Basic Steps in the Finite Element Method

Domain Discretization
Select Element Type (Shape and Approximation)
Derive Element Equations (Variational and Energy Methods)
Assemble Element Equations to Form Global System
[K]{U} = {F}
[K] = Stiffness or Property Matrix
{U} = Nodal Displacement Vector
{F} = Nodal Force Vector
Incorporate Boundary and Initial Conditions
Solve Assembled System of Equations for Unknown Nodal
Displacements and Secondary Unknowns of Stress and Strain Values

Discretization

FINITE ELEMENTS
Finite elements have shapes which are relatively easy to
formulate and analyze. The three basic types of finite elements
are beams, plates, and solids.

I D elements

Constant strain triangular element

Linear strain triangular element

Bilinear Rectangular element

Eight noded quadratic quadrilateral elemen

II D elements
5

3
4

Linear Quadrilateral element

2D Elements, Nodes, and

Meshes
Nodes

3-Node Triangular Element

4-Node Rectangular Element

3 X 4 Mesh of Rectangular Elements

III D elements

3D Elements, Nodes, and

Meshes

Introduction: Historical comments

B.C.:

n6

n8

3.1415926K

n 14

Introduction: The Basic Concept

n6
element

element

element

element

element

element

element

element

element element
element

Finite-element mesh (1)

element

Finite-element mesh (2)

Introduction: The Basic Concept

1
Area Height Foot
2

R
h
2b
2

b R sin
2

h R cos
2

R
2

b R tan
2

2b

Introduction: The Basic Concept

Finite-element mesh (1)

Finite-element mesh (2)

R
2

sin
2
n
2

R tan
n

Element equation
n

A a
1

i 1

(1)
i

2
R
2
1
A n sin
2
n

a
i 1

(2)
i

nR tan
n
2

Introduction: The Basic Concept

Finite-element mesh (1)

e1 Areasector a 1
Areasec tor
2
1
e1 R sin
n
n 2
2

Finite-element mesh (2)

e2 Areasector a

1 2
R
2

e2 R tan
n n

Introduction: The Basic Concept

Finite-element mesh (1)

n
2
R sin
2
n

Finite-element mesh (2)

R A
2

1
2 sin x
lim A lim R
n
x 0
x
2 cos x
lim R
x 0
1
R2

R n tan
n

A
2

lim A
n

tan y
lim R
y 0
y
2

2
sec
y
2
lim R
y 0
1
R2

Introduction: The Basic Concept

A0 one
R
Convergence of the finite-element solutions to the exact

Sources of Error in the FEM

The three main sources of error in a typical FEM solution are
discretization errors, formulation errors and numerical errors.
Discretization error results from transforming the physical
system (continuum) into a finite element model, and can be
related to modeling the boundary shape, the boundary
conditions, etc.

Discretizationerrorduetopoorgeometry
representation.

Discretizationerroreffectivelyeliminated.