Finite Element Method: The Big Picture

Approximate method to find numerical solution to differential equations

Six Steps

Development of Element Equations

Discretization of solution domain into a Finite Element Mesh
Assembly of Element Equations
Introduction of Boundary Conditions
Solution for Nodal Unknowns
Computation of Solution and Related Quantities Over Each Element

Discretization - finite element model

Nodes and Elements
Typical finite element shapes

1D Elements

2D Elements

3D Elements

Truss example
3

4
2

3
3
2

P
1

1
1

Hm L

Plane Truss Element

y
Nodal dof

End loads

v2

Fy2

Hx2 ,y2 L

u2

Fx2

s
Fy1

v1
Hx1 ,y1 L u1

Fx1
x

Discretization - break structure apart into elements

v3

v4
u3

8
5

u4

u2

v1

2
u1

7
4

v2

Plane Truss Element Equations

y
Nodal dof

End loads

v2

Fy2

Hx2 ,y2 L

u2

Fx2

s
Fy1

v1
Hx1 ,y1 L u1

Fx1
x

bs ms
-b2s
ij b2s
jj
jj bs ms
m2s
-bs ms
EA j
j
L jj
jj -b2s -bs ms
b2s
jj
j
2
bs ms
k -bs ms -ms
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
L = Hx2 - x1 L2 + Hy2 - y1 L2 ;

-bs ms yz i u1 y i F1 x y
zz
zz j z jj
-m2s zzz jjjj v1 zzzz jjj F1 y zzz
zz
zz jj zz = jj
z
j
j
z
z
j
u
F
bs ms zz jj 2 zz jj 2 x zzzz
z
zz j z j
m2s { k v2 { k F2 y {

Assumptions: Applied loads at nodes. No distributed load. Uniform section and mat

x -x

2 1
bs = cosa =
; ms = cosH90 - aL = sina
L

Equations for element 1

E = 200000
Element node
1
2
x1 = 0

A = 4000
Global node number
1
2
y1 = 0

x2 = 1500.

L = "############################################
Hx2 - x1 L2 + Hy2 - y1 L2# = 3807.89

x2 - x1
Direction cosines: bs = = 0.393919
L
Substituting into the truss element equations we get

x
0
1500.

y
0
3500.

y2 = 3500.

y2 - y1
ms =
= 0.919145
L

76067.2 -32600.2 -76067.2 yi u1 y i 0. y

ij 32600.2
zzjj zz jj zz
jj
jj 76067.2 177490. -76067.2 -177490. zzzjjj v1 zzz jjj 0. zzz
jj
zzjj zz = jj zz
jj -32600.2 -76067.2 32600.2
zzjj u2 zz jj 0. zz
76067.2
zzjj zz jj zz
jj
76067.2 177490. {k v2 { k 0. {
k -76067.2 -177490.

Equations for element 2

E = 200000
Element node
1
2
x1 = 1500.

A = 4000
Global node number
2
4
y1 = 3500.

L = "############################################
Hx2 - x1 L2 + Hy2 - y1 L2# = 3807.89

x
1500.
5000

x2 = 5000

x2 - x1
Direction cosines: bs = = 0.919145
L
Substituting into the truss element equations we get

y
3500.
5000
y2 = 5000

y2 - y1
ms =
= 0.393919
L

76067.2 -177490. -76067.2 yi u2 y i 0. y

ij 177490.
zzjj zz jj zz
jj
jj 76067.2 32600.2 -76067.2 -32600.2 zzzjjj v2 zzz jjj 0. zzz
jj
zzjj zz = jj zz
jj -177490. -76067.2 177490.
zzjj u4 zz jj 0. zz
76067.2
zzjj zz jj zz
jj
76067.2 32600.2 {k v4 { k 0. {
k -76067.2 -32600.2

Assembly - Put the structure back together

3

4
5

2
2

3
3

1
1

v3

v4
u3
v2

8
5

u4

4
3

u2
v1

Hm L

2
u1

Global equations at start of the element assembly process

ij 0
jj
jj 0
jj
jj 0
jj
jj 0
jj
jj
jj 0
jj
jj 0
jj
jj
jj 0
j
k0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0 y i u1 y i
0
yz
zz jj zz jj
zz
z
j
z
j
0 zz jj v1 zz jj
0
zz
zz jj zz jj
zz
zz
0 zzz jjj u2 zzz jjj
0
zz
zz jj zz jj
0 zzz jjj v2 zzz jjj -150000 zzzz
zj z=j
zz
zz
0 zzzz jjjj u3 zzzz jjjj
0
zz
zz jj zz jj
zz
0 zzz jjj v3 zzz jjj
0
zz
zz jj zz jj
zz
zz
0 zz jj u4 zz jj
0
zj z j
z
0 { k v4 { k
0
{

76067.2 -32600.2 -76067.2 y i u1 y i 0. y

ij 32600.2
zz jj zz jj zz
jj
jj 76067.2 177490. -76067.2 -177490. zzz jjj v1 zzz jjj 0. zzz
zz jj zz = jj zz
jj
zz jj u2 zz jj 0. zz
jj -32600.2 -76067.2 32600.2
76067.2
zz jj zz jj zz
jj
76067.2 177490. { k v2 { k 0. {
k -76067.2 -177490.

Assembly of element 1

The element contributes to 81, 2, 3, 4< global degrees of freedom.

ij 1 yz
jj zz
j2z
Locations for element contributions to a global vector: jjjj zzzz
jj 3 zz
j z
k4{
ij @1, 1D
jj
j @2, 1D
and to a global matrix: jjjj
jj @3, 1D
j
k @4, 1D

@1, 2D
@2, 2D
@3, 2D
@4, 2D

@1, 3D
@2, 3D
@3, 3D
@4, 3D

@1, 4D y
zz
@2, 4D zzz
z
@3, 4D zzzz
z
@4, 4D {

Adding element equations into appropriate locations we have

76067.2 -32600.2 -76067.2
ij 32600.2
jj
jj 76067.2 177490. -76067.2 -177490.
jj
jj -32600.2 -76067.2 32600.2
76067.2
jjj
jj -76067.2 -177490.
76067.2 177490.
jj
jj
0
0
0
0
jj
jj
jj
0
0
0
0
jj
jj
0
0
0
0
jj
0
0
0
0
k

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0 y i u1 y i
0
y
zz jj zz jj
0 zzz jjj v1 zzz jjj
0
zj z j
0 zzzz jjjj u2 zzzz jjjj
0
zz jj zz jj
z
z
j
j
0 zz jj v2 zz jj -150000.
zj z=j
0 zzzz jjjj u3 zzzz jjjj
0
zz jj zz jj
0 zzz jjj v3 zzz jjj
0
zz jj zz jj
0 zz jj u4 zz jj
0
zj z j
0 { k v4 { k
0
{

76067.2 -177490. -76067.2 y i u2 y i 0. y

ij 177490.
zz jj zz jj zz
jj
jj 76067.2 32600.2 -76067.2 -32600.2 zzz jjj v2 zzz jjj 0. zzz
zz jj zz = jj zz
jj
zz jj u4 zz jj 0. zz
jj -177490. -76067.2 177490.
76067.2
zz jj zz jj zz
jj
76067.2 32600.2 { k v4 { k 0. {
k -76067.2 -32600.2

Assembly of element 2

The element contributes to 83, 4, 7, 8< global degrees of freedom.

ij 3 yz
jj zz
j4z
Locations for element contributions to a global vector: jjjj zzzz
jj 7 zz
j z
k8{
ij @3, 3D
jj
j @4, 3D
and to a global matrix: jjjj
jj @7, 3D
j
k @8, 3D

@3, 4D
@4, 4D
@7, 4D
@8, 4D

@3, 7D
@4, 7D
@7, 7D
@8, 7D

@3, 8D y
zz
@4, 8D zzz
z
@7, 8D zzzz
z
@8, 8D {

Adding element equations into appropriate locations we have

76067.2 -32600.2 -76067.2
ij 32600.2
jj
-76067.2 -177490.
jj 76067.2 177490.
jj
jj -32600.2 -76067.2 210090.
152134.
jj
jj -76067.2 -177490.
152134.
210090.
jj
jj
jj
0
0
0
0
jj
jj
0
0
0
0
jj
jj
jj
0
0
-177490.
-76067.2
j
0
0
-76067.2 -32600.2
k

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0 yi
zz jj
0
0
0 zzz jjj
zj
0 -177490. -76067.2 zzzz jjjj
zj
0 -76067.2 -32600.2 zzzz jjjj
zj
0
0
0 zzzz jjjj
zj
0
0
0 zzzz jjjj
zj
0 177490.
76067.2 zzz jjj
zj
0
76067.2 32600.2 { k

4
5

2
2

3
3

1
1

v3

v4
u3
v2

8
5

u4

4
3

u2
v1

Hm L

2
u1

After processing all elements

76067.2 -32600.2 -76067.2

0
0
ij 32600.2
jj
-76067.2 -177490.
0
-120000
jj 76067.2 297490.
jj
jj -32600.2 -76067.2 243089.
119136.
-32998.3
32998.3 -1774
jj
jj -76067.2 -177490.
119136.
243089.
32998.3 -32998.3 -760
jj
jj
jj
0
0
-32998.3
32998.3 152998.
-32998.3 -1200
jj
jj
0
-120000
32998.3 -32998.3 -32998.3 152998.
jj
jj
jj
0
0
-177490.
-76067.2 -120000
0
2974
j
0
0
-76067.2 -32600.2
0
0
760
k


Example: Heat flow
y Hm L
0.03
0.025
0.02
q0
0.015
0.01
0.005
0

Convection
Insulated

T0

-0.01

0.01 0.02

0.03 0.04 0.05

Triangular element for heat flow

y

T3
Hx3 ,y 3 L
Side 2
Side 3

T1
Hx1 ,y 1 L

T2
Hx2 ,y 2 L
Side 1

0.06

x Hm L

Typical FE model

Triangular Element for Two Dimensional Heat Flow

Ikx
M +
Ik y
M + Q = 0
x
x
y
y

T = T0 specified

T
T
T
-k
-Ikx
n + k y
n M = q0 specified
n
x x
y y
T
T
T
-k
-Ikx
n + k y
n M = hHT - T L
n
x x
y y

T3
Hx3 ,y 3 L
Side 2
Side 3

T1
Hx1 ,y 1 L

T2
Hx2 ,y 2 L
Side 1
x

Assumptions: Uniform conduction coefficients. Conduction properties could be diff

convection applied to one or more sides of an element. Any concentrated heat sourc
@kk + kh D d = rQ + rh + rq

kx b1 b2 + k y c1 c2 kx b1 b3 + k y c1 c3 yz
ij kx b21 + k y c21
zz
j
1 j
2
2
zz
jj kx b1 b2 + k y c1 c2
kk =

k
b
+
k
c
k
b
b
+
k
c
c
x
y
x
y
2
3
2
3
zz
2
2
4A j
jj
z
2
2
k x b 3 + k y c3 {
k kx b1 b3 + k y c1 c3 kx b2 b3 + k y c2 c3
ij 1 yz
z
QA j
rQ = 3 jjj 1 zzz
j z
k1{
b1 = y2 - y3 ;

b 2 = y3 - y1 ;

b 3 = y1 - y2 ;

c1 = x3 - x2 ;

c2 = x1 - x3 ;

c3 = x2 - x1 ;

f 1 = x2 y3 - x3 y2 ;

f 2 = x3 y1 - x1 y3 ;

f3 = x1 y2 - x2 y1 ;

ij 2 1 0 yz
i 1 yz
jj
jj zz
zz
h T L12 j
jj 1 2 0 zz; rh =
jj 1 zz

Convection along side1: kh =

2
j
j z
z
k0 0 0{
k0{
i 0 0 0 yz
i 0 yz
zz
jj
jj zz
h L23 j
h T L23 j
0
2
1

z
j
jj 1 zz
;
r
Convection along side 2: kh =
h
z
j
6 j
2
z
j z
k0 1 2{
k1{
i 2 0 1 yz
i 1 yz
zz
jj
j z
h L31 j
h T L31 j
j 0 0 0 zz; rh =
jjj 0 zzz
Convection along side 3: kh =
6 j
2
z
j
j z
k1 0 2{
k1{
i 1 yz
j z
q L12 j
jj 1 zzz
Applied flux along side 1: rq =
2 j
j z
k0{
i 0 yz
j z
q L23 j
jj 1 zzz
Applied flux along side 2: rq =
2 j
j z
k1{
i 1 yz
j z
q L31 j
jjj 0 zzz
Applied flux along side 3: rq =
2 j
z
1
k {
h L12

Heat Flow Example

y Hm L
0.03
Convection
0.015

q0
Q

Insulated

T0
0

0.03

Element numbers

0.03
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0

20
18
4
2

24

19

22

17

23
21

0.01 0.02

y
0.03
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0

0.06

7
5

12
10

11
9

0.03 0.04

16
14

15
13

0.05 0.06

Node numbers
5

10

15

14

13

18

21

12

17

20

11

16

0.01 0.02

0.03 0.04

19
x
0.05 0.06

Element number 20: nodes 4, 10 and 5

kx = 45

ky = 45

Q = 5000000

x Hm L

Element nodal coordinates:

node 1 Hglobal node 4L = 80., 0.0225< m;
node 2 Hglobal node 10L = 80.015, 0.03< m;
node 3 Hglobal node 5L = 80., 0.03< m;
b1 = 0.

b2 = 0.0075

b3 = -0.0075

c1 = -0.015

c2 = 0.

c3 = 0.015

f 1 = 0.00045

f 2 = 0.

f 3 = -0.0003375

Element Area = 0.00005625

0.
-45. y
ij 45.
zz
jj
kk = jj 0. 11.25 -11.25 zzz
j
z
k -45. -11.25 56.25 {

ij 93.75 yz
j
z
rQ = jjj 93.75 zzz
j
z
k 93.75 {

Applied heat flux on side 3 (line 5-4)

L = 0.0075
ij 30. yz
j
z
rq = jjj 0 zzz
j
z
k 30. {

q = 8000

Convection on side 2 (line 10-5)

L = 0.015

h = 55

0
yz
ij 0 0
z
jj
kh = jj 0 0.275 0.1375 zzz
z
j
k 0 0.1375 0.275 {

T = 20

ij 0 yz
z
j
rh = jjj 8.25 zzz
z
j
k 8.25 {

0.
-45.
ij 45.
yz ij T4 yz ij 123.75 yz
z j
jj
zj
z
jj 0. 11.525 -11.1125 zzz jjj T10 zzz = jjj 102. zzz
j
z j
zj
z
k -45. -11.1125 56.525 { k T5 { k 132. {

x1 = 0.;
y1 = 0.02
x2 = 0.015;
y2
x3 = 0.;
y3 = 0.03