INTRODUCTION

In essence, the finite element method is a numerical technique which solves the governing
equations of a complicated system through a discretization process. The system of interest can
be either physical or mathematical. The domain of the system can be well-defined or subject
to continual changes (moving boundary problems such as transient free surface water flow,
large deformation problems etc.) The boundary conditions can be well-defined in terms of
prescribed loads and displacements, or sometimes less well-defined as in fluid-structure
interactions or contact problems. The governing equations can be given in differential form or
be expressed in terms of variational integrals.

Before an analysis is carried out, the whole system has to be divided into a number of
individual subsystems or components, whose behaviour is readily understood. The basic units
of the discretized subsystems are called finite elements, which should neither overlap nor
have gaps between each other. The finite elements used for a domain need not be of the same
type and the properties can also vary. Figure 1 shows how a smooth curved surface, as
defined by function φ, is modeled by elements of various types. When 3-node triangular
elements are used, the φ surface is approximated by flat triangular facets. Whereas the 4-node
and 8-node quadratic elements are able to represent warped and curved surfaces, and can thus
better approximate the actual function. Obviously, the approximation can also be improved by
using more elements instead of increasing the order of the interpolation polynomial. This
sketch illustrates the basic idea of the finite element method: piecewise approximation of a
smooth function by means of simple polynomials, each of which is defined over a small
region (element) and represented in terms of the values of the function at the element nodes.

Node

x y

Figure 1. Smooth surface approximated by finite elements

Engineering problems

By physical nature:

Solid mechanics – elasticity, stress and stain analysis, structural systems

Fluid mechanics – open channel flow, wind flow around buildings,
Heat conduction
Potential problems – Electro-magnetic potential distribution, seepage
Piezoelectric effects
Coupling problems – thermo-mechanical problems, consolidation

By problem dimensions:

Line element – bar, strut, beam, tie, etc

2D plane elements – 3-node triangle, 4-node quadrilateral, 6-node triangle, etc.
Plate/shell elements – 3-node triangular facet, 9-node quadratic element, etc.
3D solid elements – tetrahedron, pentahedron, hexahedron, etc.
Problem of mixed dimensions: E.g. a beam connected to a plate.

By the type of analysis:

Linear small deformation

Large deformation analysis
Static, quasi-static
Dynamic: periodic or transient
Instability – local and global buckling
Plasticity, fracture and crack propagation
Impact and damage analysis

By material:

Isotropic material
Anisotropic material
Non-homogeneous domain: inclusion problems
Composite materials
Viscoelastic material

Problem definition:

Given physical domain Ω

Identify field variable φ
Governing equation: Lφ = 0
Boundary conditions: Displacement boundary conditions and loading conditions.
REFERENCES:

Finite Element Implementation

Y.K. Cheung, S.H. Lo and A.Y.T. Leung

Blackwell Science

Continuum Mechanics

T.J. Chung

Prentice-Hall International

Concepts and applications of finite element analysis

Robert D. Cook, David S. Malkus and Michael E. Plesha

Wiley

Finite element procedures in engineering analysis

Klaus-Jurgen Bathe

Prentice- Hall

The finite element method

O.C. Zienkiewicz and R.L. Taylor

McGraw Hill