Index

 Introduction to FEA
 FEA prerequisites
 Fundamentals of FEA
 Introduction to FEA

Every analysis involves four main steps:

Preliminary
Preliminary Decisions Decisions
What type of analysis: Static, modal, etc.?
What to model: Part or Assembly?
Which elements: Surface or Solid Bodies?
Preprocessing
Preprocessing
Attach the model geometry
Define and assign material properties to pars
Mesh the geometry
Solution
Apply loads and supports
Request results
Solve the Model
Post processing Postprocessing
Review results
Check the validity of the solution
Pre-processor
• Create solid model
• Create FEA model
• Define Material Properties
• Element Types
• Meshing (Free or Mapped)
• Loads & Boundary Conditions
 FEA solver

Function of the solver is to solve the system of linear

simultaneous equations:

• Form stiffness matrix for each element

• Assemble the global stiffness matrix
• Solve matrix equation
• Find displacement
• Calculate strain & stress
 Postprocessor
To review results of the analysis
 Two postprocessors:
1) General Postprocessor
2) Time-History Postprocessor

 Represented in the form of a table, graph, contour

plot, deformed shape or mode shapes of component &
animation
Element Types
 Standard Elements
First order

Line Triangle/Quadrilateral Hexahedral Tetrahedral

( tri/quad) ( hex ) ( tet )
Second order

Line Triangle/Quadrilateral Hexahedral 10-noded Tetrahedral

 Element selection criteria
Which element type should be used?

 Beams, plates or solids?

 Quadrilateral or triangle?
 Hexahedral, pentahedral or tetrahedral ?
 Higher or lower order?

The choice of the element type is strongly

dependent on the structure to be analyzed
 Beam Elements
• 1 - Dimensional elements
• 6 DOFS
• First and second order
• Cross section constant or varying along the element
length
• Transfers axial forces, torsional and bending moments
• Neutral line can be moved away from the node (“Offset”)
• Degrees of freedom may be released at the end of the
elements
• Assumes non-deforming cross section when deforming
 Typical Beam Models

Trusses

Frames

Stiffeners
Examples of Beam Models
 Shell Elements

 2 - Dimensional Elements
 5 DOFS (No “drilling” DOF)
 Thickness constant or varying across element
 Triangle and Quadrilateral basis shape
 First and second order
 Neutral line can be moved away from the nodes
(“Offset”)
 Assumes constant thickness when deforming
 Typical Shell Models

Thin shells, Thin plane or curved

thinwalled metal sheets
pressure
vessels

Aircraft components

Automotive parts
Examples of shell models
 Examples of shell models, 2
Courtesy of Adtranz

Courtesy of Adtranz Courtesy of Adtranz

 Solid Elements

 3 - Dimensional elements
 3 DOFS (no rotational DOFs)
 Tet and cube basic shapes
 First and second order
 Examples of Solid Models

Courtesy of Volvo Car

 Special Elements

Concentrated
Mass
Spring Damper Gap
(Point-Point-Contact)

Rigid / Interpolation
 Element Selection Guidelines
Choose the simplest element type
– if you can make a shell model - do it
– If you can make a beam model - do it

For structural analysis, don’t use first order tetra-elements.

(But they are ok for thermal analysis)
 Applications

 Aerospace
 Automotive
 Fluid dynamics
 Bridges & Buildings
 Electronics
 Heavy Equipments & Machinery
 Sporting Goods