## Tuesday, October 4, 2011

### Numerical Math - The Finite Element Method (FEM)

From Landau [1], the ﬁnite element method (FEM) is explained as solving a PDE where the whole region or domain is subsectioned into smaller areas known as elements. Next an initial solution is formulated for the PDE in each of the elements.  The next step comes in the form of modifying the parameters of the initial formalization known as a best fit.

Pepper and Heinrich [2] open their FEM book by explaining that the method is a numerical formulation that solves physics and engineering models described by diﬀerential equations  (DEs). Similar to ﬁnite diﬀerence methods (FDM), FEM models a geometric region which is then broken up into a number of smaller subregions which results in a network known as a mesh. One diﬀerence between FDM and FEM includes mesh type (geometrically). The FDM requires that the network be made of orthogonal rows and columns (squares and rectangles) while the FEM does not require this limitation and can be, in fact, any shape such as triangles and/or quadrilaterals in two dimensions and tetrahedrons and/or hexahedrons in three dimensions.  Next, each FE is initialized with an approximate functions of the unknown variables for which to be solved. Expansions determine the variables approximations and appear as a linear or higher-order polynomials functions. These expansions, in turn, depend upon the geometric shape of the elements and location known as nodes. A second diﬀerence between FDM and FEM noted by Pepper and Heinrich [3] entails the solution method. The FEM integrates over each subregion then adds or connects them to make up the whole. This integration and summation engenders a set of ﬁnite linear equations per section which can then be solved utilizing linear algebra methods. Jiang [6] also discusses that FEM does not...

The network of elements and nodes or where these elements connect make up discrete systems such as a trusses, circuits, and ﬂuid transport pipes [5]. In order to solve for the system variables such as displacements, electric potentials, and pressures, one can begin with a known and simple parameter such as

Hooke’s Law:

$$F = \dfrac{\Delta L}{R} = E A \dfrac{\Delta L}{L}$$

Ohm’s Law:

$$i = \dfrac{\Delta V}{R} = \dfrac{A}{\rho} \dfrac{\Delta V}{L}$$

Poiseuille’s Law:

$$\dot{m} = \dfrac{\Delta p}{R} = \dfrac{\rho \pi D^4}{128 \mu} \dfrac{\Delta p}{L}$$

Jiang [6] notes that FEM has been utilized as one of the most general numerical techniques to solve DEs and done so with great success. Jiang even quotes Oden as

Perhaps no other family of approximation methods has had a greater impact on the theory and application of numerical methods during the twentieth century

In progress...to be continued.

References:

[1] O. C. Zienkiewicz, R. L. Taylor, and J. Z. Zhu. The Finite Element Method - It’s Basis and Fundamentals, 6th ed. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Burlington, MA. 2005

[1] R. H. Landau, M. J. Páez, and C. C. Bordeianu. A Survey of Computational Physics - Introductory Computational Science, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. 2008

[2] D. W. Pepper and J. C. Heinrich. The Finite Element Method: Basic Concepts and Applications, Taylor & Francis Hemisphere Publishing Corporation,. 1992

[4] J. C. Heinrich and D. W. Pepper. The Intermediate Finite Element Method: Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer Applications, Taylor & Francis Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, Washington, DC. 1999

[5] G. Comini, S. D. Giudice and C. Nonino. Finite Element Analysis in Heat Transfer: Basic Formulation & Linear Problems, Taylor & Francis Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, Washington, DC. 1994

[6] B.-N. Jiang. The Least-Squares Finite Element Method: Theory and Applications in Computational Fluid Dynamics and Electromagnetics, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany. 1998

[7] O. C. Zienkiewicz, R. L. Taylor, and P. Nithiarasu. The Finite Element Method for Fluid Dynamics, (Volume 3) 6th ed. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Burlington, MA. 2005