregions to model the whole region.

1947 Levy Developed the force (flexibility) method for structure problem.

1953 Levy Developed the displacement (stiffness) method for structure problem.

1954 Argyris & Kelsey Developed matrix structural analysis methods using energy principles.

1956 Turner, Clough, Derived stiffness matrices for truss, beam and 2D plane stress elements.
Martin, Topp Direct stiffness method.
1960 Clough Introduced the phrase finite element .

1960 Turner et. al Large deflection and thermal analysis.

1961 Melosh Developed plate bending element stiffness matrix.

1961 Martin Developed the tetrahedral stiffness matrix for 3D problems.

1962 Gallagher et al Material nonlinearity.

Year Scholar Theory

1963 Grafton, Strome Developed curved-shell bending element stiffness matrix.

1963 Melosh Applied variational formulation to solve nonstructural problems.

1965 Clough et. al 3D elements of axisymmetric solids.

1967 Zienkiewicz et. Published the first book on finite element.

1968 Zienkiewicz et. Visco-elasticity problems.

1969 Szabo & Lee Adapted weighted residual methods in structural analysis.

1972 Oden Book on nonlinear continua.

1976 Belytschko Large-displacement nonlinear dynamic behavior.

~1997   New element development, convergence studies, the developments of

supercomputers, the availability of powerful microcomputers, the development
of user-friendly general-purpose finite element software packages.