Finite element method I - lecture notes.

INTRODUCTION 1 Page 1 of 7
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Course Title: FINITE ELEMENT METHOD I

Type of course: undergraduate, graduate
Field of study (Programme), specialization
Aerospace Engineering, Power Engineering, Robotics, Computer Aided Engineering
Format Lectures: Laboratory: Private study:
(Teaching methods) 2hours/week 1hour/week 2hours/week
Lecturers (Course leader): Grzegorz Krzesiński

Objective: To supply the basic knowledge and skills required for understanding and simple practical applications of FEM

Contents (lecture’s programme):

Approximate methods in mechanics of structures - Finite Element Method, Finite Difference Method, Boundary Element Method/ Approximate
solutions of 2D Poisson equation./ FEM versus Ritz method / Basic relations in analysis of truss structures/ Simple finite elements for 2D and 3D stress
analysis/ Typical algorithms of FEM in static linear stress analysis, popular commercial FE software packages/ Accuracy of FE analysis.
Computer lab: Introduction to practical problems of FE modeling in ANSYS/ 2D and 3D linear stress analysis/ Static analysis of simple shell structure/
Discretization error and adaptive meshing
Abilities: After completing the course the students will be able to built simple FE model and will know the possible applications and
limitations of the method in mechanics of structures.
Assesment method: Assesment based on tests and results of computer lab work.
Practical work:Project/laboratory classes, where students will built and analyse the results of simple FE models of structural elements
Recommended texts (reading):
[1] Huebner K. H., Dewhirst D. L., Smith D.E., Byrom T. G.: The finite element method for engineers, J. Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2001.
[2] Zagrajek T., Krzesinski G., Marek P.: MES w mechanice konstrukcji. Ćwiczenia z zastosowaniem programu ANSYS, Of.Wyd.PW 2005
[3] Bijak-Żochowski M., Jaworski A., Krzesiński G., Zagrajek T.: Mechanika Materiałów i Konstrukcji, Tom 2, Warszawa, Oficyna Wydawnicza
PW, 2005
[4] Saeed Moaveni: Finite Element Analysis. Theory and Application with ANSYS, Paerson Ed. 2003
[5] Cook R. D.: Finite Element Modeling for Stress Analysis, John Wiley & Sons , 1995
[6] Zienkiewicz O.C., Taylor R.: The Finite Element Method.- different publishers and editions
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FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
The FEM is a numerical procedure that can be used to solve a large class of engineering problems including mechanics of structures, heat
transfer, electromagnetism, fluid flow and , as well , so called coupled fields problems (e.g. electro-thermal).
The simplest description.
The method involves dividing the geometrical model of the analysed structure into very small, simple pieces called finite elements, connected by
nodes. The behaviour of of the element is described by adequate physical laws. An unknown quantity (e.g. temperature, displacement vector,
electrical potential) is interpolated vver an element from the nodal values using specialy defined polynomials. The procedure leads to set of
simultaneus algebraic equations with the nodal values being unknown. In stress analysis these equations are equilibrion equations of the nodes.
During the solution process the nodal values (DOF of the model) are found first and then all interesting quantities ( strains, stresses) are
calculated within the elements. Finally the results may be presented in the required graphical form.

MPa
MPa 0
0 -15
50 -30
100 -45
150 -60
200 -75
250
-90
300
350 -105
400 -120
450 -135

Finite Element Mesh Von Mises stress distribution u Contact pressure between the shaft and the rotor disk

v
3D finite elements u

The method was devoloped in 1950s for solving complex problems of stress analysis for aeronautical industry. This development was strictly
connected with the progress in digital computers and numerical techniques.
Today the method is considered as the most powerful analysis method for problems described by partial differential equations.
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FEM – one of the approximate methods for solving continous problems of mathematics and physics

Approximate methods – flow chart

Real object
Real result wr

geometry, boundary (initial) conditions

material properties, laws pf physics

Methematical model Exact solution

(continous) of the mathematical model ws

discretization FINITE DIFFERENCE M. BOUNDARY ELEMENT M. FINITE ELEMENT M.

approximation FDM BEM FEM

Discrete Exact solution of the

discrete model wd Partial differential Boundary integral Functionals
model equations equations minimalisation

numerical calculations

Numerical result - wn
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Discretization of the continuous problem – numerical estimation of the integral

f(x)
The example – wooden board fi
Different models for the problem
f3
f2

f1
a) f0
onemodel belki
dimensional model - beam
N
q0
m

b) model
two- płyty
dimensional model - plate h h h h
N
p0 x0=a x 1 x 2 x i =a+ih b x
m2

three
c) dimensional
model model
trójwymiarowy – solid volume
bryły

N
0 m3
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BASIC STEPS IN THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD (FE modelling)
Preprocessor (preprocessing phase)

In the preprocessing phase the problem is described in the numerical, discrete form:

Tasks performed: definition of the analysed domain (geometry of the analysis object)
material properties
boundary conditions (loads and constraints)
meshing (dividing the domain into the finite elements of the reauired density distribution)

FE model of the bolted joint of the high pressure vessel

entire connection, representative part and its discretization, FE nodes with load symbols
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Processor (solution phase)

In this phase the user of FE program defines type of analysis (static, linear or nonlinear, dynamic, buckling ...... ) and other details
decribing the method of calculations and solution process.
FE program performs the calculations and writes the results in the adequate files.

Postprocesor
In this phase it is possible to present the interesting results in different forms: plots, graphs, animations, listings e.t.c.
The user can create the pictures, tables, graphs and generate the reports.

Von Mises equivalent stress distribution (MPa)

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The results of FE analysis
Deformed model compared to undeformed structure

Displacement vector ( ux, uy , uz )

Stress state components

Z
σz

τ yz
τ xz
τ yz

τ xz

σy
τ xy τ xy

σx Y

X
{σx , σy , σz ,τxy , τyz ,τxz }

Strain state components

{εx , εy , εz , γxy , γyz , γxz }
Equivalent strass distribution according to an arbitrary criterion
Principal stresses .
Any other functions defined by the user (ANSYS – APDL commands)