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Finite Element Method

(14ME116)
G. Guru Mahesh
Assistant Professor
Mechanical department
mits

PREREQUISITE FOR FINITE ELEMENT METHODS

Pre-requisites for FEM can be:
Tensor calculus
Strength of materials
Basic solid mechanics

What This Presentation Covers

Introduction to Different Numerical Method

Introduction to FEM - Concept & Philosophy

Practical Application of FEA

Need & Advantages of Finite Element Analysis

Different Professional FEA Tools/Software

Steps involved in any Finite Element Analysis Best Practices Approach

Types of Analysis

How to solve the following problem ?

What is the stress and strain value of rectangular body

4
5 KN
m

3m

Analytical Method
Stress=area load
5000/(4*3)=416 N/m2

Experimental Method

How to calculate stress and strain for cyclic load acting on a body

How to solve the following problem ?

By using Numerical Method is solved by easily

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Introduction to FEA
Methods to Solve Any Engineering Problem

Analytical Method

Numerical Method

Experimental Method

Classical Approach

Mathematical Approach

Actual Measurement

100% Accurate Results

Approximate, Assumptions Made

Time Consuming , Needs expensive setup

Applicable only for Simple problems like

Cantilever , simply supported beams and
Cylinders etc..

Applicable to real life complicated

problems

Applicable only if physical prototype is

available

Complete in itself

Although applicable to simple shaped

geometries only , Analytical methods are
considered as Closed form solutions i.e.
100% Accurate

Results can not be believed blindly and

must be verified by experimental methods
and
Hand
Calculations.
Finite
Element
Method: Linear ,
Nonlinear , Buckling , Thermal, Dynamics
& Fatigue analysis
Boundary Element Method: Acoustics /
NVH analysis
Finite Volume Method: CFD
(Computational Fluid Dynamics) &
Computational Electromagnetic
Finite Difference Method: Thermal &
Fluid Flow analysis (in combination with
FVM)

Results can not be believed blindly and

Minimum 2 or more prototypes must be
tested.
-Strain Gauge
- Photo elasticity
- Vibration measurement (accelerometers)
- Sensors for Temp & pressure etc
- Fatigue test

1. Mathematical Model
(1) Modeling
Physical
Problems

Mathematical
Model

Solution

Identify control variables

Assumptions (empirical law)

(2) Types of solution

Sol.

Eq.

Exact Sol.
Approx. Sol.

Exact Eq.

Approx. Eq.

(3) Methods of Solution

(3) Method of Solution

A. Classical methods
They offer a high degree of vision, but the problems are difficult or impossible to
solve for anything but simple geometries and loadings.
B. Numerical methods
Energy: Minimize an expression for the potential energy of the structure over the
whole domain.
Boundary element: Approximates functions satisfying the governing differential
equations not the boundary conditions.
Finite difference: Replaces governing differential equations and boundary
conditions with algebraic finite difference equations.
Finite element: Approximates the behavior of an irregular, continuous structure
under general loadings and constraints with an assembly of discrete elements.

2. Finite Element Method

(1) Definition
FEM is a numerical method for solving a system of governing equations over the
domain of a continuous physical system, which is discretized into simple geometric
shapes called finite element.
Continuous system
Time-independent PDE
Time-dependent PDE

Discrete system
Linear algebraic eq.
ODE

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Are FEA and FEM different ?

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Finite Element Method (FEM) both are
one & the same.
FEA is a method/process based upon FEM
Term FEA is more popular in industries while FEM at Education
centers

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Why Finite Element Method ?

FEA is the most widely applied computer simulation method in Engineering.
It is very closely integrated with CAD/CAM applications.
It is very well proven , tested and validated method for simulating any complex
practical scenario in the area of Structural ,Thermal ,Vibration etc..

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Application of FEM in Engineering

Mechanical / Aerospace / Civil Engineering / Automobile Engineering
Structural Analysis ( Static / Dynamic , Linear / Non-Linear )
Thermal Analysis ( Steady State / Transient )
Electromagnetic Analysis
Geomechanics
Biomechanics
etc.

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Practical Applications of FEA

Aerospace Domain

Automotive Domain

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Practical Applications of FEA

Hi-Tech /Electronics

Medical Devices

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Advantages of FEA

Cost
Design Cycle time
No. of Prototypes
Testing
Design Optimization

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Available Commercial FEA Tools/Software Packages

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Analysis Types
Structural Analysis

Static Analysis

Linear

Non-Linear

Dynamic Analysis

Modal
Analysis

Harmonic
Analysis

Random
Analysis

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

FEM Philosophy in layman terms

The Philosophy of FEA can be explained with a small example such as
Measuring the Perimeter of a Circle
If one need to evaluate the perimeter of a circle without using the conventional
formula (2*pi*r), FEA approach is analogous to Dividing the circle into a number of
segments and joining the points using Straight lines
Since it is very easy to measure the length of straight line. Measure the length of
one line and multiply it by No. of lines to get the perimeter.

Approximate results.isnt it ?
What if we want to achieve more
accurate result?

(2) Discretization
Modeling a body by dividing it into an equivalent
system of finite elements interconnected at a finite
number of points on each element called nodes.

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Concept of Discretization (Meshing)

Concept of FEM is all about Discretization (Meshing) i.e. Dividing a
big structure/component into small discrete Blocks (Nodes and
Element concept)
But why do we do this Meshing ???

No. of Points =
DoF per point = 6
Total No of Equations to be
solved = * 6 =

No. of Points = 8
DoF per point = 6
Total No of Equations to be
solved = 8 * 6 = 48

From Infinite to FiniteHence the

Term Finite Element Method

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Concept of Discretization (Meshing)

Physical System

FE Model

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Concept of Discretization (Meshing)

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Concept of Discretization (Meshing)

Parameters deciding the Quality of Mesh :
Aspect ratio
Skew / Warpage
Element internal Angles
and more

Bad Quality FEA

Good Quality FEA

Better the Mesh Quality , Better the

Accuracy

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Different Numerical Methods

Finite Element Method (FEM) :

Very Popular Method based upon discretization of component into Finite number of blocks (elements)
Applications : Linear, Nonlinear, Thermal, Dynamics , Buckling and Fatigue Analysis

Boundary Element Method (BEM) :

Its a very powerful and efficient technique to solve acoustics and NVH problems
Just like Finite Element Method, it also requires Nodes and Elements but as the name suggest, it considers only the outer
boundary of the domain

Finite Volume Method (FVM) :

All Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) soft wares are based upon FVM.
Unit Volume is considered in Finite Volume Method (similar to Elements in Finite Element Method)
Variable properties at nodes are Pressure , Velocity , Area , Mass etc.
It is based on Navier Stoke equations ( Mass ,Momentum and Energy Conservation equations)

Finite Difference Method (FDM) :

Finite Element and Finite Difference share many common things.

In general, Finite difference Method is described as a way to solve difference equation.
It uses Taylors series to convert differential equation into algebraic equation. Higher order terms neglected.

Is it possible to use all the above listed methods (FEA ,BEM , FVM, FDM)
to solve same problem (say Cantilever problem)?
Answer : YES ! But the difference is in Accuracy achieved , programming ease and time
required to obtain the solution

Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Practical Applications of FEA

and many more .

3. 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, Martin,

Topp

Derived stiffness matrices for truss, beam and 2D plane stress elements. 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.

Chronicle of Finite Element Method

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.

4. Analytical Processes of Finite Element Method

(1) Structural stress analysis problem
A. Conditions that solution must satisfy
a. Equilibrium
b. Compatibility
c. Constitutive law
d. Boundary conditions
Above conditions are used to generate a system of equations
representing system behavior.
B. Approach
a. Force (flexibility) method: internal forces as unknowns.
b. Displacement (stiffness) method: nodal disp. As unknowns.
For computational purpose, the displacement method is more
desirable because its formulation is simple. A vast majority of
general purpose FE softwares have incorporated the displacement
method for solving structural problems.

(2) Analysis procedures of linear static structural analysis

A. Build up geometric model

a. 1D problem
line
b. 2D problem
surface
c. 3D problem
solid

B. Construct the finite element model

a. Discretize and select the element types
(a) element type
1D line element
2D element
3D brick element
(b) total number of element (mesh)
1D:
2D:
3D:

b. Select a shape function

1D line element: u=ax+b
c. Define the compatibility and constitutive law

d. Form the element stiffness matrix and equations

(a) Direct equilibrium method
(b) Work or energy method
(c) Method of weight Residuals

e. Form the system equation

Assemble the element equations to obtain global system
equation and introduce boundary conditions

C. Solve the system equations

a. elimination method
Gausss method (Nastran)
b. iteration method
Gauss Seidels method
Displacement field

strain field

stress field

D. Interpret the results (postprocessing)

a. deformation plot

b. stress contour

5. Applications of Finite Element Method

Structural Problem

Non-structural Problem

Stress Analysis
- truss & frame analysis
- stress concentrated problem
Buckling problem
Vibration Analysis
Impact Problem

Heat Transfer
Fluid Mechanics
Electric or Magnetic
Potential

6. Computer Programs for Finite Element Method

ANSYS

NASTRAN

ABAQUS

MARC

LS-DYNA3D

MSC/DYNA

MOLDFLOW

C-FLOW

PHOENICS

ADAMS/
DADS
COSMOS

Thanks !