What are the general procedure for finite element analysis?

 Preprocessing
 Solution
 Postprocessing

Preprocessing
– Define the geometric domain of the problem.
– Define the element type(s) to be used
– Define the material properties of the elements.
– Define the geometric properties of the elements (length, area, and the like).
– Define the element connectivities (mesh the model).
– Define the physical constraints (boundary conditions). Define the loadings.

Solution
– computes the unknown values of the primary field variable(s)
– computed values are then used by back substitution to compute additional, derived variables,
such as reaction forces, element stresses, and heat flow.

Postprocessing
–Postprocessor software contains sophisticated routines used for sorting, printing, and plotting selected
results from a finite element solution

List some Common FEA Applications.

Mechanical/Aerospace/Civil/Automotive Engineering
Structural/Stress Analysis Static/Dynamic
Linear/Nonlinear
Fluid Flow
Heat Transfer
Electromagnetic Fields
Soil Mechanics
Acoustics
Bio Mechanics

What is Structural Analysis?

Structural analysis is used to determine deformations, strains, stresses, and reaction forces.

What is Static Analysis?

Used for static loading conditions.
Nonlinear behavior such as large deflections, large strain, contact, plasticity, hyperelasticity, and creep
can be simulated.

What is Dynamic Analysis?

Includes mass and damping effects.
 Modal analysis calculates natural frequencies and mode shapes.
Harmonic analysis determines a structure’s response to sinusoidal loads of known amplitude and
frequency.
Transient Dynamic analysis determines a structure’s response to time-varying loads and can include
nonlinear behavior

What is Thermal Analysis?

Thermal analysis is used to determine the temperature distribution in an object. Other quantities of
interest include amount of heat lost or gained, thermal gradients, and thermal flux.

What is Electromagnetics Analysis?

Electromagnetic analysis is used to calculate magnetic fields in electromagnetic devices.
Static and low-frequency electromagnetics

Who should use Finite Element Analysis?

As a powerful tool for engineering analysis, FEA is used to solve problems ranging from very simple to
very complex. Design engineers use FEA during the product development process to analyze the design-
in-progress. Time constraints and limited availability of product data call for many simplifications of the
analysis models. At the other end of scale, specialized analysts implement FEA to solve very advanced
problems, such as vehicle crash dynamics, hydro forming, or air bag deployment. This book focuses on
how design engineers use FEA as a design tool. Therefore, we first need to explain what exactly
distinguishes FEA performed by design engineers from "regular" FEA. We will then highlight the most
essential FEA characteristics for design engineers as opposed to those for analysts.

FEA for Design Engineers: another design tool

For design engineers, FEA is one of many design tools among CAD, Prototypes, spreadsheets, catalogs,
data bases, hand calculations, text books, etc. that are all used in the design process.
FEA for Design Engineers: based on CAD models Modern design is conducted using CAD tools, so a CAD
model is the starting point for analysis. Since CAD models are used for describing geometric information
for FEA, it is essential to understand how to design in CAD in order to produce reliable FEA results, and
how a CAD model is different from FEA model.

FEA for Design Engineers: concurrent with the design process

Since FEA is a design tool, it should be used concurrently with the design process. It should keep up with,
or better yet, drive the design process. Analysis iterations must be performed fast, and since these
results are used to make design decisions, the results must be reliable even when limited input is
available.

Limitations of FEA for Design Engineers

As you can see, FEA used in the design environment must meet high requirements. An obvious question
arises: would it be better to have dedicated specialist perform FEA and let design engineers do what
they do best - design new products? The answer depends on the size of the business, type of products,
company organization and culture, and many other tangible and intangible factors. A general consensus
is that design engineers should handle relatively simple types of analysis, but do it quickly and of course
reliably. Analyses that are very complex and time consuming cannot be executed concurrently with the
design process, and are usually better handled either by a dedicated analyst or contracted out to
specialized consultants.

Name the variational methods.

1. Ritz method
2. Rayleigh –Ritz method

2. Name the weighted residual methods.

1. Point collocation method
2. Sub-domain collocation method
3. Least squares method
4. Galerkin’s method.

3. What is Raleigh – Ritz method?

Rayleigh-Ritz method is an integral method which is useful for solving complex structural problems,
encountered in finite element analysis. This method is possible only if a suitable functional is available.

4. What is meant by discretisation and assembly?

The art of sub dividing the structure into a convenient number of smaller components is known as
discretisation. The smaller components are put together and this process of combining all the elements
together is known as assemblage.
5. What is aspects ratio?
Aspect ratio is the ratio of the largest dimension of the element to the smallest dimension of the
element. In many cases, if the aspect ratio increases the inaccuracy of the solution increases. The aspect
ratio should be close to unity as for as possible.

6. What is meant by finite element analysis?

A finite element method is a numerical method for solving problems of engineering and mathematical
physics. In this method, instead of solving the problem for the entire body in one operation, we
formulate equations for each element and combine the m to obtain the solution for the whole body.

7. What are the types of boundary condition?

There are two types of boundary condition. They are:
1. Primary boundary condition
2. Secondary boundary condition

8. What are the methods generally associated with the finite element analysis?
Force method and Displacement or stiffness method are the two methods.

9. Explain force method.

In force method, internal forces are considered as unknowns of the problem. In displacement or
stiffness method, the displacements are considered as unknowns of the problem. Among the two
methods , displacement method is desirable.

10. Why polynomial type of interpolation functions are mostly used due to the following reasons:
1. It is easy to formulate and computerize the finite element equations
2. It is easy to perform differentiation or integration
3. The accuracy of the results can be improved by increasing the order of the polynomial

Name any four FEA software’s.

1. Ansys
2. NASTRAN
3. COSMOS
4. NISA
5. ABAQUS

List the Advantages of Finite Element Method

1. FEM can handle irregular geometry in a convenient manner.
2. Handles general load conditions without difficulty
3. Non – homogeneous materials can be handled easily.
4. Higher order elements may be implemented.

List the Disadvantages of Finite Element Method

1. It requires a digital computer and fairly extensive
2. It requires longer execution time compared with FEM.
3. Output result will vary considerably

State the methods of engineering analysis.

There are three methods of engineering analysis. They are
1. Experimental Method
2. Analytical Method
3. Numerical Method (or) Approximate Method

What is meant by node or joint?

Each kind of finite element has a specific structural shear and is interconnected
with the adjacent element by node points (or) nodes. At the nodes, degrees of freedom
are located. The forces will act at nodes and not at any other place in the element.

What is Structural and non-structural problems?

Structural Problems
In structural problems, displacement at each nodal point is obtained. By using these displacement
solutions, stress and strain in each element can be calculated.
Non-Structural Problems:
In Non-Structural problems, temperature or fluid pressure at each nodal point is obtained. By using
these values, properties such as heat flow, fluid flow, etc., for each element can be calculated.

What are the types loading acting on a structure?

There are three type of loading acting on a structure. They are,
1. Body force (f)
2. Traction force (T)
3. Point load (P)

Define body force.

A body force is distributed force acting on every elemental volume of the body.
Unit: force per unit volume

Define traction force.

Traction force is defined as distributed force acting on the surface of the body.
Unit: Force per unit area
Examples: Frictional resistance, viscous

What is a point load?

Point load is load acting at a particular point which causes displacement.

What are the basic steps involved in the finite element modeling.
Finite element modeling consists of the following:
1. Discretisation of the structure
2. Numbering of the nodes.

What are the classifications of the co-ordinates?

The co-ordinates are generally classified as ,
1. Global co-coordinates
2. Local Co-ordinates
3. Natural co-ordinates

What are natural co-ordinates?

A natural co-ordinate system is used to define any point inside the element by a set of
dimensionless numbers, whose magnitude never exceeds unity. This system is useful in
assembling of stiffness matrices.

Define shape function.

In finite element method, field variables within an element are generally expressed by

the following approximate relation:

where 1 2 3 are the values of the field variable at the nodes and N1 N2 N3 are interpolation function N1
N2 N3 are called shape functions because they are used to express the geometry or shape of the
element.
What are the characteristics of shape function?
The characteristics of the shape functions are follows:

Why polynomials are generally used as shape function?

Polynomials are generally used as shape functions due to the following reasons:
1. Differentiation and integration of polynomials are quite easy.
2. The accuracy of the results can be improved by increasing the order of the
polynomial.
3. It is easy to formulate and computerize the finite element equations.

What are the two methods used for the analysis of a problem in FEM?
(a) Force method: Here the forces are unknown (minimum complimentary energy
method)
(b) Displacement Method: Here the displacements are unknown (minimum potential
energy method)

Define DEGREES OF FREEDOM

Degrees of freedom (DOFs) characterize the response of a field.

What are the different approximate solution methods?

Finite Element method, Finite difference method and quadrature method.

What do you mean by continuum?

A continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other,
although the extremes are quite distinct.
A continuous extent, succession, or whole, no part of which can be distinguished from neighboring parts
except by arbitrary division.

Define term node?

In the FEM, the structural system is modeled by a set of appropriate finite elements interconnected at
points called nodes
A node is a specific point in the finite element at which the value of the field variable is to be
determined.
Nodes are the selected finite points at which basic unknowns (displacements in elasticity problems) are
to be determined in the finite element analysis
Define term element?
In a continuum, unknowns are many. The FE procedure reduces such unknowns to a finite no. by diving
the solution regimes into small parts called elements
What is convergence?
Convergence refers to how close the FEM solution is to the exact solution

What are the types convergence?

h - method and p-method
What is p-convergence?
Large elements and complex shape functions are used in p-method problems. In order to increase the
accuracy of the solution, the complexity of the shape function must be increased. The mesh does not
need to be changed when using the p-method.
Increasing the polynomial order increases the complexity of the shape function. As an initial run, the
solution might be solved using a first order polynomial shape function. A solution is obtained. To check
the solution the problem will be solved again using a more complicated shape function. For the second
run, the solution may be solved using a third order polynomial shape function. A second solution is
obtained. The output from the two runs is compared. If there is a large difference between the two
solutions, then the solution should be run using a third order polynomial shape function. This process is
repeated until the solution is not changing much from run to run.

What is h convergence?
Simple shape functions and many small elements are used in h-method problems. In order to increase
the accuracy of the solution, more elements must be added. This means creating a finer mesh.
As an initial run, a course mesh is used to model the problem. A solution is obtained. To check this
solution, a finer mesh is created. The mesh must always be changed if a more accurate solution is
desired. The problem is run again to obtain a second solution. If there is a large difference between the
two solutions, then the mesh must be made even finer and then solve the solution again. This process is
repeated until the solution is not changing much from run to run.
When using an h-method finite element program (such as ANSYS), the user must run two or more
solutions to ensure that the solution has converged. The user runs the solution with one mesh and then
changes the mesh and reruns the solution.

What is higher order elements?

If the interpolation polynomial is of the order two or more, the element is known as Higher order
elements.
Give example for higher order elements.
Quadratic bar element, cubic bar element etc..

What are the steps involved in FEA?

Discretization of the continuum, Selection of displacement models, Deriving element stiffness matrix,
assemblage of elemental equations to obtain overall equilibrium equations, Applying boundary
conditions, Solution for unknown nodal displacements and Computation of strain, stress and reaction
solution.

What is displacement function?

The displacement function, uniquely defines strain within an element in terms of nodal displacements.

Mention different types of elements.

Simplex elements,complex elements and multiplex elements; Based on their geometry they are
classified as ID,2D,3D and axis symmetric elements.

Mention some application of FEA.

Stress analysis of bars, beams, trusses, buckling problems, Heat transfer problems, fluid flow problems,
bio medical areas etc.

Define symmetry in matrix.

A symmetric matrix is a square matrix that is equal to its transpose

What is plane stress?

Plane stress is defined to be a state of stress in which the normal stress and shear stress directed
perpendicular to the plane are assumed to be zero e.g. thin plate with hole

What is plane strain?

Plane strain is defined to be a state of strain in which normal strain and shear strain normal to the XY
plane are assumed to be zero.

Compare FEA with solid mechanics.

Finitie element analysis can be applied to any continous matter where you can divide the situation into
small elements (usually triangular) and apply a set of edge constraints and then use a computer to solve
for the area of concern for whatever the value under investigation is e.g. temperarture, flow rate, stress,
shear, bending moment etc.
So Solid mechanics is the study of things as shear, stress, etc. and they use FEA as a tool but FEA can be
applied to many other fields e.g fluid mechanics thermodynamics, etc.

What are the packages available for FEA?

STAAD-PRO, GT-STRUDEL, NASTRAN, NISA and ANSYS

Difference between global coordinate and local coordinate?

What is local coordinate?
For the convenience of deriving element properties, in FEM many times for each element a separate
coordinate system is used known as local coordinate system \
What is global coordinate?
The coordinate system used to define the points in the entire structure is called global coordinate
system.

What is shape function?

Function which relates the field variable at any point within the element to the field variables of nodal
points is called shape function.

45. What are anisotropic elements?

The property of the material is not same along all the directions; such materials are called anisotropic
elements.
46. What are isotropic elements?
The property of the material is same along all the directions; such materials are called isotropic
elements.
Different methods to solve weighed residual problem.
Galerkin method, Collocation method, Sub domain method

Define Young's Modulus and Poisson's Ratio.

Within the limits of elasticity, the ratio of the linear stress to the linear strain is termed the modulus of
elasticity or Young's Modulus and may be written Young's Modulus, or E =(Stress/Strain) It is this
property that determines how much a bar will sag under its own weight or under a loading when used
as a beam within its limit of proportionality. For steel, Young's Modulus is of the order of 205000
N/mm2.
Ratio of decrease in the thickness (lateral contraction) of a body being pulled (under a tensile load) to its
increase in length (longitudinal extension). It is constant for a material, around 0.28 for ordinary steels.
Named after its discoverer, the French mathematician Simeon-Davis Poisson (1781-1840).

Mention different types of elastic constants.

(i)Modulus of Elasticity or Young's Modulus (E)
Modulus of Elasticity is the ratio of direct stress to corresponding linear strain within elastic limit. If p is
any direct stress below the elastic limit and e the corresponding linear strain, then E = p / e.
(ii)Modulus of Rigidity or Shear Modulus (G)
Modulus of Rigidity is the ratio of shear stress to shear strain within elastic limit. It is denoted by N,C or
G. if q is the shear stress within elastic limit and f the corresponding shear strain, then G = q / f.
(111) Bulk Modulus (K)
Bulk Modulus is the ratio of volumetric stress to volumetric strain within the elastic limit.
If pv is the volumetric stress within elastic limit and ev the corresponding volumetric strain, we have K =
pv / ev.

Which is the most accepted form of numerical integration in FEM?

Gaussian quadrature