APPLICATION OF FEM AND FDM IN SOLVING 2D IRREGULAR

GEOMETRY HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEM

NOOR SYAZANA BINTI NGARISAN

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the award of the degree of

Master of Science (Mathematics)

Faculty of Science

University Teknologi Malaysia

JUNE 2014
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Dear my beloved family

Abah, Mak, Along, Abang Apis, Yan, Anip, Adik Nani

Alfiy Hafeez, Aisya Hannah

Dear my committed supervisor

Dr Yeak Su Hoe

Dear all precious friends

Thank you
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of Allah The Most Beneficent and The Most Merciful. The ultimate praises
is only to Him for giving me this chance to complete my dissertation.

I would love to dedicate my greatest indebtedness to the most important person who is
my supervisor for being the backbone of this dissertation. His advice and guidance are the things
that keep me going until the very end. Also my gratitude to all my lecturers whose deeds and
kindness I will never forget.

Million thanks to my family for the endless support and care, for always lending me a
helpful hand and for staying steadfastly by my side no matter what.

Last but not least a bouquet of appreciation to all my thoughtful friends for the
encouragement and assistance throughout the ups and downs of this challenging yet inspiring
journey.
.
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ABSTRACT

The study will focus on the application of finite element method (FEM) in solving two
dimensional irregular geometry heat transfer problem. FEM is known as one of the numerical
technique for finding approximate solutions to boundary value problems for differential
equation. Therefore this method is a perfect application to solve a parabolic partial differential
equation such as heat equation that describes the distribution of heat in a given region over time.
In order to minimize an error function and produce a stable solution, FEM uses variation method
or also known as the calculus of variations. All the solutions to this method related to the given
problem will be compared with the solution from another popular numerical method which is
finite difference method (FDM). FDM is also very useful in approximating the solutions to
differential equation. However the application is limited to regular geometry and simple irregular
geometry problems. The comparison of the solutions from these two methods will confirm that
FEM is a better choice in solving two dimensional irregular geometry problems involving heat
transfer.
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ABSTRAK

Kajian ini akan bertumpu kepada penggunaan kaedah unsur terhingga untuk
menyelesaikan masalah yang melibatkan perpindahan haba dalam geometri dua dimensi yang
tidak sekata. Kaedah unsur terhingga adalah salah satu kaedah berangka bagi mencari
penyelesaian anggaran untuk masalah nilai sempadan bagi persamaan pembezaan. Maka dengan
itu kaedah ini adalah pilihan yang tepat untuk menyelesaikan masalah berkaitan perpindahan
haba kerana persamaannya turut melibatkan nilai sempadan untuk persamaan pembezaan. Bagi
meminimumkan kesalahan fungsi and mendapatkan penyelesaian yang lebih stabil, kaedah unsur
terhingga ini menggunakan kaedah variasi atau turut dikenalai sebagai kalkulus variasi. Semua
penyelesaian terhadap masalah yang diberi akan dibandingkan dengan penyelesaian daripada
satu lagi kaedah berangka yang popular iaitu kaedah perbezaan terhingga. Kaedah perbezaan
terhingga juga sangat berguna untuk mendapatkan anggaran jawapan kepada persamaan
pembezaan. Tetapi aplikasi kaedah ini limit hanya untuk dimensi yang sekata dan dimensi tidak
sekata yang mudah sahaja. Perbandingan antara dua kaedah ini akan membuktikan bahawa
kaedah unsur terhingga merupakan pilihan ynag lebih baik untuk menyelesaikan masalah
perpindahan haba dalam geometri dua dimensi yang tidak sekata.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLARATION ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

ABSTRACT v

ABSTRAK vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

LIST OF TABLES xi

LIST OF FIGURES xii

LIST OF SYMBOLS xv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xvi

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the Study 2

1.2 Problem Statement 2

1.3 Objectives of the Study 3

1.4 Scope of the Study 4

1.5 Significance of the Study 4

1.6 Report Organization 4

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction 5

2.1 History of Heat Conduction 5

2.2 History of Finite Element Method 7

2.3 The Application of FDM for Heat Transfer Problems 8

2.4 The Application of FEM for Heat Transfer Problems 11

2.4.1 Galerkins Approach for 2D Heat Conduction Problems 11

3 METHOD OF SOLUTION

3.0 Introduction 17

3.1 Steady State 2D Heat Conduction 18

3.1.1 Finite Element Method : Galarkins Approach for Heat 18

Conduction.
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3.2 2D Regular Geometry Heat Transfer Problem 19

3.2.1 Solve 2D Regular Geometry Heat Transfer Problem 21

Using FDM

3.2.2 Solve 2D Regular Geometry Heat Transfer Problem 22

Using FEM : Mesh generation for 2D Regular
Geometry Heat Transfer Problem

23
3.3 2D Simple Irregular Geometry Heat Transfer Problem

3.3.1 Solve 2D Simple Irregular Geometry Heat Transfer 25

Problem using FDM

3.3.2 Solve 2D Simple Irregular Geometry Heat Transfer 29

Problem using FEM

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.0 Introduction 35

4.1 Numerical result for Regular Geometry Heat Transfer 36

Problem

4.1.1 Solution using FDM 36

4.1.2 Solution using FEM 38

4.2 Numerical Results for 2D Simple Irregular Geometry Heat 39

Transfer Problem
39
4.2.1 Solution using FDM
43
4.2.1 Solution using FEM
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5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.0 Introduction 46

5.1 Conclusion 46

5.2 Recommendation 47

REFERENCES

APPENDIX
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LIST OF TABLES

TABLE TITLE PAGE

3.1 Linear triangular element for regular geometry problem. 23

3.2 Linear triangular element for simple irregular geometry 32

problem.

4.1 Temperature and error for solution of regular geometry using 34

FDM.

4.2 Solution of temperature with given value of f for irregular 36

geometry using FDM.

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LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE TITLE PAGE

2.1 Calculation molecules for Laplace equation. 11

2.2 The example of 2D heat transfer problem. 13

3.1 Flow of the Study. 17

3.2 2D regular geometry heat transfer problem. 19

3.3 Generation of nodes and elements for regular geometry 22

problem using FEM.

3.4 2D simple irregular geometry heat transfer problem. 23

3.5 Flow chart of FDM. 25

3.6 Node generation and boundary conditions for simple irregular 26

problem.

3.7 Flow chart of FEM. 29

3.8 Geometry and boundary conditions for simple irregular 30

problem using FEM.

3.9 Node generation for simple irregular problem using FEM. 30

3.10 Element generation for simple irregular problem using FEM. 31

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4.1 Solution of Heat distribution of 2D regular geometry heat 36

transfer problem using FDM when set step size = 100.

Error of heat distribution of 2D regular geometry heat transfer

4.2 37
problem using FDM.

4.3 2D grid plot for regular geometry problem using FEM. 38

4.4 Heat flux of regular geometry problem using FEM. 38

4.5 Heat distribution of regular geometry problem using FEM. 38

4.6 Heat distribution for simple irregular geometry problem using 39

FDM when f = 10.

4.7 Solution for simple irregular geometry problem using FDM 39

when f = 10.

4.8 Heat distribution for simple irregular geometry problem using 40

FDM when f = -10.

4.9 Solution for simple irregular geometry problem using FDM 40

when f = -10.

4.10 Heat distribution for simple irregular geometry problem using 40

FDM when f = -100.

4.11 Solution for simple irregular geometry problem using FDM 40

when f = -100.

4.12 Heat distribution for simple irregular geometry problem using 41

FDM when f = 100.
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4.13 Solution for simple irregular geometry problem using FDM 41

when f = 100.

4.14 Heat distribution for simple irregular geometry problem using 43

FEM when f = 10.

4.15 Heat flux for simple irregular geometry problem using FEM 43
when f = 10.

4.16 Heat distribution for simple irregular geometry problem using 43

FEM when f = -10.

4.17 Heat flux for simple irregular geometry problem using FEM 43
when f = -10.

4.18 Heat distribution for simple irregular geometry problem using 44

FEM when f = 100.

4.19 Heat flux for simple irregular geometry problem using FEM 44
when f = 100.

4.20 Heat distribution for simple irregular geometry problem using 45

FEM when f = -100.

4.21 Heat flux for simple irregular geometry problem using FEM 45
when f = -100.
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LIST OF SYMBOLS

delta

T global virtual temperature vector

Te displacement vector

Ke the stiffness matrix

Fe load vector

Q heat generation

Ei truncation error

pi

n normal flux

T temperature

Ae area of the element

det(J) determinant of Matrix J

ST specified temperature

Sq specified heat flux

Sc convection

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

FEM Finite Element Method

FDM Finite Difference Method

2D Two Dimensional

BVP Boundary Value Problem

 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

A numerical method is a technique for obtaining approximate solutions of many types

of science and engineering problems. The need for numerical methods arises from the fact
that for most practical engineering problems their analytical solutions do not exist. While the
governing equations and boundary conditions can usually be written for these problems,
difficulties introduced by either irregular geometry or other discontinuities are difficult to be
solved analytically.

Finite Element Method (FEM) and Finite Difference Method (FDM) are the examples
of numerical methods that can be used to solve this kind of problems. FEM is a numerical
method for solving problems of engineering and mathematical physics. It is useful for
problems with complicated geometries, loadings and material properties where analytical
solutions cannot be obtained. It is a numerical technique in finding approximate solutions to
boundary value for differential equations problems of engineering and mathematical physics.

Heat transfer is the study of thermal energy transport within a medium or among
neighbouring media by molecular interaction, fluid motion, and electro-magnetic waves,
resulting from a spatial variation in temperature (Long and Seyma, 2009). This variation in
temperature is governed by the principle of energy conservation, which when applied to a
control volume or a control mass, states that the sum of the flow of energy and heat across the
system, the work done on the system, and the energy stored and converted within the system,
is zero. Heat transfer finds application in many important areas, namely design of thermal and
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nuclear power plants including heat engines, steam generators, condensers and other heat
exchange equipment, catalytic convertors, heat shields for space vehicles, heaters, electronic
equipment, internal combustion engines, refrigeration and air conditioning units, design of
cooling systems for electric motors generators and transformers, heating and cooling of fluids
in chemical operations, construction of dams and structures, minimization of building heat
losses using improved insulation techniques, thermal control of space vehicles, heat treatment
of metals and dispersion of atmospheric pollutants.

Basically, the two-dimensional heat equation can be solved theoretically and also
numerically by using numerical method such as the finite difference method. Heat equation is
one of the most important partial differential equation which describes the distribution of heat
(or variation in temperature) in a given region over time.

1.1 Background of the Study

This research is focusing on solving a two-dimensional irregular geometry heat

transfer equation by applying the finite element method. Normally, computations of this
method will be performed using Matlab program since it is impossible to do the calculations
manually for large scale problem and also in order to assure the accuracy of the solution.
Finite element method involves tedious and complex calculation. Thus, it is ideal to be
applied numerically in Matlab program.

1.2 Problem Statement

Grid or mesh based numerical methods such as finite difference methods (FDM) and
finite element methods (FEM) have been widely applied to various areas such as fluid
dynamics and solid mechanics. These methods are currently the dominant methods in solving
problems of engineering and science.

Problems related to heat transfer can be solve by using finite difference method
(FDM). However this approach will cause a few flaws in the findings mainly because the
method itself is low in accuracy. Although FDM is easier to compute as well as to code, some
problems that involved complex geometry is either difficult or completely cannot be solved
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by FDM. Generally FDM is a simple method to use for common problems defined on regular
geometries.

The two sources of error in FDM are round-off error which is the loss of precision due
to computer rounding of decimal quantities and the local truncation error typically expressed
using Big-O notation that refers to the error from a single application of the method. Besides,
the majority of heat transfer problem is related to engineering and the problem domain is in
irregular geometry. It is not ideal to solve this kind of problems using FDM since it is only
applicable for problems that involve regular geometry and simple irregular geometry.

Even though FEM is a complex method but it can be used to solve complex geometry
problems. Industrial or engineering heat transfer problems normally involve irregular
geometry domain. The need for numerical methods arises from the fact that analytical
solutions does not exist for most practical problems.

On the other hand FEM uses variation methods to minimize an error function and
produce a stable solution. Therefore this method is mostly ideal for problems with
complicated geometries when analytical solutions cannot be obtained. For that reason, this
research will focus on how to solve heat transfer problems in twodimensional irregular
geometry by using the application of FEM.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objectives of this research are:

1. To study the basic concept of FEM, FDM and heat transfer.

2. To associate the application of FEM and FDM in solving problems related to heat
transfer.

3. To solve heat transfer problems in simple 2D irregular geometry.

4. To develop algorithm using Matlab to get numerical results.

5. To compare the solutions from the application of FEM and FDM.

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1.4 Scope of the Study

This research will focus on the application of FEM with the approach of Galerkins
method to solve heat transfer problems in simple 2D irregular geometries while comparing
the solutions with FDM.

1.5 Significance of the Study

The results of this research can be used for further research in related areas. One of
the goals of this research is that, this research will gives a clearer view of FEM, where it will
finally lead to further understanding on applying the FEM in solving related problems
especially in the science and engineering fields.

1.6 Report Organization

In this report of dissertation, there will be five chapters which are introduction,
literature review, method of solution, results and discussion and conclusion and
recommendation.

As for Chapter 1 there will be seven subtopics which are introduction, background of
study, problem statement, objective of the study, scope of the study, significant of the study
and organization of report.

Chapter 2 is going to introduce a literature review on FEM and FDM also its
application in solving heat transfer problem.

The formulation and the methods that will be used are discussed in Chapter 3. This
chapter provides the modeling and derivation of FEM, FDM and heat transfer equation.

Then all the results that are obtained from Matlab will be discussed in Chapter 4. The
results will be presented in figures and table.

Finally Chapter 5 is for the conclusion of this dissertation and recommendation for
further research.
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