Fundamentals of the finite element method

It is a general method for the solution of boundary problems governed

by ordinary or partial differential equations. In essence, it is a technique
that replaces the differential problem with an algebraic one,
approximately equivalent, for which general resolution techniques are
known. For this, it makes use of the "discretization" or subdivision of a
region on which the equations in simple geometric forms called finite
elements are defined. The material properties and governing
relationships in these elements are expressed in terms of the unknown
values in the "corners" of the elements or nodes.

One of the advantages of this method is its ease of implementation in a

computer program, which in turn is a basic condition for its use since
for the treatment of a particular problem a very high number of
operations must be carried out to solve algebraic systems of the order
of hundreds or thousands of equations. However, this amount is not a
limitation with today's standard computers.
The basic ideas of this method originated in advances in the structural
analysis of the aeronautical industry in the 50s. In the 1960s the
method was generalized for the approximate solution of stress analysis
problems, fluid flow and heat transfer. The first book on finite elements
was published in 1967 by Zienkiewicz and Cheung. In the 1970s the
method was extended to the analysis of nonlinear problems of
continuum mechanics. Today the method allows solving virtually any
physical situation that can be formulated through a system of
differential equations.
In its principles, the finite elements method did not arrive massively in
the engineering practice due to the lack of availability of computers in
the engineering studies and on the other to the requirement of deep
knowledge not only of the technique and the relevant mathematical
models but also of computer programming. Currently, the situation is
completely different, since modern personal computers easily support
powerful general-purpose programs that are easy to use.

The process of analyzing a physical problem using Finite Elements

Modeling. The geometry can be defined by the analyst or created from
a CAD program. The second step is to define the mathematical model
to solve. This is the fundamental step where you specify the type of
equations to be determined, the edge conditions, material properties,
and other details about the method itself. Once this definition has been
made, the program automatically solves the pertinent equations and
provides the results in a form appropriate for the analyst.

Applications

Elastohydrodynamic model of a bearing.

Figure 2 shows the distribution of pressures in a developed bearing.
This solution was arrived at considering the two-dimensional
elastohydrodynamic coupled problem, that is, trying together to obtain
the pressures due to the flow of lubricant inside the bearing (applying
the modified Reynolds equation) and modeling it as an elastic plate
simply supported on its extremes. This treatment allows to better
approximate than the conventional analytical models the distribution of
pressures inside the bearing when simultaneously considering the
deformation by the effects of this. It is also possible to consider the
effects on the edges of the bearing when working with a two-
dimensional model.

Dynamic study of a dam system - reservoir

In this example, the dynamic analysis of a gravity dam together with the
reservoir of fluid that interacts with it has been developed. For this,
horizontal sinusoidal excitation (representative, for example, of a
seismic movement) has been considered on the solid part of the
domain (prey). From the classical analytical point of view, this problem
must be addressed by first obtaining the hydrodynamic pressures in the
reservoir, considering the dam as a rigid body; in a later step the elastic
problem in the structure can be determined. By means of a
computational model of finite elements, the dynamics in the reservoir
and in the dam can be analyzed simultaneously. Other complexities can
easily be considered as interaction with stratified foundations,
existence of inspection galleries in the dam, complex geometries of the
reservoir, etc. In Figure 3 the finite element mesh of the model can be
observed, while in Figure 4 the pressure at the interface between the
solid medium and the liquid is described.

Final remarks

In this article we tried to briefly disseminate one of the most important

tools available to engineering for the analysis of complex problems that
until a few years ago were unapproachable.
Paradoxically, the curricular design of engineering careers still does not
give this method its proper place, thus reducing the possibilities of
analysis of future engineers. This situation must be remedied in the
short term in order to train engineers who are capable of using the
powerful computational technology they have at their fingertips to
perform modern and more efficient designs.