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30.1: Introduction

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    32860

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    Overview

    The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a mathematical (numerical) technique for finding approximate solutions to partial differential equations. It is a technique which is very well suited to the study and analysis of complex physical phenomena, particularly those exhibiting non-linearity in geometry and/or material behaviour (which is often the case for most “real-world” situations). It is used frequently to tackle problems that are not readily amenable to analytical treatments. Such problems can be structural, thermal, electrical, magnetic, acoustic etc., either in isolation or when coupled. Coupled examples include (but are not limited to) thermomechanical – where constrained differential thermal expansion generates thermal-stresses, thermoelectric – where heat is generated in a material due to its resistance to current flow, and conjugate heat transfer – where moving fluids can remove heat from hot objects over which they pass. When the Finite Element Method is used to solve problems of this type it is often referred to as Finite Element Analysis (FEA).

    Premise

    The premise is very simple; continuous domains (geometries) are decomposed into discrete, connected regions (or Finite Elements). An assembly of element-level equations is subsequently solved, while conditions of kinematic compatibility are enforced, in order to establish the response of the complete domain to a particular set of boundary conditions. The premise is described to some degree in the figure below, which also lists the governing equations (in differential form) for a range of common physical phenomena (in 1-D).

    discretisation of continuous domains

    Time and Lengthscales

    Typical time and lengthscales for application of the finite element method are shown in the following figure.

    Time and lengthscales for application of FEM

    Example Videos:

    The videos below have been produced from finite element analyses and include:

    https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/fe...erforation.mp4

    FEM of plate perforation

    https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/fe...2_40_Mises.mp4

    Punch

    This page titled 30.1: Introduction is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Dissemination of IT for the Promotion of Materials Science (DoITPoMS) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.