Basic Concepts of FEM

Ali Karrech
Mechanical Engineering

Learning resources: Chapter 1 of Logan’s book

+ Lecture notes + references mentioned in the
slides
Outline (what are we expected to learn?)

• Where does FEM fit in engineering sciences?

• What is FEM? (layman definition)
• The process of FE Modeling and Simulation
• Your responsibility as an engineer (safety, verification and validation)

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Where does FEM fit?

Engineering sciences can be subdivided into three areas of competence

• Theoretical
• Experimental/Empirical
• Computational
Ø Nano and micromechanics
Ø Continuum mechanics Linear
» Solids and structures
» Multi-physics Nonlinear
» Fluids
Ø Systems

Computational multi-physics of solids and

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structures in the linear regime
Where does FEM fit?
Computational multi-physics of solids and structures in the linear regime
• Finite Element Method
• Finite Volume
• Finite Difference Method
• Boundary Element Method
• Spectral Method
• Mesh-Free Method

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Where does FEM fit?
This unit consists of 4 components
• Basic concepts
• Finite Elements for Structures
• Finite Elements for heat transfer / poromechanics
• Introduction to the finite volume method

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Outline (what are we expected to learn?)

• Where does this subject fit in engineering sciences

• What is FEM? (layman definition)
• The process of FE Modeling and Simulation
• Engineer vs. computer (safety, responsibility, verification and validation)

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What is FEM?
layman definition
A method that solves field problems numerically.
Description:
• Subdivides a domain into several elements (pieces)
• Reconnects the elements through nodes
• Transforms the field variables into degrees of freedom (DOF)
attached to the nodes via algebraic equations
• Produces an approximate solution to a field problem.

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What is FEM?
approximation T T

Field variables can be Approximate

approximated by a discrete Exact Analytical
Solution
Piecewise Linear
Solution
model consisting of piecewise
continuous functions defined
over a finite number of
subdomains. x x

Examples of field
variables: distance,
surface area,
volume,
stress,
displacement,
temperature,
pressure, etc.

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What is FEM?
Advantages
• Handles bodies of complex shapes;
• Takes into account general loading/boundary conditions;
• Delivers approximate solutions to problems that are otherwise
difficult to solve analytically;
• Can produce increasingly accurate solutions if element sizes
are reduced (mesh refined);
• Can tackle dynamic/static problems;

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Outline (what are we expected to learn?)

• Where does this subject fit in engineering sciences

• What is FEM? (layman definition)
• The process of FE Modeling and Simulation
• Engineer vs. computer (safety, responsibility, verification and validation)

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 The process of FE Modeling and Simulation

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Source: V. BONGALE
Flow chart of problem solving
using FEM

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Based on Finite Element Procedures by Bathe (1996)
The process of FE Modeling and Simulation –
discretisation examples

Three-
One- Two-Dimensional Dimensional
Dimensional Triangular Brick Elements
Frame Elements Elements
The process of FE Modeling and Simulation –
discretisation examples

Copied from Development and Validation of a

Finite Element Simulation of a Vertical Drop
Test of an ATR 42 Regional Transport Airplane,
2008, DOT/FAA/AR-08/19, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration

Total Human Model for Safety THUMS

https://www.dynamore.de/en/products/models/human
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The process of FE Modeling and Simulation –
element dimension and approx. order
Approximation order
Space dimension

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Source: modified from Introduction to Finite Element Methods (ASEN 5007), University of Colorado at Boulder Carlos Felippa:
The process of FE Modeling and Simulation –
measures of performance
Accuracy
Error = |(Exact Solution)-(FEM Solution)|

(Discretization with 228

Convergence Elements)

Limit of error as
• Number of elements (h-convergence) increases
or
• Approximation order (p-convergence) increases
Ideally, error tends to 0 as number of elements or (Discretization with 912
Elements)
approximation order tend to infinity
Engineer Vs Computer, safety issues, responsibility

• Model is created/formulated/chosen by an analyst/You (not a commercial finite

element code). You judge whether
– the mathematical model has been solved to a sufficient accuracy and
– the chosen model was appropriate (reliable) for a question asked

• The mathematical model must depend on the question asked

• FEM in Design

– Design Engineer is responsible for ensuring product safety (product liability

issue)

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 Engineer Vs Computer, safety issues, responsibility
Verification
Against benchmark problems (specific, simplified model problems for which accurate
solutions or analytical solutions are known).

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Joldes et al. (2009) Medical Image Analysis, 13: 912–919
Engineer Vs Computer, safety issues, responsibility
Validation

The process of determining if a mathematical model represents the actual physical

event with sufficient accuracy (according to Oden et al. 2003).

Figures copied from The National Crash Analysis

Center of The George Washington University website
http://www.ncac.gwu.edu/research/infrastructure.html.
The model shown in the figure has been developed by
The National Crash Analysis Center (NCAC) of The
George Washington University under a contract with
the FHWA and NHTSA of the US DOT.

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Examples (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmKKFkREu8Q)

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