An Overview of the

FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

(FEM)
By
VIJAY G. S.
Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Mechanical Engg.,
NMAM Institute of Technology,
Nitte
 Introduction
For studying physical phenomena,
engineers and scientists are involved
with two major tasks:

 Mathematical formulation of the

physical problem –behaviour/governing
equations

 Numerical analysis of the

mathematical model – numerical
method & computer
Problems in engineering may be:

1. Boundary Value Problems

2. Initial Value Problems

3. Boundary and Initial Value

Problems

4. Eigen Value Problems

1. Boundary Value Problems – values of
dependent variables (and its
derivatives) are known on the
continuum (boundary) of the problem.

Example:

d  du 
− a = f for 0 < x < 1 is the governing equation
dx  dx 

 du 
u (0) = d 0 ,  a  = g 0 are the boundary conditions
 dx  x =1
2. Initial Value Problems – values of the
dependent variables (and its derivatives) are
known at an initial instant (i.e., at t=0). These
are time dependent problems.

Example:

d 2u
ρ 2 + au = f for 0 < t < t0 is the governing equation
dt

 du 
u (0) = u0 ,   = v0 are the boundary conditions
 dt t =0
3. Boundary and Initial Value Problems –
values of the dependent variables (and its
derivatives) are known on the boundary
at specific time instants.
Example:

∂  ∂u  ∂u  0 <x <1
− a + ρ = f ( x, t ) for  
∂x  ∂x  ∂t  0 <t ≤ t0 

is the governing equation

 ∂u 
u (0, t ) = d 0 (t ), a  = g 0 (t ), u ( x,0) = u0 ( x)
 ∂x  x =1
are the boundary conditions
4. Eigen Value Problems – the problem of determining
value of the constant λ such that:

d  du 
− a =λ u for 0 < x < 1
dx  dx 

 du 
u (0) = 0 ,  a  = 0
 dx  x =1

is called the eigen value problem for the

above differential equation.
 In all the above problems of engineering, we may
require to find the value of the dependent
variable at any specified point in the continuum.

 For this, the above governing differential

equations must be solved to get the value of the
dependent variable.

 But, in actual practice, engineering problems

involve complicated geometries (continuums),
loadings and varying material properties.

 Due to this, it may be impossible to specify the

boundary conditions, consider material properties
and solve the governing differential equation.

 In such a situation, we go for numerical methods

such as “Finite Element Method (FEM)” to get
approximate but acceptable solutions.
 The Finite Element Method is a numerical method for
solving problems of engineering and mathematical
physics where their behaviour/governing equations
are expressed by integral or differential equations.

 The FEM formulation of the problem results in

a set of simultaneous algebraic equations for
solution, instead of requiring the solution of
the governing differential equation

 This yields approximate values of the variables

at discrete points in the continuum
 Basic Concept of FEM
Irregular Geometry
Regular Geometry

Area = Length ×
Breadth

Area = ∑(area of sub divisions)

 General Steps of the Finite Element Method
1. Select Element type and discretize the
continuum
2. Select a Displacement Function
3. Define the Strain/Displacement and
Stress/Strain Relationships
4. Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Element Equations
5. Assemble the Element Equations to
obtain Global Equations
6. Apply Boundary Conditions and modify
the Global Equations
7. Solve for unknown variables
8. Solve for Element Strains and Stresses
9. Interpret the results
 Some terminologies used in FEM
Discretization (Meshing):
The process of dividing the model of the problem
continuum into a finite number of regular subdivisions
Elements:
Each subdivision is called an “Element”
Nodes:
The grid (connection) points at which the elements meet
each other are called “nodes”
Degrees of Freedom (DOF):
The total number of variables (displacements) that are
associated with each node
Boundary Conditions:
Known values of the variable at the continuum boundary
Displacement Function:
It is an assumed polynomial expression which closely
represents the anticipated variation of the unknown
variable over the element domain.
 Q
P Form the
element
equations

Discretizati 1. {F}
Direct
e
=[k] {q}
e
stiffness
e
method
on 2. Energy method
3. Weighted residual method
Apply
Boundary
Conditions
Assemble the
element
equations to
form global
equations
{F}g=[K]g{Q}g

Obtain the stress Solve the set of

and strain in each global simultaneous
element equations
{Q}g=Inv([K]g){F}g
 Problem Dimensions
• One Dimensional Problems:
 Variable along only one coordinate axis is required to
represent the problem behaviour
 Line Elements are used to model 1D problems

• Two Dimensional Problems:

 Variable components along two coordinate axes are
required to represent the problem behaviour
 Area Elements are used to model 2D problems

• Three Dimensional Problems:

 Variable components along three coordinate axes are
required to represent the problem behaviour
 Volume Elements are used to model 2D problems
 1D Element (Line Element)

BASIC
ELEMEN Brick Element
T
Triangular Element
TYPES
IN
FEM

Quadrilateral Element Tetrahedron Element

2D Elements (Area Elements) 3D Elements (Volume Elements)
 Convergence:
The monotonic approach of the FEM Solution to the Actual Solution

Coarse Mesh Medium Mesh Fine Mesh

No. of Elements=n1 No. of Elements=n2 No. of Elements=n3
Element Size = h1 Element Size = h2 Element Size = h3
Solution Error

n1 < n2 <n3 FEM Solution

h1 > h2 > h3

No. of Elements
Basic form of the Element Equations:
e e
 F1   1 − 1 Q1 
  =K    
 F2  − 1 1  Q2 

{ F } = [ K ] { Q}
e e e

where, {F}e is called the ELEMENT FORCE VECTOR

[K]e is called the ELEMENT STIFFNESS MATRIX
{Q}e is called the ELEMENT DISPLACEMENT VECTOR
Element equation form for a Structural Problem

20 kN 10 kN

1m 0.6 m

1 2 3
1 2

e e e
 F1  AE  1 − 1  Q1 
  =    
 F2  L − 1 1  Q2 

{ F } = [ K ] { Q}
e e e
Element equation form for a Conduction Heat Transfer Problem
k1 k2 k3

Inside Outside
temperature 1 2 3 temperature
T0 T5

T1 T2 T3 T4
5 cm 3 cm 1 cm

1 2 3 4
e e e
Aqo Le 1  Q1  kA  1 − 1 T1 
 +  =    
2 1 Q2  Le − 1 1  T2 

{ F } = [ K ] { Q}
e e e
Element equation form for a Hydraulic Network Problem
R1 R2
R4
2 3
R3
Q
1 4
P=0
R5

2
2 3
1 4

4
1 3

Q1  c( d e )  1 − 1  P1 
e e
π
4

  =     where, c =
Q2  Le − 1 1   P2  128µ

{ F } = [ K ] { Q}
e e e
Element equation form for a DC Electric Network Problem
R3

R2 R4
3
2 4

R1 R5

E1 E2
1

e e
 I1  1  1 − 1 V1 
  =    
 I 2  Re − 1 1  V2 

{ F } = [ K ] { Q}
e e e
Assembly of Element Equations to form Global Equations

Example: Consider the structural problem

A2, E2, L2
A1, E1, L1 A3, E3, L3
20 kN 10 kN

1 2 3

1 2 3 4
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4

A1 E1 A2 E2 A3 E3
K1 = K2 = K3 =
L1 L2 L3
1 2
 F   K1
1
− K1  1 Q11 
 = 
1
 1
 F   − K1
2
1
K1  2 Q2 
2 3
 F2   K 2
2
− K2  2 Q2 2 
 2=   2
 F3  − K 2 K 2  3 Q3 
3 4
 F33   K 3 − K3  3 Q33 
 3=   3
 F4  − K 3 K 3  4 Q4 
 1 2 3 4
 F11   K1 − K1 0 0  1  Q11 
 1 2 − K  1 2
 2
F + F2   1 K1 + K 2 − K2 0  2 Q2 + Q2 
 2 3
=  2 3
 F3 + F3   0 − K2 K 2 + K3 − K3  3
Q3 + Q3 
 F43   0 0 − K3 K3 

4  Q43 
Assembled Assembled
Force Vector Assembled Stiffness Matrix Displacement
Vector

{ F } g = [ K ] g { Q} g
Basic form of the Global Equations:
 F1   K11 K12 .. .. K1n   Q1 
F  K K 22 .. .. K 2 n  Q2 
 2   21  
 ..  =  .. .. .. .. ..   .. 
 ..   .. ..

.. .. ..   .. 
    
 Fn   K n1 K n2 .. .. K nn  Qn 

{ F } g = [ K ] g { Q} g
where, {F}g is called the GLOBAL FORCE VECTOR
[K]g is called the GLOBAL STIFFNESS MATRIX
the elements of [K]g (K11 , K12 ,….Knn ) are called INFLUENCE
COEFFICIENTS
{Q}g is called the DISPLACEMENT VECTOR
Application of FEM
Structural:
 Stress analysis of truss and frame, stress
concentration problems
 Buckling problems
 Vibration analysis

Non Structural:
 Heat Transfer
 Fluid flow, including seepage through porous media
 Distribution of electric or magnetic potential
 Acoustics

Others:
 Biomedical engineering problems – analysis of
human spine, skull, hip joints, jaw/gum tooth
implants, heart and eyes.
 Advantages of FEM
 Model irregularly shaped bodies quite easily.
 Handle general load conditions without difficulty.
 Model bodies composed of different materials because
their 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 ever necessary.
 Alter the FEM Model relatively easily & cheaply
 Include dynamic effects
 Handle nonlinear behaviour existing with large
deformations and non linear materials
 PRE PROCESSOR

Model the continuum (Coordinate data,

Module 1 constants & material properties)
Select Element Type & Discretize(Mesh) the
continuum
Store all the input data

PROCESSOR

Compute element coefficient matrices and

Module 2 column vectors
Assemble element equations
Impose Boundary Conditions
Solve equations

POST PROCESSOR

Compute solution at points other than at the

Module 3 nodes
Lists the results
Plots the results
Provides simulation

General Structure of Commercially available FEM software

 Use of a computer in FEM:

To provide a User Interactive Graphics Environment while

modeling
the problem continuum.
To create a data base of the input data.
To evaluate the element equations and store them in matrix
form.
To assemble the element equations (by superposition) and
form the
global equations.
To solve the very large set of simultaneous algebraic
equations by
tools like ‘Gauss Elimination Method’.
To evaluate the unknown element parameters.
To create a data base of the results.
To graphically display the results
 R = 50

20

60 R = 10

20

80 R = 30