Introduction to finite elements - Wikiversity https://en.wikiversity.

org/wiki/Introduction_to_finite_elements

Welcome to this learning project about Introduction to finite elements!

Project code:
Suggested Prerequisites:

Linear algebra
Partial differential equations
Time investment: 6 months
Portal:Engineering and Technology
School:Engineering
Department:Mechanical Engineering
Stream:Applied Mechanics
Level: Upper-division undergraduate/First year graduate

This course will introduce you to the topic of finite element analysis. The course will cover linear finite elements and
the analysis of simple solid mechanics and heat transfer problems.

This course aims to:

Introduce you to the finite element method

Show you how finite element formulations are arrived at
Show you how some engineering problems are solved numerically

Syllabus and Learning Materials

1. Mathematical Preliminaries

1. Set notation
2. Functions
3. Vectors
4. Matrices
5. Tensors
6. Partial differential equations
7. Variational calculus

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Introduction to finite elements - Wikiversity https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Introduction_to_finite_elements

2. Tensor exercises and Physical Principles in Differential Form

1. Quick indicial notation review

2. Conservation of mass
3. Conservation of linear momentum
4. Conservation of angular momentum
5. Conservation of energy
3. Finite element basics in one-dimension

1. An example: Axially loaded bar

Strong form: governing differential equation

Weak form: integral equation
Approximate solution: Galerkin method
Approximate solution: Finite element method
Approximate solution: Finite element method as a lower bound solution
2. More examples: Some model problems

Weak form: Weighted residual methods

Choosing a weight function
Bubnov Galerkin methods
Finite element basis functions
Example of a finite element approximation
3. A time-dependent problem: the heat equation

Steady state heat conduction

Weak form of the steady state heat equation
Weak form of the time-dependent heat equation
Finite element approximation of Poisson equation
Finite element approximation of the heat equation
Time integration of the heat equation.

Assignments
Homework 1 Problem set

Solutions
Homework 2 Problem set

Solutions
Homework 3 Problem set

Solutions
Homework 4 Problem set

Solutions
Homework 5 Problem set

Solutions

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Introduction to finite elements - Wikiversity https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Introduction_to_finite_elements

Homework 6 Problem set

Solutions
Homework 7 Problem set

Solutions
Homework 8 Problem set

Solutions
Homework 9 Problem set

Solutions
Homework 10 Problem set

Solutions
Homework 11 Problem set

Solutions

Tests and Quizzes

Quiz 1

Solutions

Textbooks and References

Textbooks

The Finite Element Method: Linear Static and Dynamic Finite Element Analysis
(http://books.google.com/books?id=yarmSc7ULRsC&pg=PP1&ots=48xUoRUEj7&dq=The+Finite+Element+Metho
d:+Linear+Static+and+Dynamic+Finite+Element+Analysis&sig=QLHLMdZKlfAdhPkQRsKcLfL8jFk) by T. J. R.
Hughes, Dover Publications, 2000.
K-J. Bathe (1996), Finite Element Procedures
(http://books.google.com/books?id=buMbAAAACAAJ&dq=Finite+Element+Procedures), Prentice-Hall. Useful
repository of information on nonlinear finite elements.
J. N. Reddy (1993), An Introduction to the Finite Element Method
(http://books.google.com/books?id=QD1xAQAACAAJ&dq=An+Introduction+to+the+Finite+Element+Method),
McGraw-Hill. This book is referred to a number of times in one of the texts.
O. C. Zienkiewicz and R. L. Taylor (2000), The Finite Element Method: Volume 2 Solid Mechanics
(http://books.google.com/books?id=wmDQ_3qzvmIC&pg=PP19&ots=LWZ-8vetGO&dq=The+Finite+Element+Met
hod:+Volume+2+Solid+Mechanics&sig=ywpfBmPXhKy1yDLhHA0kDrBVI18), Butterworth-Heinemann. Another
excellent repository of information of nonlinear finite elements geared toward the Civil Engineers.
References

Mathematics:

R. M. Brannon (2004), Elementary Vector and Tensor Analysis for Engineers.

(http://www.mech.utah.edu/~brannon/Tensors.pdf) This free online book is the best introduction I have seen for
vector and tensor analysis for nonlinear mechanics.
B. Daya Reddy (1998), Introductory Functional Analysis: With applications to boundary value problems and
finite elements.
(http://books.google.com/books?id=aAVzpzQdJc8C&pg=PP1&ots=ihO_OKxw64&dq=Introductory+Functional+

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Introduction to finite elements - Wikiversity https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Introduction_to_finite_elements

Analysis:+With+applications+to+boundary+value+problems+and+finite+elements&sig=dc2lxvX4sYcRUKoPAn
obzpSKl6Y) , Springer-Verlag. Excellent book for engineers who want to understand the terminology used in
the finite element literature and how error analysis is done.
A.P.S. Selvadurai (2000), Partial Differential Equations in Mechanics 1,2.
(http://books.google.com/books?id=diMcAdSClSoC&pg=PP1&ots=LcgQc5F_R-&dq=Partial+Differential+Equat
ions+in+Mechanics&sig=jC5anykazA-czGeAWNAAGFMJ8n8) Springer. Excellent introductory text on partial
differential equations with engineers in mind.

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