Basic Concept of Finite Element Analysis

Ismail bin Abu Shah PhD (Damage Mechanics)

Dept of Manufacturing Engineering Technology
2019
What is Finite Element Method (FEM)
• FEM or FEA? What the different
• It is a numerical method for solving problems of
engineering and mathematical physics.
• idea of dividing a complicated object into small
and manageable pieces (infinite -> finite)
• analytical methods cannot cope with the real,
complicated problems that are met with in
engineering.
• to find the stresses and strains in engineering
components under load.
 What is Finite Element Method (FEM)
• Brief history
– The modern development of the finite element method began in the 1940s
in the field of structural engineering.
– From the early 1940s to the present, enormous advances have been made
in the application of the FEM to solve complicated engineering problems.
– At present FEM/FEA is the most widely applied computer simulation
method in engineering

Clough (1960) who first used the term finite

elements
From problem to FEA

We consider here a simple example of a bracket supporting a vertical load.

We need to choose a mathematical model. The choice of this model clearly
depends on what phenomena are to be predicted and on the geometry,
material properties, loading and support conditions of the bracket.
From problem to FEA
Questions:
1. What is the bending moment at section AA?
2. What is the deflection at the pin?
From problem to FEA
From what we know….

The bracket has been fastened to a “very thick steel column”. The term
“very thick” is relative to the thickness “t” and height “h” of the
bracket. We translate this statement into the assumption that that the
bracket is fastened to a (practically) rigid column.

We also assume that the load is applied very slowly. The

condition of time “very slowly” is relative to the largest
natural period of the bracket: i.e., the time span over which the load W
is increased from 0 to its full value is much longer
than the fundamental period of the bracket. We translate this
statement into meaning that we require static analysis (as opposed to
a dynamic analysis).
From problem to FEA

Mathematical model (analytical)

From problem to FEA

Very troublesome!!!!!

Plane stress equation-Mathematical model

From problem to FEA
ELEMENTS
• can be imagine as sawing the actual structure apart and then
pinning it back together at nodes.
ELEMENTS
ELEMENTS
Advantages of FEM
• Handle general loading conditions.
• Model bodies composed of several different materials (because the
• element equations are evaluated individually).
• Handle unlimited numbers and kinds of boundary conditions.
• Vary the size of the elements to make it possible to use small
• elements where necessary
• Change the finite element model easily and cheaply
• Include dynamic effects
• Handle nonlinear behaviour existing with large deformations and
• nonlinear materials.
FEA & Computer

• Computer Implementations
– Pre-Processing (build FE model, loads and constraints)
– FEA solver (assemble and solve the system of
equations)
– Post-Processing (sort and display the results)
• Available Commercial FEM Software Packages
– ANSYS, , ALGOR, ADINA, ABAQUS, SAPPRO, ROBOT,
HYPERWORKS, NASTRAN
FEA Theory

• Approaches to formulation of element

properties
• Direct Method (DSM) ; Stiffness matrix
Easy to
understand

• Variational method Use in many

software
• Weighted Residual method code
 Spring Element

• most basic form of stiffness analysis

• spring which has a node (or connection) at
each end
• consider that it can only move in the x-
direction. (1 DOF per node )
Spring Element

• basic relationship that force is equal to

stiffness times displacement
• For node 1

• For node 2
Element Stiffness Matrix

• In the matrix form

Assembly of element

Element 1 Element 2
 Assembly of element

• Now we can expand in global matrix

• No. node x Dof = Matrix size
Assembly of element

• Now we can expand in Global Matrix

• No. node x Dof = Matrix size
General step in Stiffness Matrix Method

The general steps :

1.Calculate the member stiffness matrices
2.Assemble the global stiffness matrix
3.Restrict the global stiffness matrix and force
vector
4.Solve for the unknown displacements
5.Determine member forces from the known
displacements and member stiffness matrices
6.Determine the reactions knowing member end
forces
Summary