UNIVERSITY OF BAHRAIN

College of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

CENG 513 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

What is finite element method?

Finite element method is a numerical technique for solving problems which are described
by partial differential equations or can be formulated as functional minimization. A domain
of interest is represented as an assembly of finite elements.

Continuous domain:

Triangular finite elements shown by different colors

Discretized domain: consider that these triangular elements are connected to each other
only at nodes. Between the nodes there is no connection. Therefore, continuous domain is
transferred into discrete domain.
Approximating functions in finite element are determined in terms of nodal values of a
physical field which are sought. A continuous physical problem is transformed into a
discretized finite element problem with unknown nodal values. For a linear problem a
system of algebraic equations should be solved. Values inside the finite elements can be
recovered using nodal values.
First step in the application of finite element method is to discretize the
continuum.
ONE DIMENSIONAL ELEMENTS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELEMENTS
THREE DIMENSIONAL ELEMENTS
Electromagnetic Finite element Analysis, Solenoid Systems
 Finite-element model for calculating the electromagnetic field and the magnetic
forces of the PMDC commutator motor under no-load condition: (a) mesh model
and (b) distribution of the electromagnetic field at the rotor position of 0 degrees.

Section-view of the 3-D finite-element model of the PMDC commutator motor

(Different colors represent different material types).
Calculated mode shapes of the PMDC motor at (a) Mode 1, f = 3270 Hz; (b) Mode
2, f = 4664 Hz; (c) Mode 3, f = 5453 Hz; (d) Mode 4, f = 6085 Hz; (e) Mode 5, f =
9029 Hz; (f) Mode 6, f = 11044 Hz.