Finite Element Method

Introduction to
Finite Element Method

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

Department of Aerospace Engineering – Faculty of Transportation Engineering

Reference
Wahyu Kuntjoro, An Introduction to the Finite Element Method, Mc Graw Hill, 2005
 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Engineering Problems

Science and Boundary value problems

Engineering Eigenvalue problems
problems Initial value problems

Equations of calculus
• Differential equations
• Integral equations

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh 1

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps involved in solving engineering problems

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps involved in solving engineering problems
A model is a symbolic device built to simulate and predict aspects of behaviour of a system

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps involved in solving engineering problems
The idealization process for simple structures

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps involved in solving engineering problems

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps involved in solving engineering problems

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Solving engineering problems

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Engineering mathematical equations

To explain or predict response of a system which experiences external influence

which results in changing status of that system

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Governing equations

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Governing equations

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Governing equations

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Governing equations
Second order differential equation in term of displacement u

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Governing equations

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Formulation of a mathematical model from a physical system

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Formulation of a mathematical model from a physical system

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Formulation of a mathematical model from a physical system

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Finite Element Method

The finite element method is a method to solve a problem

by physically dividing the region (domain) into small
segments known as elements. The elements are connected
at discrete points called nodes at which the dependent
variables are determined. The differential equations are
replaced by algebraic approximation for each element (i.e.
element equations).
The total responses are obtained by assuming the
connection of all elements. It can be applied to any
problems that have governing differential equations.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Advantages of the finite element method
1. Model irregularly shaped bodies quite easily
2. Handle general load conditions without difficulty
3. Model bodies composed of several different materials because
the element equations are evaluated individually
4. Handle couple interaction of phenomena eg. Solid-Fluid quite
easily
5. Handle unlimited numbers and kinds of boundary conditions
6. Vary the size of the elements to make it possible to use small
elements where necessary
7. Alter the finite element model relatively easily and cheaply
8. Include dynamic effects
9. Handle nonlinear behaviour existing with large deformation and
nonlinear materials
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh
 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

1. Discretize and select element types

2. Select an element interpolation function (A displacement
function)
3. Derive element stiffness matrix and equations
4. Assemble the element equations to obtain the global equations
5. Apply boundary conditions
6. Solve a system of simultaneous equations for the unknowns
7. Solve for the element stresses and strains

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 1: Discretization and element type selection

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 1: Discretization and element type selection

Example of element type

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 1: Discretization and element type selection

Example of element type

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 2: Select element interpolation functions (displacement functions)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 3: Formulate element equations for each element

using one of the following methods

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 3: Formulate element equations for each element

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 4: Assemble element equations to form the global total equations

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 5: Apply boundary conditions

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 6: Solve system of algebraic equations

Nodal displacements (structural problem)

solve for Nodal temperatures (thermal problem)
Nodal flow velocities (Fluid problem)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
General steps of the finite element method

Step 7: Solve for other quantities of interest

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Finite element software procedure

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Numerical Simulation with Canned Commercial Software

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method
Numerical Simulation with Home-Made Software

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh

 Introduction to the Finite Element Method

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hung Anh