PHELMA FAME 2017-2018 NUMERICAL METHODS

TD N°4: FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

The objective of this work is to use the finite element method to solve a partial differential equation.
We consider a 1D study domain  , a segment [A,B]. On this segment we study static heat transfer
equation. We want to use the finite element method to solve this equation. The boundary conditions
are: Dirichlet condition on the left boundary and convective exchange on the right boundary.

1 FIRST PART

Partial differential equation of static heat transfer:

1) Write the partial differential equation of heat transfer (with differential operators)?

2) Where this equation is defined?

3) Is this equation sufficient to define this problem? Justify your answer.

2 SECOND PART

Finite element method

The line is discretized in N linear elements. The thermal conductivity is constant. We consider a basis
of polynomial functions. The element i of the basis of functions is noticed  i . In this exercise,
quadratic elements are used. The reference element has 3 nodes (figure 2.1)

1 3 2

-1 0 1 

Figure 2.1: Quadratic reference : number and coordinate of the nodes of the element

The expressions of the polynomial functions on the reference element are :

1 =−0.5⋅⋅1− 2 =0.5⋅⋅1 3 =1⋅1−

2.1 DRAW THE MESH OF THE DOMAIN.

• Number the nodes of the domain and the elements of the domain.

2.2 WRITE THE EXPRESSION OF THE PROJECTIVE METHOD ON AN ELEMENT OF THE

BASIS  i . GIVE THE WEAK FORMULATION OF THE GALERKIN METHOD.

2.3 DETAIL THE EXPRESSION WHEN THE NODE i IS AN INTERNAL POINT OF THE DOMAIN.
THE EXPRESSION OF EACH INTEGRAL MUST BE WRITTEN.

• Precise the elements which are taken into account.

• Expression of each integral on the reference element. Apply the change of variable. Use the
polynomial interpolation on the reference element.

TD N° 4 FINITE ELEMENT METHOD 1

 PHELMA FAME 2017-2018 NUMERICAL METHODS

2.4 WRITE THE EXPRESSION OF THE PROJECTIVE METHOD ON THE RIGHT BOUNDARY

2.5 WHAT HAPPEN ON THE LEFT BOUNDARY?

2.6 HOW DO YOU CALCULATE THE TEMPERATURE ON EACH NODE?

3 THIRD PART

Programming the finite element method:

The obtained formulation constitutes a linear system. To construct this linear system, we first
calculate the elementary matrix and elementary second term, and after assembly the system.

3.1 DETAIL OF THE EXPRESSION THE ELEMENTARY MATRIX AND ELEMENTARY SECOND
TERM ON AN ELEMENT e

• Precise the size of each elementary matrix (sub matrix). Precise the size of each elementary
second vector (sub vector). Precise the expression of each integral and the principle of
calculation. The exact calculation of the integrals are not asked.
• Use the polynomial interpolation of T on the reference element. Introduce it in different
terms
• Give the relation between the coordinates x of a real element of the mesh and the
coordinate  of the reference element
• Expression of each integral on the reference element. Apply the change of variable.
3.2 ASSEMBLY THE LINEAR SYSTEM

Precise how the matrix is assembled.

3.3 GIVE THE ALGORITHM OF THE MAIN PROGRAM

Precise the different steps of the program.

Precise the various functions that you will write.

3.4 APPLICATION

TD N° 4 FINITE ELEMENT METHOD 2