FEM

PRELIMINARIES
Lecturer: Dr. K P Kou
Email:kpkou@umac.mo
Tel: 8822 4954
 Physical phenomena can be
studied in two steps:
1st step: Mathematical formulation
Law of physics, e.g. equilibrium, compatibility
Mathematical tools, e.g. differential equations
Interested quantities can then be related, e.g.
strain and stress, displacement and force
With certain assumptions, a mathematical model
can then be developed, e.g. plane stress(sz=0)
However, seeking the exact solution is a
formidable task
2nd step: Numerical analysis

Numerical methods
Applications of electronic computing facilities
Finite difference method
Variational methods
The FEM is an application of variational
methods
 The Variational Methods
The differential equation is firstly reformed as
an equivalent weighted-integral form
An approximation solution(u=Scjfj) is assumed
Coefficients cj are determined which satisfy the
equivalent integral form
There are several methods based on different
integral form, weight function and
approximation function, e.g. Rayleigh-Ritz.
A drawback of Variational
Methods
For awkward domains, the
approximation functions (fj) are
difficult to construct
 FEM overcomes this drawback
An awkward domain is represented as a collection of
subdomains (Finite Element).
Over each subdomain, the approximate functions are
represented by a linear combination of algebraic
polynomials.
Undetermined coefficients are obtained by satisfying the
governing equations of each subdomain.
Basically, FEM is an application of many mini variational
methods.
 Characteristics of FEM
The approximation functions are often algebraic polynomials
of interpolation functions, e.g. f2=4x(1-x).
The undetermined coefficients(cj) are the values of the
solution at a some preselected points, nodes, e.g. the
displacements in stress analyses.
The degree of the functions(fj) depends on the numbers of
nodes and order of differential equation.
 Basic ideas of FEM-1
1. Finite element discretization
R
2. Element equations are established in
which the circumference is approximated
by a collection of line segments. Nonuniform Uniform
e mesh mesh
h e 2R sin
2
3. Assembly of element equations and solution Se h
n
e

Pn h e n(2R sin ) e

e 1 n
 Basic ideas of FEM-2
Problem of Heat Transfer
1 d dT
rk q(r)
r dr dr Ro r

dT
kr 0 at r R i ; T(r) To at r R o Ri
dr

The domain (Ri, Ro) is divided into N subintervals in every which:

n
T1 (r) T (r)
Node
1
j
1
j (R i r R i h1 ) r
j1 Ri
n Element
T2 (r) T (r)
2
j
2
j (R i h1 r R i h1 h 2 )
j1

n
TN (r) TjN Nj (r) (R i h1 h N 1 r R o )
j1
 Basic ideas of FEM-2
The he denotes the length of the e-th interval, the finite
element.
Tej, the nodal value, is the temperature Te(r) at the j-th
geometry point, node.
The yej are the polynomials on the e-th interval, the finite
element approximation function.
The number of nodes depends on the degree of
approximation function, e.g. linear function requires two
nodes, 2nd order requires three nodes.
T(r) Quadratic, Te

T(r)
Te2 Te3
Te2
Linear, Te
Te1 Te1
he he
1 2 1 3
2
 Advantages of subdivision

Dealing with the discontinuities, e.g. different

materials in adhesive joint.
Coping with the graduation of variable e.g. stress
concentration, crack problem.
Approximation function can be derived
systematically which enable the application of
computer.
 Selected Remarks of FEM
A domain can be subdivided into a mesh of several element, e.g.
triangle and rectangle.
The number and location of nodes depend on
The degree of approximation function
The geometry of the element
The integral form of the equations
The assembly of element is based on the idea that variables are
continuous at the interelement boundary.
Error comes from approximation of domain and solution,
numerical computation.