LECTURE # 1 INTRODUCTION

SE-501 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
REFERENCE BOOKS
1. A First CourseintheFiniteElement Method Daryl L. Logan
2. Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis Cook, Malkus, and
Plesha
3. Fundamentalsof FiniteElementAnalysis DavidV. Hutton
4. FiniteElement ProceduresByBathe, 2ndEdition 4. FiniteElement ProceduresByBathe, 2ndEdition
5. Structural AnalysisByCoates, CoutieandKong.
6. The Finite Element Method: Volume-1 The Basis By Zienkiewicz and Taylor,
5thEdition
7. TheFiniteElement MethodusingMATLAB ByKwonandBang
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
COMMON ANALYSIS METHODS
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
THE PROCESS OF FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
Example: A bracket
Modeling a physical problem
Physical Problem
Mathematical Model
Improve
mathematical
model
Change
physical
problem
Numerical model
Does answer
make sense?
Refine analysis
Happy J
YES!
No!
Design improvements
Structural optimization
Example: A bracket
Modeling a physical problem
Verification and validation
Physical Problem
Mathematical Model
Validation
Numerical model
Verification
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
q Many problems in engineering and applied science are governed by
differential or integral equations.
q The solutions to these equations would provide an exact, closed-form
solutiontotheparticular problembeingstudied.
q However, complexities in the geometry, properties and in the boundary
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
q However, complexities in the geometry, properties and in the boundary
conditions that areseeninmost real-worldproblems usually means that an
exact solution cannot be obtained or obtained in a reasonable amount of
time.
q Current product designcycletimes imply that engineers must obtaindesign
solutionsinashort amount of time.
q They are content to obtain approximate solutions that can be readily
obtainedinareasonabletimeframe, andwithreasonableeffort. TheFEM
isonesuchapproximatesolutiontechnique.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
q THE FEM IS A NUMERICAL PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING
APPROXIMATE SOLUTIONS TO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS
ENCOUNTEREDINENGINEERINGANALYSIS.
q In the FEM, a complex region defining a continuum is discretized into
simplegeometricshapescalledelements.
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
q The properties and the governing relationships are assumed over these
elements and expressed mathematically in terms of unknown values at
specificpointsintheelementscallednodes.
q An assembly process is used to link the individual elements to the given
system. Whentheeffectsof loadsandboundaryconditionsareconsidered, a
set of linear or nonlinear algebraicequationsisusuallyobtained.
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
set of linear or nonlinear algebraicequationsisusuallyobtained.
q Solution of these equations gives the approximate behavior of the
continuumor system.
q Thecontinuumhas aninfinitenumber of degrees-of-freedom(DOF), while
thediscretized model has afinitenumber of DOF. This is theorigin of the
name, finiteelement method.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
q The number of equations is usually rather large for most real-world
applications of the FEM, and requires the computational power of the
digital computer. THE FEM HAS LITTLE PRACTICAL VALUE IF
THE DIGITAL COMPUTER WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
q Advances in and ready availability of computers and softwarehas brought
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
q Advances in and ready availability of computers and softwarehas brought
the FEM within reach of engineers working in small industries, and even
students.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
q It is difficult to document the exact origin of the FEM, because the basic
conceptshaveevolvedover aperiodof 150or moreyears.
q The termfinite element was first coined by Clough in 1960. In the early
1960s, engineers used themethod for approximatesolution of problems in
stressanalysis, fluidflow, heat transfer, andother areas.
ORIGINS OF THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
stressanalysis, fluidflow, heat transfer, andother areas.
q The first book on the FEM by Zienkiewicz and Chung was published in
1967.
q Inthelate1960sandearly1970s, theFEM wasappliedtoawidevarietyof
engineeringproblems.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
q The 1970s marked advances in mathematical treatments, including the
developmentof newelements, andconvergencestudies.
q Most commercial FEM software packages originated in the 1970s
(ABAQUS, ADINA, ANSYS, MARK) and 1980s (FENRIS, LARSTRAN
80)
ORIGINS OF THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
q The FEM is one of the most important developments in computational
methods to occur in the 20th century.
q Injust afewdecades, themethodhasevolvedfromonewithapplicationsin
structural engineering to a widely utilized and richly varied computational
approachfor manyscientificandtechnological areas.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
Therangeof applicationsof finiteelementsistoolargetolist, but toprovide
anideaof itsversatilitywelist thefollowing:
q Stress and thermal analyses of industrial parts such as electronic chips,
electric devices, valves, pipes, pressure vessels, automotive engines and
aircraft;
q Analysisof dams, power plantsandhigh-risebuildings;
q Crashanalysisof cars, trainsandaircraft;
APPLICATIONS OF FINITE ELEMENTS
q Crashanalysisof cars, trainsandaircraft;
q Fluid flow analysis of coolant ponds, contaminants, and air in ventilation
systems;
q Electromagneticanalysisof antennasandtransistors.
q Analysis of surgical procedures such as plastic surgery, jawreconstruction,
andmanyothers.
This is a very short list that is just intended to give you an idea of the
breadth of application areas for the method. New areas of application are
constantly emerging.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
APPLICATIONS OF FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
APPLICATIONS OF FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
WHAT DOES A FINITE ELEMENT LOOK LIKE?
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
GENERAL STEPS OF THE FEM
q Step-1 Obtain a basic understanding of the problem youareattemptingto
solve. Are any classical solutions (closed-form) available? Experimental
solutions are possible? Which modes of deformation do you expect to
significantlycontributetothestructuresbehavior?
q Step-2 Create model, select element types and discretize the problem
domain. This entails dividingthecontinuous structureinto afinitenumber of
elements or regions over which the unknowns (displacements, in this class)
will beinterpolated. will beinterpolated.
Some Basic Element Shapes
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
GENERAL STEPS OF THE FEM
q Step-3 Select an approximate displacement function within each element.
Linear, quadratic, or cubic polynomials are frequently used to interpolate
displacement values, within each element, from the element nodes. The
number of nodesincreaseswithorder.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
GENERAL STEPS OF THE FEM
q Step-4 Describe the behavior of the physical quantities on each element.
q Step-5 Connect (assemble) the elements at the nodes to form an
approximate system of equations for the whole structure.
q Step-6 Solve the system of equations involving unknown quantities at the
nodes (e.g., displacements).
q Step-7 Calculate desired quantities (e.g., strains and stresses) at selected q Step-7 Calculate desired quantities (e.g., strains and stresses) at selected
elements
FEM model for a gear tooth
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
ADVANTAGES OF THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
q Canreadilyhandlecomplexgeometry: Theheart andpower of theFEM.
q Canhandlecomplexanalysistypes:
Vibration
Transients
Nonlinear
Heat transfer
Fluids
q Canhandlecomplexloading:
Node-basedloading(point loads).
Element-basedloading(pressure, thermal, inertial forces).
Timeor frequencydependent loading.
q Canhandlecomplexrestraints:
Indeterminatestructurescanbeanalyzed.
q Canhandlebodiescomprisedof non-homogeneousmaterials:
Every element in themodel could beassigned adifferent set of material
properties.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
ADVANTAGES OF THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
q Canhandlebodiescomprisedof non-isotropicmaterials:
Orthotropic
Anisotropic
q Special material effectsarehandled:
Temperaturedependent properties.
Plasticity
Creep
Swelling
q Special geometriceffectscanbemodeled: q Special geometriceffectscanbemodeled:
Largedisplacements.
Largerotations.
Contact (gap) condition
q Versatility the method can be applied to various problems with
arbitraryproblemdomainshape, loadingconditions, andboundaryconditions.
q Accuracy Control Solution can be as accurate as desired provided that the
element formulation is proper. By increasing the number of elements (and thus
nodes) in the problemdiscretization (mesh), the solution should converge to the
exact or analytical solution.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
DISADVANTAGES OF THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
q A specific numerical result is obtainedfor aspecific problem. A general closed-form
solution, which would permit one to examine systemresponse to changes in various
parameters, isnot produced.
q TheFEM isappliedtoan approximation of the mathematical model of asystem(the
sourceof so-calledinheritederrors.)
q Experience and judgment are needed in order to construct a good finite element
model.
q Input and output data may be large and tedious to prepare and interpret.
q Numerical problems:
Roundoff anderror accumulation.
Can help thesituation by not attaching stiff (small) elements to flexible
(large) elements.
q Susceptible to user-introduced modeling errors:
Poor choiceof element types.
Distortedelements.
Geometrynot adequatelymodeled.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
HOW CAN THE FEM HELP THE DESIGN ENGINEER?
q The FEM offers many important advantages to the design engineer Easily applied to
complex, irregular-shaped objects composed of several different materials and having
complex boundary conditions.
q Applicabletosteady-state, time dependent and eigenvalue problems.
q Applicabletolinear and nonlinear problems.
q One method can solve a wide variety of problems, including problems in solid
mechanics, fluid mechanics, chemical reactions, electromagnetics, biomechanics, heat mechanics, fluid mechanics, chemical reactions, electromagnetics, biomechanics, heat
transfer andacoustics, tonameafew.
q General-purpose FEM software packages are available at reasonable cost, and can be
readilyexecutedonmicrocomputers, includingworkstationsandPCs.
q The FEM can be coupled to CAD programs to facilitate solid modeling and mesh
generation.
q Many FEM software packages feature GUI interfaces, auto-meshers, and sophisticated
postprocessors and graphics to speed the analysis and make pre and post-processing
more user-friendly.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
HOW CAN THE FEM HELP THE DESIGN ORGANIZATION?
SimulationusingtheFEM alsooffersimportant business advantages to the design
organization:
q Reduced testing and redesign costs thereby shortening the product
development time.
q Identify issues in designs before tooling is committed. q Identify issues in designs before tooling is committed.
q Refine components before dependencies to other components prohibit changes.
q Optimize performance before prototyping.
q Discover design problems before litigation.
q Allow more time for designers to use engineering judgment, and less time
turning the crank.
Engineering Design
Example: A bracket
Questions:
1. What is the bending moment at section AA?
2. What is the deflection at the pin?
Finite Element Procedures, K J Bathe
Engineering design
Example: A bracket
Mathematical model 1: beam
Moment at section AA
cm 053 . 0
AG
6
5
) r L ( W
EI
) r L ( W
3
1
cm N 500 , 27
WL M
N
3
N
W load at
=
+
+
+
= d
=
=
Deflection at load
How reliable is this model?
How effective is this model?
Engineering design
Example: A bracket
Mathematical model 2: plane stress
Difficult to solve by hand!
Engineering design
Finite element analysis
PREPROCESSING
1. Create a geometric model
2. Develop the finite element model
Finite element model Solid model
Engineering design
..General scenario..
Finite element analysis
FEM analysis scheme
Step 1: Divide the problem domain into non
overlapping regions (elements) connected to
each other through special points (nodes)
Finite element model
Element
Node
Engineering design
..General scenario..
Finite element analysis
FEM analysis scheme
Step 2: Describe the behavior of each element
Step 3: Describe the behavior of the entire body by
putting together the behavior of each of the
elements (this is a process known as assembly)
POSTPROCESSING
Compute moment at section AA
Engineering design
Example: A bracket
Mathematical model 2: plane stress
FEM solution to mathematical model 2 (plane stress)
Moment at section AA
cm 064 . 0
cm N 500 , 27 M
W load at
= d
=
Deflection at load
cm 064 . 0
W load at
= d
Conclusion: With respect to the questions we posed, the beam model is
reliable if the required bending moment and deflection at the required points are
within acceptable range. Here the beammodel is also highly effective since it can
be solved easily (by hand).
What if we asked: what is the maximum stress in the bracket?
would the beam model be of any use?