MEng5171 Introduction to Finite

Element Method
Chala A. Tefera, MSc
Specialized in Mechanical Design Engineering, Collage of Mechanical and
University Electrical
of Stavanger Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department.
uis.no

Contact: chalaamsalu57@gmail.com; Office: Mechanical Department Building

AASTU – 2021 G.C

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MEng5171 Introduction to Finite Element Method
 Personal Expectation
Who am I?
Who are you?
Short presentation of yourself
What do you expect from this course?
How do we cover the entire course within the stipulated time?
AASTU – 2021 G.C

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MEng5171 Introduction to Finite Element Method
 Course Delivery
I would like to keep the lesson interactive

Everyone of us has his/her own experience

I highly value your inputs, I think that will benefit everybody

The idea is to interchange opinions and points of view

AASTU – 2021 G.C

Mutual learning

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MEng5171 Introduction to Finite Element Method
 Course Objective
At the end of the lecture, it is expected that everyone of you
should be able:

 Understand the theory of formulation of the FEM &

 Its application for stress & dynamic analysis
 Using of Finite element software packages

The content of the course is organized into Ten chapters

according to AASTU Curriculum.
AASTU – 2021 G.C

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MEng5171 Introduction to Finite Element Method
 MEng5171 Introduction to Finite Element Method
Date Course Content
Week 1 • Unit I: Introduction to FEM, Computational Modeling.

Week 2  Unit II: Fundamentals for Finite Element Method

Week 3,4,5 & • Unit III: FEM for Trusses

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• Unit IV: FEM for Beams
• Unit V: FEM for Frames
Week 7,8,9 & • Unit VI: FEM for Two-Dimensional solids
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• Unit VII: FEM for Plates and Shells
• Unit VIII: FEM for 3D solids
AASTU – 2021 G.C

Week 11 • Unit IX: FEM for Heat transfer problems

Week 12 Up • Unit X: Modeling Techniques and FEM software packages

End (Algor, Ansys or SolidWorks) application on engineering
problems
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MEng5171 Introduction to Finite Element Method
 Assessment/Evaluation
& Grading System
 Refer universities Harmonized curriculum:
• 50% continuous Evaluation systems
Quiz,
Tests,
Assignments,
Project,
Lab Report and
• Final Exam: 50%
AASTU – 2021 G.C

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MEng5171 Introduction to Finite Element Method
 Don’t say you don’t have enough time.
You have exactly the same number of
hours per day that were given to Helen
Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother
Teresa, Leonardo Davinci, Thomas
Jefferson and Albert Einstein!
(H. Jackson Brown)
AASTU – 2021 G.C

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MEng5171 Introduction to Finite Element Method
INTRODUCTION TO FINITE
E L E MENT METHOD [FEM].

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 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION:
 The finite element method is a numerical method for solving problems of
engineering and mathematical physics.
T Y P I C A L P R O B L E M A R E A S O F I N T E R E S T:
 Structural analysis, heat transfer, fluid flow, mass transport, and
Electromagnetic potential
 Useful for problems with complicated geometries, loadings, and material
properties where analytical solutions can not be obtained.
 The finite element formulation of the problem results in a system of
simultaneous algebraic equations for solution, rather than requiring the
solution of differential equations.

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 Cont…
 Process of modeling a body by dividing it into an equivalent
system of smaller bodies or units (finite elements)
interconnected at points common to two or more elements
(nodal points or nodes) and/or boundary lines and/or surfaces
is called discretization.
 The solution for structural problems typically refers to
determining the displacements at each node and the stresses
within each element making up the structure that is subjected
to applied loads.
 In nonstructural problems, the nodal unknowns may, for
instance, temperatures or fluid pressures due to thermal or
fluid fluxes.

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Contd…

Common FEA Applications

 Mechanical design/Aerospace/Civil/Automotive/Biomedical
eng’g/Nuclear eng’g
 Structural/Stress Analysis
 Static/Dynamic
 Linear/Nonlinear
 Fluid Flow
 Heat Transfer
 Electromagnetic Fields
 Soil Mechanics/ geomechanics
 Acoustics
 Biomechanics

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 General Steps In Finite Element method Analysis:

 There are two general direct approaches traditionally associated

with the finite element method as applied to structural mechanics
problems.
 One approach, called the force, or flexibility, method, uses
internal forces as the unknowns of the problem.
 The second approach, called the displacement, or stiffness,
method, assumes the displacements of the nodes as the unknowns
of the problem.
 For computational purposes, the displacement (or stiffness)
method is more desirable because its formulation is simpler for
most structural analysis problems.

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 Cont…
The followings are steps of finite element method:
1. Discretization:
 Dividing the body into an equivalent system of finite
elements with associated nodes and choosing the most
appropriate element type to model most closely the
actual physical behavior.
Model body by dividing it into an equivalent system
of many smaller bodies or units (finite elements)
interconnected at points common to two or more
elements (nodes or nodal points) and/or boundary lines
and/or surfaces.

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Contd…

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Feature
 Obtain a set of algebraic equations to solve for unknown (first) nodal quantity
(displacement).

 Secondary quantities (stresses and strains) are expressed in terms of nodal

values of primary quantity.

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Ty p e s o f E l e m e n t s :
 The primary line elements consist of bar (or truss), beam elements
and frame (1D). They have a cross-sectional area but are usually
represented by line segments.

 The simplest line element (called a linear element) has two nodes,
one at each end.

 The basic two-dimensional (or plane) elements are loaded by

forces in their own plane (plane stress or plane strain conditions).

 They are triangular or quadrilateral elements.

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 Contd…
The simplest two-dimensional elements have corner nodes only
(linear elements) with straight sides or boundaries
The most common three-dimensional elements are tetrahedral
and hexahedral (or brick) elements; they are used when it becomes
necessary to perform a three-dimensional stress analysis. The
basic three-dimensional elements have corner nodes only and
straight sides.

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 Step 2: Select a Displacement Function
 The function is defined within the element using the nodal
values of the element.

 Linear, quadratic, and cubic polynomials are frequently

used functions because they are simple to work with in finite
element formulation. However, trigonometric series can also
be used.

 For a two-dimensional element, the displacement function is a

function of the coordinates in its plane (say, the x-y plane).

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 Step 3: Define the Strain/Displacement and
Stress/Strain Relationships
 In the case of one-dimensional deformation, say, in the
x direction, we have strain εx related to displacement u
by

 In addition, the stresses must be related to the strains

through the stress/strain law - generally called the
constitutive law.
 The simplest of stress/strain laws, Hooke’s law, which
is often used in stress analysis, is given by

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 Step 4 Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations
 Direct Equilibrium Method
 The stiffness matrix and element equations relating nodal
forces to nodal displacements
 Are obtained using force equilibrium conditions for a basic
element, along with force/deformation relationships.
 Is most easily adaptable to line or one-dimensional
elements
 Work or Energy Methods
 Is easier to develop the stiffness matrix and equations for two-
and three-dimensional elements
 The principle of virtual work (using virtual displacements),
the principle of minimum potential energy, and Castigliano’s
theorem are methods frequently used for the purpose of
derivation of element equations.
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 Cont…
 Methods of Weighted Residuals
 The methods of weighted residuals are useful for developing the
element equations; particularly popular is Galerkin’s method.
 These methods yield the same results as the energy methods
wherever the energy methods are applicable.
 The weighted residual methods allow the finite element method
to be applied directly to any differential equation.

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 Cont…
 Using any of the methods just outlined will produce the equations
to describe the behavior of an element.
 These equations are written conveniently in matrix form as

or

Where, {f } is the vector of element nodal forces,

{k} is the element stiffness matrix (normally square and
symmetric), and
{d } is the vector of unknown element nodal degrees of
freedom or generalized displacements, n.

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Step 5 Assemble the Element Equations to Obtain the Global
or Total Equations and Introduce Boundary Conditions
 The individual element nodal equilibrium equations generated in
step 4 are assembled into the global nodal equilibrium equations
 The final assembled or global equation written in matrix form is
{F} = [ K ] {d}
Where {F} is the vector of global nodal forces,
[ K ] is the structure global or total stiffness matrix, (for most square and
symmetric) and
{d} is now the vector of known and unknown structure nodal degrees of
freedom or generalized displacements.

 We must invoke certain boundary conditions (or constraints or

supports)
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 Step 6: Solve for the Unknown Degrees of Freedom
(or Generalized Displacements)

 global equations can be solved for the ds by using an elimination

method (such as Gauss’s method) or an iterative method (such as
the Gauss–Seidel method).

 The ds are called the primary unknowns, because they are the first
quantities determined using the stiffness (or displacement) finite
element method.

Step 7: Solve for the Element Strains and Stresses

 Based on relationships between strain and displacement and
between stress and strain
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 Step 8 Interpret the Results
 The final goal is to interpret and analyze the results for use in
the design/analysis process.
 Determination of locations in the structure where large
deformations and large stresses occur is generally important in
making design/analysis decisions.
 Postprocessor computer programs help the user to interpret the
results by displaying them in graphical form.

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 Advantages of the Finite Element Method
a) Model irregularly shaped bodies quite easily
b) Handle general load conditions without difficulty
c) Model bodies composed of several different materials because the
element equations are evaluated individually
d) Handle unlimited numbers and kinds of boundary conditions
e) Vary the size of the elements to make it possible to use small
elements where necessary
f) Alter the finite element model relatively easily and cheaply
g) Include dynamic effects
h) Handle nonlinear behavior existing with large deformations and
nonlinear materials

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 Cont …

 Finite element model of a pelvis bone

with an implant (over 5000 solid
elements were used in the model)
(by Thomas Hansen/Courtesy of
Harrington Arthritis Research
Center,Phoenix, Arizona) 28
 Cont…

 Finite element model of a 710G bucket with 169,595 elements

and 185,026 nodes used

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Cont…

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“Just one positive thought in the morning can change
your whole day” MEng5171 Introduction to 31