30: Finite Element Method
- Page ID
- 31613
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www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/me...ng-2/index.php
Learning Objectives
On completion of this TLP you should:
- Understand the basics of the finite element method
- Be familiar with the concepts of nodes, elements and discretisation
- Understand the direct stiffness method
- Be able to construct an element stiffness matrix and a global stiffness matrix for 1-dimensional elements
- Appreciate the importance of boundary conditions
- Understand shape (interpolation) functions for 1-dimensional elements
- Understand the difference between linear and non-linear static finite element problems
- Be familiar with some common reasons for non-convergence
Before you start
There are no special prerequisites for this TLP, but it would be useful to be familiar with stress and strain, beam bending mechanics and matrices (see Tensors in Materials Science).