UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering)
Finite Element Methods (MEA/B-353)

Prepared by: Vishal Dhiman

Introduction to Finite Element Methods DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER

 Course
Outcome
CO Title Level
Number

CO1 To analyze basic concepts of Finite Element Method (FEM ) Remembering

 
CO2 To be able to solve problems related to stiffness matrix. Understanding
 
CO3 Explain the types of boundary conditions and how to apply Applying
these conditions.
CO4 Explain the concept of prismatic bar under axial loading. Analysing
 
CO5 Explain the concept of Coordinate and Shape Functions. Evaluating
  Reference: Daryl L. Logan, “A First Course in the Finite Element Method”.

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 UNIT 1
INTRODUCTION
1-1 What is Finite Element Method (FEM)?; 1-2
Examples Areas of Application; 1-3 General Steps in
Finite Element Analysis; 1-4 Examples of Finite Element
Modeling 
DIRECT STIFFNESS METHOD – SPRING ELEMENT
1-5 Derivation of the stiffness matrix; 1-6 Example of a
spring assemblage; 1-7 Assembly of global stiffness
matrix; 1-8 Types of boundary conditions; 1-9 The
Potential energy approach; Examples 
PRISMATIC BAR UNDER AXIAL LOADING
1-10 Introduction; 1-11 Finite Element Modeling –
Element Division; Numbering Scheme; 1-12 Coordinate
and Shape Functions; 1-13 The Potential Energy
Approach; 1-14 Assembly of Global Stiffness Matrix and
Load Vector; 1-15 Treatment of Boundary Conditions; 1-
Reference: Daryl L. Logan, “A First Course in the Finite Element Method”.
16 Temperature Effects; Examples.

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 1.1 Introduction
• The finite element method (FEM), sometimes referred to as finite element analysis (FEA), is a
computational technique used to obtain approximate solutions of boundary value problems in
engineering.
• Simply stated, a boundary value problem is a mathematical problem in which one or more
dependent variables must satisfy a differential equation everywhere within a known domain of
independent variables and satisfy specific conditions on the boundary of the domain.
• Boundary value problems are also sometimes called field problems. The field is the domain of
interest and most often represents a physical structure.
• The field variables are the dependent variables of interest governed by the differential equation.
• The boundary conditions are the specified values of the field variables (or related variables such as
derivatives) on the boundaries of the field.
• Depending on the type of physical problem being analyzed, the field variables may include
physical displacement, temperature, heat flux, and fluid velocity to name only a few.

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 Numerical Methods in Continuum
mechanics

NUMERICAL METHODS IN CONTINUUM MECHANICS

FINITE ELEMENT (FE) BOUNDARY ELEMENT (BE) FINITE DIFFERENCE (FD) METHODS
METHODS/FINITE ELEMENT METHODS
ANALYSIS

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1.2 Applications of Finite Element
Method
Structural Problem Non-structural Problem

Stress Analysis Heat Transfer

- truss & frame analysis Fluid Mechanics
- stress concentrated problem Electric or Magnetic Potential
Buckling problem
Vibration Analysis
Impact Problem

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 1.3 General Steps of the FEM

• Discretize & Select the Element Types

• Select a Displacement Function
• Define the Strain/Displacement & Stress/Strain Relationships
• Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix & Equations
• Assemble the Element Equations to Obtain the Global
• Introduce Boundary Conditions
• Solve for the Unknown Degrees of Freedom
• Solve for the Element Strains & Stresses
• Interpret the Results

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General Steps of the FEM

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 General Procedure for Solving
problem using FE software

• Preprocessing
• Solution
• Postprocessing

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 Preprocessing

Preprocessing is described as defining the model and includes

• Define the geometric domain of the problem
• Define the element type to be used
• Define the material properties of material
• Define the element connectivities.(mesh the model)
• Define the physical constraints
• Define the loadings

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 Solution

During the solution phase, finite element software assembles the governing
algebraic equations in the matrix form and computes the unknown values of
primary field variables. The computed values are then used to compute
additional, derived variables, such as reaction forces, element stresses, heat
flow.

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 Postprocessing

Analysis and evaluation of solution results is referred to as Postprocessing.

Postprocessor software contains sophisticated routines used for sorting, plotting
selected results from a finite element solution. Examples are
• Sort element stresses in order of magnitude
• Calculate factors of safety
• Plot deformed structural shape
• Animate dynamic model behavior
• Produce color-coded plots.

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 Commercially available software
packages

Explicit means analysis for short span of time. For example Crash Analysis. Implicit means
structural and cfd analysis

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 1.4 General Example

f
• A bar subjected to some excitations
x
like applied force at one end. Let the
Subdomain W e
field quantity flow through the body, f

which has been obtained by solving

governing DE/PDE, In FEM the domain Domain divided with subdomains
 is subdivided into sub domain and in with degrees of freedom
each sub domain a piecewise
continuous function is assumed. f1

f2
f5 f6
f3
f4
x

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 Discretized & Select the Element
Types
• Divide the body into equivalent systems of finite elements with nodes and the
appropriate element type
• Element Types:
 One-dimensional (Line) Element
 Two-dimensional Element
 Three-dimensional Element
 Axisymmetric Element

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One Dimensional Element

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Direct Stiffness Method

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 1.5 Derive the Element
Stiffness Matrix & Equations
• Virtual work principle of a deformable body in equilibrium is subjected to arbitrary virtual
displacement satisfying compatibility condition (admissible displacement), then the virtual
work done by external loads will be equal to virtual strain energy of internal stresses.
• δUe is the element internal energy
• δWe is the element external energy
• Please view the integration sheet

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 Stiffness Matrix

• fe – Element Force
• ke – Element Stiffness Matrix
• de – Element Displacement

• E – Young Modulus
• A – Cross Section Area
• L - Length

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1.6 Example

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Example

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 Example

• We combine the two stiffness matrices into the global matrix.

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Example

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 Example

• Now that the displacement at u2 has been obtained, the end forces and stress values can
be obtained by reverting back to the individual element stiffness matrices
• For the stress, you only need to look at the individual node of the stifness equation

Reactions

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 Assemble Equations for Global Matrix

• Combine each element stiffness matrix into one, which is known as the global matrix
• This is done by combining each [ke] into their proper location on the global matrix

{F} = [K]{D}
• Capital letters represent the same as the element stiffness matrix, but for global matrix

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1.7 Assembly of global stiffness matrix
• Using the global matrix with the boundary conditions, we can now eliminate some
variables and solve for the unknowns, i.e. displacements, end forces

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 1.8 Boundary conditions
let us start restating the problem
 u ( x )  f ( x )
which we turned into the following formulation
n 1 1

 c    
i 1
i i k dx   f  k dx
0 0

assuming
N N 1
~
u  ci i
i 1
with b.c. ~
u  ci i  u (0)1  u (1) N
i2

where u(0) and u(1) are the values at the boundaries of the domain [0,1]. How is this incorporated into the
algorithm?

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 1.9 Potential energy

The potential energy of an elastic body is defined as

  Strain energy (U)  potential energy of loading  W 

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 Strain energy of a linear spring

F x
k k
1 F
u k
u
F = Force in the spring
u = deflection of the spring
k = “stiffness” of the spring Hooke’s Law
F = ku

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PRISMATIC BAR UNDER AXIAL LOADING

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 1.10 Introduction

•The finite element method is a computational scheme to solve field problems in engineering and
science.

•The technique has very wide application, and has been used on problems involving stress analysis,
fluid mechanics, heat transfer, diffusion, vibrations, electrical and magnetic fields, etc.

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 1.11 Finite Element Modeling

u(x,y)
-1

-2

-3
4
3.5
3
3 2.5
2
2.5
Approximate 2
0.5
1
1.5

0
Piecewise Linear 1.5
1 -1
-0.5
y
Representation x

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 Element division
T

Exact Temperature Distribution, T(x)

Finite Element Discretization

Linear Interpolation Model Quadratic Interpolation Model
T1 (Four Elements) T (Two Elements)
1
T2
T2 T2
T3 T3 T3
T4 T3
T4 T4
T5 T5

T T
T1 T1
T2 T2
T3 T3
T4 T5 T4 T5

x x
Piecewise Linear Appr oximation Piecewise Quadratic Approximation
Temperature Continuous but with Temperature and Temperature Gradients
Discontinuous Temperature Gradients Continuous

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 Numbering Scheme

One-Dimensional Elements Two-Dimensional Elements

Line Triangular, Quadrilateral
Rods, Beams, Trusses, Frames Plates, Shells, 2-D Continua

Three-Dimensional Elements
Tetrahedral, Rectangular Prism (Brick)
3-D Continua

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 1.12 Coordinates & shape functions
Area coordinates (L1, L2, L3)
1
Total area of the triangle A=A1+A2+A3

A2 At any point P(x,y) inside the triangle, we

y P
A3 define
A1
A1
L1 
3 A
A2
2 L2 
A
x
A3
L3 
Note: Only 2 of the three area coordinates are independent, since A
L1+L2+L3=1

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Coordinates & shape functions

ai  bi x  ci y
Li 
2A

1 x1 y1 
1
A  area of triangle  det 
1 x2 y2 

2

1 x3 y3 

a1  x 2 y 3  x 3 y 2 b1  y 2  y 3 c1  x3  x 2
a 2  x 3 y1  x1 y 3 b2  y 3  y1 c 2  x1  x3
a 3  x1 y 2  x 2 y1 b3  y1  y 2 c3  x 2  x1

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Coordinates & shape functions

Check that

L1  L2  L3  1
L1 x1  L2 x2  L3 x3  x
L1 y1  L2 y 2  L3 y3  y

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 1.13 Potential energy approach

• A prismatic bar of linearly elastic material

loaded only at the ends changes in length by:

• This equation can be used in more general

situations

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1.14 Assembly of Global Stiffness Matrix

• By summing forces in the vertical direction we have:

N1 + PB = Pc + PD => N1 = - PB + PC + PD
N2 = PC + PD
N3 = PD

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 1.15 Treatment of boundary
conditions

• Then, determine the changes in the lengths of each segment:

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 1.16 Temperature Effect
Any continuous solution field such as stress, displacement, temperature,
pressure, etc. can be approximated by a discrete model composed of a set
of piecewise continuous functions defined over a finite number of
subdomains.
One-Dimensional Temperature Distribution

T T

Approximate Piecewise Linear

Exact Analytical Solution Solution

x x

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 FAQs
• What is the finite element method (FEM)?
• What is the Method of Weighted Residuals, i.e., Galerkin’s Method?
• Can the FEM handle a wide range of problems, i.e., solve general PDEs?
• What is the advantage of the FEM over finite difference (FDM) and finite volume (FVM) methods?

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 APPLICATIONS

Structural Problem Non-structural Problem

Stress Analysis Heat Transfer

- truss & frame analysis Fluid Mechanics
- stress concentrated problem Electric or Magnetic Potential
Buckling problem
Vibration Analysis
Impact Problem

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 REFERENCES
•Bathe, K.J., Finite Element Procedures in Engineering Analysis, Prentice-Hall, 1982,
1995.
•Beer, G. and Watson, J.O., Introduction to Finite and Boundary Element Methods for
Engineers, John Wiley, 1993
•Bickford, W.B., A First Course in the Finite Element Method, Irwin, 1990.
•Nptel Notes
•Google Wikipedia

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THANK YOU

For queries
Email: rajiv.mech@cumail.in

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