Dr. P.

Chakraborty
AE 675A
4th January 2018
Why we need FEM as Engineers?
Understand the Behavior Derive laws in terms of
and/or Evolution of a Algebraic equations
System or Process and/or ODE(s) and/or
PDE(s), etc.
Chemcal Reaction, Heat
Transfer, Deformation, etc.

Create new or modified

systems or process
where the laws are
applicable

Control and/or Modify the

Experimental
behavior and/or evolution Solve
Verification
for our benefit

New Product Observe

Mitigate existing problems Response
Why we need FEM as Engineers?
Depending on the complexity of the system the
solution can be obtained using
Analytical Methods (Method of separation of
variables, complex functions, etc.)
Semi-Analytically (Numerical for spatial derivatives
while analytical for temporal)
Numerical

FEM is one such numerical technique

There are other methods such as Finite Difference,
Finite Volume, etc.
Examples of Finite Element
Modelling
 Wing stresses and
Failure of Fan vibrations

Full blown stress

analysis of the
aircraft

Thermo-mechanical analysis
of the turbine blade
Automotive Engineering

Stress analyses
Crash Analysis of gears
 Civil Engineering

Stress and modal

analyses of Bridge

Analysis of structures
during earthquake

Fracture of
concrete
 Manufacturing

Rolling

Deep Drawing
Metal cutting –
coupled thermo-
mechanical
 Lab-scale experiments

Uniaxial tension
– YS, UTS, etc.
Indentation - hardness

Necking and 1-1

experimental comparison Compact tension –
fracture toughness
 Microstructure-scale

Analysis of inelastic Representative

deformation of microstructure of
Grain representative ceramic
reconstruction microstructures
from experiment

Identify local Inter-granular

hot-spots fracture
And Many More ..
What is FEM?

FEM is a numerical technique to solve Partial

Differential Equation(s) [PDE(s)] posed as
boundary value problem.
The solution (unknown function) is obtained
from an algebraic system formed from a
weighted integral statement of the PDE(s)
and piece-wise approximation of the field
variable(s) in sub domains or elements.
Example: Statics

Consider a body constrained on some

surface(s) and acted upon by
force(s)/traction(s) on other surfaces, is in
static equilibrium

Z X
Example: Statics

We are interested in finding out what is the

deformation/displacement field (function) in
the body, and the stresses that are
developed in the equilibrated body?
What is the stress state around the hole? Will
the plate fail under a given traction? Etc.

We can use FEM as a numerical tool to

answer some these questions.
Equations
Defining the equilibrated state of a body

Stress
Divergence
Stress-Strain
(Constitutive)

Strain-
Displacement
Solve
The 15 equations for the given boundary
condition and geometry have to be solved to
obtain the displacement (3), strain (6) and
stress (6) component fields (functions) in the
body

For simple/idealized geometry and BCs, analytical

solutions can be obtained
Example: Hole in infinite plate under remote stress
(Kirsch’s solution)

Semi-analytical or numerical methods required for

finite plate (complex geometry) or complex BCs
Weighted Residual - FEM

The weighted integral form of the stress

divergence PDE(s) is solved in FEM for the
unknown displacement component fields
u(x,y,z), v(x,y,z), w(x,y,z)
instead of the strong form
  xx  yx  zx 
V u
w  x , y , z 
 x    b 
x  dV  0
 y z 
  xy  yy  zy 
V v
w  x , y , z 
 x    b 
y  dV  0
 y z 

  xz  yz  zz 
V w
w  x , y , z 
 x    b 
z dV  0
 y z 
Weighted Residual - FEM

The displacement component fields or

functions u(x,y,z), v(x,y,z), w(x,y,z) are the
primary variables – displacement based
formulation

wu(x,y,z), wv(x,y,z) and ww(x,y,z) are arbitrary

functions or weight functions

What is a suitable representation of the

functions so that they are solvable?
Piecewise representation of the
functions in FEM
Domain is discretized into sub-domains or
elements
Element

Node

In every element the displacement component

functions are interpolated from nodal values
and approximation (shape) functions
Piecewise representation of the
functions in FEM
Element Node
In 1-D

•Linear interpolation
Interpolation in a 1D •Number of nodes in an element
element with 2 nodes depend on interpolation order
• Same interpolation can be used
for weight functions - Galerkin
Piecewise representation of the
functions in FEM
Shape functions are known/defined apriori – based on
what element is being used
Nodal values of the displacement components are the
unknown – to be solved
Since nodes are common between adjacent elements,
the nodal displacement variables are also common
Thus, in the entire domain the displacement field is
continuous (inside element due to shape function,
between adjacent elements due to node sharing)
Algebraic System

Utilizing the nodal representation of displacement in the

weak form gives a set of algebraic equations from which
the values of the nodal displacement can be obtained

Load vector -
known

Stiffness matrix - Nodal displacement

known vector - unknown

{u}  [ K ]1{ f }
Solution Accuracy

FEM provides an
With 2 element approximate solution
With 5 element
Approach the actual
Actual solution with refinement
or increase in number of
elements

Using higher order shape

functions provide faster
convergence
Steps in FEM
Hence the first and foremost step in FEM is to
 Choose element type and
 Discretize the domain for a given geometry
Choose material model and parameters to define stress
strain behavior
 Here material model is isotropic elasticity and it
requires 2 parameters, E and n
Apply BCs
 Essential or displacement BCs – apply values of
displacement components at specific boundaries
 Atleast enough to constraint rigid body motion
Natural or force/traction BCs
Steps in FEM
 Solve
 Post process

 Steps are identical for any other physics represented by

PDE(s) and boundary conditions (heat conduction, etc.)