Overview of FEM (Geo.)

Question 1

List steps

Answer 1

1. Discretisation
2. Element equation
3. Global equations
4. BC
5. Solution of global equations

Question 2

Discretisation

Answer 2

model the problem using finite elements in the form of a mesh

Question 3

Element equations

Answer 3

Derived based on an appropriate variational principle such as min. potential E

[Ke]{de} = {Re}, with Re being the element nodal F

Question 4

Global equations

Answer 4

Assembly of all the element matrices

Question 5

Solution of global equations

Answer 5

-get nodal displacements
-solve for strains, {epsilon}=[D]{dg}
-solve for stresses, {sigma}=[D]{epsilon}

Question 6

Possible issues

Answer 6

-Discretisation
-Application of BC
-Inappropriate constitutive model