FEM: Application in Engineering Practice

Autumn Semester 2013 ETHZ 24th of September Dr. Patrick Steffen

FEM in Engineering Practice

Goals
1. Learn about the problems of applying the FEM 2. See commodity FEM in action 3. Know the importance of (FE-)modelling

Introduction

Brief History of FEM

Theoretical Foundation
1. Lsung von Variationsproblemen by W. Ritz in 1908 2. Weak formulation by B. Galerkin in 1915 3. Mathematical foundation by R. Courant ca. 1943

Formulation & First Applications (1950s and 1960s)

1. Matrix formulation of structural analysis by Agyris in 1954 2. Term Finite Element coined by Clough in 1960 3. First book on FEM by Zienkiewicz and Cheung in 1967

Commercial Software (since 1970s)

1. General purpose packages for main frames (Abaqus..) in 1970s 2. Special purpose software for PCs in 1980s

www.cubus.ch

Success Story of FEM

FEM is a big success story, because it

1. can handle very complex geometry 2. can handle a wide variety of engineering problems

- mechanics of solids & fluids - dynamics/heat/electrostatic problems 3. can handle complex restraints & loading 4. is very well suited for computers

Course of a FEM calculation

1. Select analysis type
Structural static, dynamic, buckling .

2. Select element type

1D 2D 3D linear, quadratic

3. Define material properties

Course of a FEM calculation

3. Build the mesh
Place nodes Assign elements

4. Apply boundary conditions and loads

5. Solve the problem 3. See the results

Application of Linear FEM

Application of Nonlinear FEM

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Credibility of FEM-Results
Simple example of an nonlinear FEM-analysis: THE PROBLEM

Boundary conditions - Hinged support Loads - Pressure pulse Unknown - Lateral displacement of mid point in time domain
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Credibility of FEM-Results
THE SOLUTION 10 solutions from 10 widely respected experts using 10 reputable software packages

DISPLACEMENT (mm)

TIME (ms)
* R. D. Cook, Finite Element Modeling for Stress Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, 1995

Who do YOU trust?

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Problem of Load Path Dependency

NONLINEAR ANALYSIS OF A RC GIRDER
M=f(P) Mpl bottom M0
Temperature : bottom < top

M Mpl top X nonlinear material law

Initial stress First plastic hinge

M0 = 0

Collapse

Xpl max =

Result ...but some are less!

Xpl max =
e.g.

Results are relative

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Pmax = independent of M0

Importance of Modelling

Importance of (FE-)Modelling

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Quality of a Model
What is a good model ?

Good models lead to good results Good results are realistic and understandable The simpler the model the better you understand the results Simpler models lead to better results!

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Quality of a Model
What is a good model ? Additional aspects from engineering practice:

Only readily available results are good results Fast computers quickly produce results The simpler the model the quicker you get results (valid for computers as well) You are more productive with simpler models!

Principle:
Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler
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Computer-based Modeling
Beware of blind trust trust:

Tendency towards overly complex computer-models: The more detailed I specify my model, the better results I will get = MISBELIEF ! Tendency towards black box application: The output must be true = RELIGION not KNOWLEDGE ! There is no way to avoid proper modeling !
fortunately, because nowadays everyone can input a 3D model and let the computer produce colorful pictures !

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