NEHRU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

KALIYAPURAM, COIMBATORE
[Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University]

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Course: ME 8692 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Unit-I: INTRODUCTION
MODULE-1

Mr. R. BHARATHIKANNA
Assistant Professor
Department of Automobile Engineering
Lesson plan
Course: ME 8692 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
UNIT - I
Module Topics Duration
1 Mathematical modeling of field problems in Engineering 3 HOURS
Boundary, Initial and Eigen Value problems
Weighted Residual Methods
2 Variational Formulation of Boundary Value Problems 3 HOURS
Ritz Technique concept

3 Basic concepts of the Finite Element Method. 1 HOUR

4 STUDENT ACTIVITY – PROBLEM SOLVING (Tutorial/Cooperative 2 HOURS
learning)
Total 9 HOURS
 REVISED BLOOMS TAXONOMY
Objective Oriented Learning Format (OBLF)

TOPICS: ENGINEERING ANALYSIS & WEIGHTED RESIDUAL METHOD

COURSE OBJECTIVE:
 To introduce the concepts of Mathematical Modeling of Engineering Problems.
 To appreciate the use of FEM to a range of Engineering Problems.

COURSE OUTCOME:
 CO1 Summarize the basics of finite element formulation

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:
 To apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering to the analysis of simple structures &
solve engineering problems using the finite element method.
Specific Objective

 Define Engineering Analysis . (E)

 Explain the method of engineering analysis. (E)

 Describe the Functional Approximation Methods. (M)

 Solve the problems in weighted residual methods. (M)

**S – Science, E – Engineering, T – Technology, M – Mathematics

Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy
The knowledge dimension vs The cognitive process dimension

The The cognitive process dimension

knowledge Remember Understand Apply Analysis Evaluate Create
dimension

Factual
knowledge
Conceptual 1 3 4
knowledge
Procedural 2
Knowledge
Meta-
Cognitive
knowledge
Concept Map
 UNIT –I
MODULE 1
ENGINEERING ANALYSIS:
Objectives of Engineering Analysis:

 Engineering analysis is adopted for machineries and building structures before and after
assembling their parts in order to determine

(i) the type and quantity of load

(ii)location of loading
(iii) developed stress
(iv) permissible deflection
(v) vibration properties
(vi) Pressure and temperature variation.
Methods of Engineering Analysis:

 The three methods adopted for analyzing engineering products to evaluate their
mechanical and other properties are:

1. Experimental methods.
2. Analytical methods.
3. Numerical methods or approximation methods
Experimental methods:
 In these methods, the actual product or their prototype model are really tested by using
testing equipment.

 If there is a need to change the dimensions of the prototype, the entire prototype is to
be dis assembled and to be reassembled and then testing should be carried out.

 It needs man-power and materials.

Analytical Methods:

 These methods are theoretically analyzing methods.

 Only simple and regular shaped products like beams, columns, shafts, plates can be
analyzed by these methods.

 The products and their loadings specified by mathematical expressions and they
are analyzed.
Numerical Methods:

 For the products of complicated sizes, shapes with complicated material

properties and boundary conditions, getting solutions using analytical method
is highly difficult. In such situation, engineer prefers numerical methods that
gives approximate but acceptable solutions.

 By this method, the approximate but acceptable solutions will be obtained.

Three methods in Numerical methods

 Functional Approximating Method.

 Finite Difference Method (FDM).
 Finite Element Method (FEM)
Functional Approximation:

 In this method, the physical problems are first written in terms of differential
equation or any possible mathematical expressions.

 Then the approximate solution can be obtained by integration and by applying

boundary condition.

 The variational method specifically known as Rayleigh-Ritz methods and

weighted residual methods are some of the functional approximating methods.
Finite Difference Method (FDM):

 The finite difference method approximates the derivatives in the governing

differential equation using difference equations.

 Finite difference method is useful for solving heat transfer and fluid mechanics
problems.

 This method cannot be effectively used for regions having curved or irregular
boundaries.
Finite Element Method (FEM)

 In this method, the complex region defining the domain is divided into smaller
elements called finite elements.

 The physical properties like shape, dimensions and other boundary conditions are
imposed on the elements.

 Then these elements are assembled in a proper way and the solution for the entire
system can be obtained.
Classification of Functional
Approximation Methods:
 The two major classifications of functional approximation methods are:

1. Weighted residual methods

2. Variational Methods
Weighted Residual Method:

 The weighted residual method is employed to obtain the approximate

solutions to linear and non-linear problem whose characteristics are
expressed in terms of differential equations.

 In this method, the required simultaneous equations to find the solution can
be derived from the governing differential equation without any need of
knowing the ‘functional’.
Weighted Residual Method- Contd
 Naturally the approximate solution contains some error.

 Based on the methods of minimizing the error from approximate solution, the
weighted residual technique can be adopted in four methods namely;

1. Point Collocation method

2. Sub-domain Collocation method
3. Least squares method
4. Galerkin’s method
Weighted Residual Method- Contd
Procedure:

1. Consider ye(x) is the exact solution for the differential equation.

2. Suppose the exact solution cannot be found out, then another approximate function
called trial function must be considered and is
substituted in the differential equation and the residual R(x,ai) will be found out.

3. This residual will be further treated and the required solution can be evaluated. It
should be noted that the trail function must satisfy the boundary conditions.
Weighted Residual Method- Contd
Procedure:

4. Also the weighted residual method requires that,

𝑖=1,2,…i.e., the residual is multiplied a weighting function and the
domain integral of the product is required to be zero.

5. The number of weighting functions is equal to the number of unknown

coefficients in the approximate function.
Point Collocation method:
Sub-domain Collocation method:
Least squares method:
Galerkin’s method:
Formulae Used in Weighted Residual
Method
Problems in Weighted Residual Method

Problem : 1
Problem : 2
Problem : 3
Proble
m:4
Mind Map : STUDENT ACTIVITY
Stimulative Questions :

 What is Galerkin method of approximation?

 State the method of engineering analysis.
 What are the types of boundary conditions?
 Name the weighted residual method.
Assignment Questions:

PART –A
1) Give the classifications of functional approximation methods.
2) List the types of weighted residual methods.
PART –B
1)
2)
Anna University Questions
PART –A
List the various methods of solving boundary value problems.
List the various weighted residual methods.

PART –B
REFERENCES

 Seshu, P, “Text Book of Finite Element Analysis”, Prentice-Hall of India Pvt. Ltd.,
New Delhi, 2007.

 Chandrupatla & Belagundu, “Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering”, 3rd

Edition, Prentice Hall College Div, 1990