FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

• The finite element method (FEM), sometimes referred to as finite element

analysis (FEA), is a computational technique used to obtain numerical
solutions of boundary value problems in engineering.
• A boundary value problem is a mathematical problem in which one or more
dependent variables must satisfy a differential equation everywhere within a
known domain of independent variables and satisfy specific conditions on
the boundary of the domain (boundary conditions).
• Boundary value problems are also sometimes called field problems. The
field is the domain of interest and most often represents a physical structure.
 Example of Boundary Value Problem

Flow
profile

• How about if both cylinders are rotating?

• How about if the fluid is flowing in between the cylinders?
• How about if cylinders are eccentric?
 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

• The field variables are the dependent variables of interest governed

by the differential equation.
• The boundary conditions are the specified values of the field
variables (or related variables such as derivatives) on the boundaries
of the field.
• Depending on the type of physical problem being analyzed, the field
variables may include physical displacement, temperature, heat flux,
and fluid velocity to name only a few.
 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Stress Pattern obtained Experimentally Stress Pattern obtained using FEA

across a linear cut using Polariscope software across a linear cut
 Discretization of Boundary Value Problem

• The accuracy of the FE method increases with the number of

elements used (but this also computationally expensive)
• A graded mesh is used that is more dense in areas of higher
stress concentration (e.g. cut-outs)
 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Stress Distribution obtained using FEA software Stress Pattern obtained using FEA
in Pump Impeller (Rotating machinery) software at a hole in a twisted tube
 Exact Solution
Physical Mathematical Boundary Analytical
of simple
System Model Conditions Equation
problems
Analytical
Solution
Differential
Equation
Unsolvable
Preprocessing Solution Postprocessing

Complex
Boundary
Conditions
Numerical
Solution
Approximate
Solution
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
Spring System
 Spring System
Two Spring System
PROBLEM-1

SPRING PROBLEM

1 2
(1) (2) (3)

FINITE ELEMENT MODEL

Three Spring System Local Stiffness Matrix Individual Global Stiffness Matrix

Total Global Stiffness Matrix

 Deformable Solid Structure

𝐹
𝜎=
𝐴

𝛿
𝜖=
𝑙0

𝜎 = E𝜖

𝐹 𝛿
=𝐸
𝐴 𝑙0

𝐸𝐴
𝐹= 𝛿
𝑙0
(1)
𝐹 = 𝐾𝛿 1 2

𝐸𝐴
⇒𝐾=
𝑙0
 Physical
System

Spring
Equivalent
Model
PHYSICAL SYSTEM
Finite
Element
Model

Stiffness
Matrix

Solution
SPRING EQUIVALENT FINITE ELEMENT MODEL STIFFNESS MATRIX
Post
POST Processing
PROCESSING Results
SOLUTION RESULT
 PROBLEM-2 PROBLEM-3

10
F
30 F
40
Diameter1 = 25 mm
Length1 = 15 mm
50
Diameter2 = 15 mm
Length2 = 30 mm Thickness = 15 mm
Young’s Modulus = 70 GPa Young’s Modulus = 200 GPa
Force = 100 kN Force = 200 kN
Determine Determine
a) Displacements a) Displacements
b) Strain b) Strain
c) Stress c) Stress
d) Reactions d) Reactions
 CONVERGANCE OF FINITE ELEMENT SOLUTION
• Generally finer mesh gives better result that is closure to exact solution.
• But very fine mesh can not be used due to computational limit or capability
of software to solve problem.

(a) Arbitrary curved-boundary domain modeled using square elements. Stippled

areas are not included in the model. A total of 41 elements is shown.
(b) Refined finite element mesh showing reduction of the area not included in
the model. A total of 192 elements is shown.
TAPERED SHAFT EXAMPLE
MESH REFINEMENT
SPANAR EXAMPLE
PLATE WITH CIRCULAR HOLE

MESH REFINEMENT
 INCREASING ELEMENT ORDER
• More Nodes as element is of
higher order (Quadratic, Cubic)
• More computational time
• Usually not needed to apply on
complete geometry
• Only refine mesh is created on
critical regions i.e. Map Mesh

MAP MESHING
• Only regions like sharp edges,
fillets, rounds etc., are Map Mesh
• Idea behind Map Mesh is that
geometry should be divided into
four sided mesh
Mapped versus Free Meshing
Mapped Meshing:
• Good
-Lots of control over meshing and elements
• Bad
-takes a lot more time to create the geometry
Free Meshing:
• Good-
-easy to create the geometry
-meshing is fast
• Bad-
-some triangular elements are used
-some elements may have poor aspect ratios
MAP MESHING