FINITE ELEMENT
ANALYSIS
When the behaviour of an
element due to external
impacts is analyzed, the
behaviour of the system
can be predicted.
I
n the modern era, almost everything that is utilized for mankind’s
beneficence has reached their utmost
extents and they are attempting to
be further modified. A little idea born in
someone’s mind, then fertilized by creativity and innovation has built the environment that we observe today. It is not
needed to emphasize that Mathematics
and Engineering are the piers holding
this development achieved by human
beings.
Finite
Element
DESIGN USING
Method can be identified
as one of the strongest
branches of Mathematics
VIRTUAL
FINITE ELEMENT
which has enabled the engineers to
create the modern wonders.
ANALYSIS
Source: www.tuvnel.com
The most common method to analyze an
engineering problem is to convert the
lems could not be cracked therefore the
differential equation in closed form, the
problem into a differential equation using
requirement of an alternative method is
behaviour of the system can be predicted.
physical laws. Then a solution to the
aroused. Finding an approximate solution
However, when a complete system/ struc-
differential equation which represents
for complex engineering problems using
ture becomes more and more complex
the behaviour of physical system can be
numerical methods is introduced as an
and hard to analyze, it is much more
obtained by solving the differential equa-
answer for this requirement and further
convenient to deal with the elements
tion in closed form.
Nevertheless, the
developments of this numerical model-
contained within the structure. When the
difficulty arises when solving many dif-
ling has constructed the finite element
behaviour of an element due to external
ferential equations representing complex
methods into its present status.
impacts is analyzed, the behaviour of
engineering problems. The mathematical
the system/ structure can be predicted
knowledge we acquire is not powerful
Basically, a mathematical model can be
enough to solve many of such differential
developed to represent the behaviour
equations in closed form. As the solutions
of actual physical system in the form
It is quite difficult to quote an exact
cannot be obtained, the physical prob-
of differential equations. By solving the
date of the introduction of finite element
26
Gauge Newsletter
University of Peradeniya
depending on those results of elements.