Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BMCG 3333: Mechanical Design: Chapter 7-1: Finite Element Method
BMCG 3333: Mechanical Design: Chapter 7-1: Finite Element Method
BMCG 3333: Mechanical Design: Chapter 7-1: Finite Element Method
Rev: 03.12.2018
Chapter Outcome:
• At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:-
i. Define and describe the concept of Finite Element Methods and
Analysis (FEM/FEA)
ii. Describe the methodology use in FEA
iii. Apply commercial FEA tools for engineering applications
Introduction to Finite Element Methods
and Analysis (FEM/FEA)
What is FEM/FEA?
• Red line-Continuous
Domain with degrees of freedom
field over the entire
domain.
x
• Blue line-Finite
number of linear
Subdomain e
x
approximations with
Domain divided with subdomains
the finite number of
with degrees of freedom
elements
1
2
5 6
3
4
x
General Steps
1) Discretize the domain
a) Divide domain into finite elements using
appropriate element types (1-D, 2-D, 3-D, or
Axisymmetric)
2) Select a Displacement Function
a) Define a function within each element using the
nodal values
3) Define the Strain/Displacement and
Stress/strain Relationships
4) Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix and
Equations
a)Derive the equations within each element
General Steps
5) Assemble the Element Equations to Obtain the
Global or Total Equations and Introduce
Boundary Conditions
a)Add element equations by method of superposition
to obtain global equation
6) Solve for the Unknown Degrees of Freedom
(i.e primary unknowns)
7) Solve for the Element Strains and Stresses
8) Interpret the Results
Applications
• Stress Analysis
• Truss and frame
analysis
• Stress concentration
• Buckling
• Vibration analysis
• Heat transfer
• Fluid flow
Advantages of FEM
• Model irregularly shaped bodies
• Compute General load conditions
• Model bodies composed of different materials
• Solve unlimited numbers and kinds of boundary
conditions
• Able to use different element sizes in places
where loads or stresses are concentrated
• Handle non-linear behavior using linear
approximations
• Reduce System Cost
FEM Packages
• Large Commercial Programs
• Designed to solve many types of problems
• Can be upgraded fairly easily
• Initial Cost is high
• Less efficient
• Special-purpose programs
• Relatively short, low development costs
• Additions can be made quickly
• Efficient in solving their specific types of problems
• Can’t solve different types of problems
FEM Packages
• Algor
• ANSYS
• COSMOS/M
• STARDYNE
• IMAGES-3D
• MSC/NASTRAN
• SAP90
• GT-STRUDL
• HyperWorks
Note on Stiffness matrix
For a 1-D bar, the stiffness matrix is derived from the
stress/strain relationship in Hooke’s law and the definitions
of stress and strain.
x1 = 0, x2 and x3 are the distances to the nodes and u1, u2, and u3 are the displacements
a A b A P
L L
Element a Element b
f1 f3 = P
1 2 3
u1 u2 u3
f1 1 2 f21 f22 2 3 f3 = P
u1 u2 u2 u3
Example con’t.
f1 1 -1 0
= EA u1 Global Equation
f21+f22 L -1 3 -2 u2
f3 u3
0 -2 2
B.C.: (x =0) u1 = 0
Known variables: f3 = P and f2 = f21+f22 = 0
Example con’t.
6) Solve for unknowns.
f1 1 -1 0
= EA 0
0 L -1 3 -2 u2
P u3
0 -2 2
u2 = PL u3 = 3PL
EA f1 = -P
2EA
Example con’t.
Pre-processing
Post-processing Processing
FEA Applications
• Example of FEM package in market =
CATIA V5 Generative Structural
Analysis workbench for simplified
finite element analysis of structures
• In static and dynamics loading
conditions
• Analyze single part and assembly
• Able to simulate the behavior of
structures subjected to various type of
loadings
• Advantage: easy procedure to conduct
the FEA, user friendly, able to integrate
part model generated from other CAD
software (CATPart, IGS, STP etc.),
provide visual info
• Limitation: Accuracy
CATIA V5 GSA process flow for static structural
analysis
Step Procedure
1 Open or Create the part that to be simulated.
2 Apply a material.
Note: Very important to know to find the Properties of a material. To find the
material proprieties in CATIA, double click on the material selected on the Tree
and go to Analysis Tab.
3 Open the CATIA Analysis and simulation -> General Structural
Analysis module from Start Menu and select Static Analysis and click OK
4 Meshing.
Define “size” (green) and “sag” (blue). A smaller element size lead to more
accurate results at the expense of a larger computation time. The “sag”
terminology is unique to CATIA. A smaller “sag” value could lead to better
results.
To change the value of these two elements you can double click on OCTREE
Tetrahedron Mesh or double click on the elements that appear on the part.
To see the Mesh go to the Tree -> Finite Element Model.1 -> Right click on
Nodes and Elements and click Mesh Visualization.
2
4
2
CATIA V5 GSA process flow for static
structural analysis
Step Procedure
5 Applying Boundary Conditions / Restraints in CATIA analysis and simulation.
In FEA, restrains refer to applying displacement boundary condition which is
achieved through the Restraint toolbar. i.e.Clamp conditions mean that the
displacements in all three directions are zero.
6 Applying Loads.
In FEA, loads refer to forces. The Loads toolbar is used for this purpose, i.e.
Distributed Force
7 Launching the Solver (Compute)
To run the analysis, use the Compute toolbar by selecting the Compute icon
8 Postprocessing.
The main postprocessing toolbar is called Image. Type of views: i)
Deformation, ii) Displacement, and iii) Von Mises Stress
5
7
8
DEFORMATION
8
STRESS
RESULTS INTERPRETATION
Distribution, maximum and
minimum value, location of max.
and min. value
DISPLACEMENT
Ref: http://catiav5v6tutorials.com/catia-v5-tutorials/general-structural-
analysis/first-steps-in-catia-general-structural-analysis-beginner-tutorial/
Video Tutorial
Challenge Your Understandings
a) What is boundary conditions?
b) What is geometry model?
c) What postprocessing?
d) What are the advantages of using commercial software
such as CATIA for performing FEA?
Assignment
• Form a group (max. 5 students per group)
• Select a household product as topic
• Conduct load analysis
• Create 3D part model
• Perform FEA using CATIA V5/Solidworks/Fusion/Inventor
• Analyze the results
• Propose design improvements for the product
• Create assignment report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI3I4Tl3He4