Appendix A:

The Finite jkjkk) Method

September

Introduction to

A-1

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Definition

Finite Element Analysis is the simulation of a physical

system (geometry and loading environment) by a
mathematical approximation of the real system. Using
simple, interrelated building blocks called elements, a
real system with infinite unknowns is approximated
with a finite number of unknowns.

Historical Note
The finite element method of structural analysis was created by academic
and industrial researchers during the 1950s and 1960s.
The underlying theory is over 100 years old, and was the basis for pen-andpaper calculations in the evaluation of suspension bridges and steam
boilers.

September

Introduction to

A-2

Examples of Physical Systems

Geometry

Load

Physical System

Structural

Thermal

September

Electromagnetic

Introduction to

A-3

The FEA Model

An FEA Model is the mathematical idealization of the

real system.
Definition

The Real System

September

Introduction to

The FEA Model

A-4

Degrees of Freedom

Degrees of freedom (DOFs) characterize the

response of a field.
UY
ROTY

Discipline

UX
ROTX

ROTZ
UZ

Structural DOFs

September

Structural
Thermal
Electrical
Fluid
Magnetic

Introduction to

DOF
Displacement
Temperature
Voltage
Pressure
Magnetic Potential

A-5

Nodes and Elements

Load

Node: Coordinate location in space where

degrees of freedom and actions of the
physical system exist.

Element: Mathematical, matrix representation

(called stiffness or coefficient matrix)
of the interaction among the degrees
of freedom of a set of nodes.
Elements may be line, area, or
solid, and two or three dimensional.

Load

September

The FEA model consists of a number of simply shaped

elements, connected to nodes, subjected to loads.

Introduction to

A-6

Nodes and Elements (contd)

The behavior of each element is represented by several
linear equations.
As a group, the elements form a mathematical model of the
total structure.
Although the ladder illustration suggests a finite element
model having fewer than 100 equations (degrees of
freedom), even a small ANSYS simulation of today can
have 5,000 unknowns. The matrix can have 25,000,000
stiffness coefficients.
Historical Note
Early ANSYS development followed hardware progress. ANSYS was first released in
1970, running on $1,000,000 CDC, Univac, and IBM mainframe computers which were
much less powerful than todays PCs. A Pentium PC could solve that 5,000 x 5,000
matrix system in a few minutes, instead of days as in the past.

September

Introduction to

A-7

Nodes and Elements (contd)

Information is passed from element to element only at
common nodes.

.
.

2 nodes

.
.

.
.

Separate, but coincident nodeselement A does not talk to

element B (merge required)

September

Introduction to

1 node

.
.

.
B

Shared nodeselements A and B

talk to each other

A-8

Nodes and Elements (contd)

The DOFs at a node are a function of the element type
connected to the node.
J

J
3-D Spar (Pin Joints)
UX, UY, UZ
I

2-D or Axisymmetric Solid

UX, UY
I
I

K
J

J
P

M
L
I

O
N

P
3-D Structural Solid
UX, UY, UZ

M
L

K
I

September

Introduction to

3-D Beam
UX, UY, UZ,
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ

3-D Quadrilateral Shell

UX, UY, UZ,
ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ
O

N
K

3-D Thermal Solid

TEMP

A-9

The Element Shape Function

FEA solves for DOF values only at nodes.
An element shape function is a mathematical function that
allows values of a DOF from the nodes to be mapped to
points within the element.
Thus, an element shape function gives the shape of the
results within the element.
An element shape function represents assumed behavior
for a given element.
How well each assumed element shape function matches
the true behavior directly affects the accuracy of the
solution.

September

Introduction to

A-10

The Element Shape Function (contd)

Linear approximation to quadratic curve
(Poor Results)

Quadratic distribution
of DOF values

.
1

Node

Element

Actual quadratic curve

.
2

Node

Quadratic approximation (actual and

approximate curves match)
(Best Results)

Linear approximations
(Better Results)
Actual quadratic
curve

.. . . .
3

Nodes

September

Elements

Element

.
4

Introduction to

Node

.
Element

A-11

The Element Shape Function (contd)

Observations:
DOF values may or may not accurately match the true
solution at the nodes, but typically match it in an
average sense across an element.
Typical solution data are usually derived from the
DOFs (e.g., structural stresses, thermal gradients).
Element shape functions that do not accurately
capture DOFs within an element may not be adequate
for these derived data because derived data is
calculated from derivatives of the element shape
function.

September

Introduction to

A-12

The Element Shape Function (contd)

The Bottom Line:
When you choose an element type, you are
implicitly choosing and accepting the
element shape function assumed for that
element type.
Make sure you have a sufficient number of
nodes and elements to adequately capture
the behavior of your problem given the
assumed element shape function of the
element type you have chosen.
September

Introduction to

A-13