1. Descretize the given continuum.

2. Select a proper interpolation or displacement

model.
3. Derive element stiffness matrices and load
vectors.
4. Assemble element equations to obtain the
overall equilibrium equations.
5. Solve for the unknown nodal displacements.
6. Compute element strains and stresses.
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• In the most engineering problems, values of a field
variable such as displacement, stress, temperature,
pressure, and velocity as a function of spatial
coordinates (x, y, z) to be estimated.
• In the case of transient or unsteady-state problems, the
field variable has to be found as a function of not only
the spatial coordinates (x, y, z) but also time (t).
• And the geometry (domain or solution region) of the
problem is often irregular.
• As a first step, discretization, irregular domain broken
into smaller and regular subdomains (finite elements).
• Or it is replacing the domain having an infinite number
of degrees of freedom (dof) by a system having a finite
number of dof. 2
• Choosing the shapes, sizes, number, and configurations
of the elements is important.

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• Choosing the shapes, sizes, number, and configurations
of the elements is important.
• If the geometry, material properties, and the field
variable of the problem can be described in terms of a
single spatial coordinate, 1D or line elements are
chosen.

• T distribution in a rod (or fin), the pressure distribution

in a pipe flow, and the deformation of a bar under axial
load etc., 1D element are chosen.

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• Analysis of beams, the values of the field variable
(transverse displacement) and its derivative (slope) are
chosen as the unknowns (dof) at each node, the
following 1D element is chosen.

• When the configuration and other details of the

problem can be described in terms of two independent
spatial coordinates, we can use the 2D elements.
• The basic element useful for two-dimensional analysis is
the triangular element.

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• Use of quadrilateral (or rectangle or parallelogram)
elements is advantageous. For the bending analysis of
plates, multiple dof (transverse displacement and its
derivatives) are used at each node.

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• If the geometry, material
properties, and other
parameters of the body
can be described by three
independent spatial
coordinates, we can
idealize the body by using
the three-dimensional
elements..

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• For the discretization of problems involving curved
geometries, finite elements with curved sides are
useful.
• Typical elements having curved boundaries are shown.
• The ability to model curved boundaries has been made
possible by the addition of mid-side nodes.
• Finite elements with straight sides are known as linear
elements, whereas those with curved sides are called
higher-order elements.

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9
Discretization process
1. Type of Elements:

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Aircraft wing using
different types of
elements.

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The more suitable element that suits the problem.
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2. Size of Elements: If the size of the elements is small,
the final solution is expected to be more accurate. Use
of smaller-sized elements will also mean more
computation time. Sometimes, elements of different
sizes in the same body may to be used.

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3. Location of Nodes:

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4. Number of Elements: The number of elements to be
chosen for idealization is related to the accuracy
desired, size of elements, and the number of dof
involved.
Say Displacement

Region of coarse Region of fine Region of super

mesh mesh fine mesh

Say 1000 5000 10000 elements

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5. Simplifications
afforded by the
physical
configuration of
the body: If the
configuration of
the body as well
as the external
conditions are
symmetric, we
may consider only
half of the body
for finite element
idealization.
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What did we learn?
• What is descretization ?
• Why is it important ?
• Types of elements.
• Descretization process.

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