PRSENTATION 2

FEM PROCEDURE
 Basic Steps in the Finite Element Method
Time Independent Problems

Step 1: Domain Discretization

Step 2: Select Element Type (Shape and Approximation)
Step 3: Derive Element Equations (Variational and Energy Methods)
Step 4: Assemble Element Equations to Form Global System

[K]{U} = {F}

[K] = Stiffness or Property Matrix

{U} = Nodal Displacement Vector
{F} = Nodal Force Vector

Step 5: Incorporate Boundary and Initial Conditions

Step 6 Solve Assembled System of Equations for Unknown Nodal
Displacements and Secondary Unknowns of Stress and Strain Values
 Step 1: Domain discretization
• The solid body( continnum or solution region) is divided into
Ne elements with proper connectivity – compatibility.
• All the elements form the entire domain of the problem
without any overlapping – compatibility.
• There can be different types of element with different number
of nodes.
 Determination of the perimeter of a circle.

Determination of the centroid of an irregular

region.
Domain discretization continue…..

(Node)


(Discretization with 228 Elements)



(Triangular Element)

(Discretization with 912 Elements)

Domain discretization continue…..

Discretization Examples

Three-Dimensional
One-Dimensional Two-Dimensional Brick Elements
Frame Elements Triangular Elements
 Common Types of Elements
One-Dimensional Elements
Line
Rods, Beams, Trusses, Frames
Two-Dimensional Elements
Triangular, Quadrilateral
Plates, Shells, 2-D Continua

Three-Dimensional Elements
Tetrahedral, Rectangular Prism (Brick)
3-D Continua
Common Types of Elements continued…..
Common Types of Elements continued…..
 Domain discretization : cont.

• The density of the mesh depends upon the accuracy

requirement of the analysis.

• The mesh is usually not uniform, and a finer mesh is

often used in the area where the displacement gradient
is larger.
 Step 2: Select interpolation function
interpolation
After Discretization , assign nodes to each element
and choose interpolation function to represent the
variation of the field variable.
 Step 2: Select interpolation function…
The selected mathematical piecewise approximation ( interpolation
function) function for field variable is made over each element.
for that choose either polynomial or trigometric function as a
displacement function within each element.

It is defined within the element using the nodal values of the

element. i.e. Bases on local coordinate system, the displacement
within element is interpolated using nodal displacements.
Generally Linear, quadratic, and cubic polynomials are frequently
used.
A general one dimensional polynomial shape function of nth
Order is given by,
 Select interpolation function…
• Reasons for selecting polynomials type
approximation:
• Most function can be approximated well by simple
polynomials
• They are easy to handle mathematically i.e.
differentiation and integration of polynomials is easy.

• Accuracy of results can be improved by increasing the

degree of the polynomial which depends upon the
number nodes assigned to the element, the nature and
number of unknowns at each node and certain
continuity requirements imposed at the nodes and
Select interpolation function…
Effect of approximation function order over
an element
 Basic Concept of the Finite Element Method

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
Exact Analytical Solution Linear Solution

x x
 Discretization Concepts
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 T4 T3
T4 T5
T5

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

x x
Piecewise Linear Approximation Piecewise Quadratic Approximation
Temperature Continuous but with Temperature and Temperature Gradients
Discontinuous Temperature Gradients Continuous
 Step 2: Select interpolation function…
The functions are expressed in terms of the nodal unknowns (in
the two-dimensional problem, in terms of an x and a y
component).

Therefore finite element method is one in which a continuous

quantity, such as the displacement throughout the body, is
approximated by a discrete model composed of a set of piecewise-
 d1   displacements at node 1
continuous functions defined within each dfinite
 domain or finite
element.  2   displacements at node 2
de   
 M M M
USE same general displacement function repeatedly for each at node nd
d nd   displacements
 
element.
21
In Matrix form
For two dimensional , linear model is
In Matrix form
 Common Approximation Schemes
One-Dimensional Examples
Polynomial Approximation
Most often polynomials are used to construct approximation functions for
each element. Depending on the order of approximation, different
numbers of element parameters are needed to construct the appropriate
function.

Linear Quadratic Cubic

Special Approximation
For some cases (e.g. infinite elements, crack or other singular elements)
the approximation function is chosen to have special properties as
determined from theoretical considerations
 Common Approximation Schemes
One and two Dimensional Examples

Element Figure Polynomial Function/

Element DOF
(no. of Nodes x no. of nodal displacements)

1D Linear
DOF = 2 x 1 =2 u  1   2 x
1D Quadratic u  1   2 x   3 x 2
DOF = 3 x 1 =3
1D Cubic u  1   2 x   3 x 2   4 x 3
DOF = 4 x 1 =4

2D linear and u  1   2 x   3 y
Triangular DOF = 3 x 2 = 6 v  4  5x  6 y

2D Quadratic DOF = 6 x 2 =12

Triangular u   1   2 x   3 y   4 x 2   5 xy   6 y 2
v   7   8 x   9 y   10 x 2   11 xy   12 y 2
Array of terms in complete
polynomials

Two dimensions
Array of terms in complete Polynomials

Three dimensions
field variable or displacement function continuity

• The approximation function ue or Øe whose derivatives

upto mth order is continuous across the inter element
boundaries are called Cm continuous approximation
function.
• If only field variable is continuous at element interface,
we have C0
• If first derivative of field variable is continuous at
element interface, we have C1
• If second derivative of field variable is continuous at
element interface, we have C2
• The minimum order of the approximating polynomial is
decided based on two conditions
29
 completeness condition:
• The approximate polynomial must be
complete polynomial of order n where n is the
highest derivative appearing in the weak form
of integral equation ( or functional)
• Complete polynomial includes all lower order
terms upto the highest order n
This is called Cm continuity
Compatibilty condition:

The approximation polynomial and all its derivatives

upto one order less than the higher order derivative
appearing in the weak form of integral equation ( or
functional) must be continuous within the element
 N i1 0 0 0 
and compatible at interelement
0 N 0
boundries.
0 
Ni   
i2

 0 0  0 
 
 0 0 0 N in f 
32
• Once the finite element model has been
established ( that is , once the elements and
their interpolation functions have been
selected)
• Determine the matrix equation expressing the
properties of the individual elements.
• For this task, there are 4 approches
• Direct approch
• Variational approach
• Weighted residual approach
• Energy balance approach.
• Work or Energy Methods
• 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.
• A functional (a function of another function or a function
that takes functions as its argument) analogous to the
one to be used with the principle of minimum potential
energy is quite useful in deriving the element stiffness
matrix and equations.
• Methods of Weighted Residuals:
• Galerkin’s method
Step 4: Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Equations
• Direct Equilibrium or Stiffness Method:
• According to this 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.
 Direct method for
Stiffness Matrix for a Single Spring (Element)

There are two degrees of freedom in this model, 𝑢𝑖 and 𝑢𝑗.

force equilibrium equations

 Simple Element Equation Example
Direct Stiffness Derivation
Spring Element: u1 u2

F1 F2
1 2
k
Equilibriu m at Node 1  F1  ku1  ku 2
Equilibriu m at Node 2  F2  ku1  ku 2

or in Matrix Fo rm

 k  k   u1   F1 
 k    
 k  u2   F2 
Stiffness Matrix Nodal Force Vector
[ K ]{u}  {F }

or {F} = [k] {d}

 Step 5: Assemble the Element Equations to
Obtain the Global or Total Equations and
Introduce Boundary Conditions
• In this step 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.
 Step 6 Solve for the Unknown Degrees of
Freedom
• Set of simultaneous algebraic equations that
can be written in expanded matrix form as

These equations can be solved for the displacement by

using an elimination method ( Gauss’s method)
or
An iterative method ( the Gauss–Seidel method).
 Define the Strain/ Displacement and
Stress/Strain Relationship
In the case of one-dimensional deformation, say, in
the x direction, we have strain ex 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.  N 0 0 0 
i1
 0 N i2 0 0 
Hooke’s law, N i   is
which often
 0 0 used0 in  stress analysis, is
given by  
 0 0 0 N in f 
43
• Solve for the Element Strains and Stresses
• Interpret the Results
Governing Equations for various Physical phenomena
Error in FEA
Errors Inherent in FEM Formulation- 3D to
2D conversion
Errors Inherent in FEM Formulation
Errors Inherent in FEM Formulation
Mistakes by User
Errors Inherent in FEM Formulation