FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS.

Running head: FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
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FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
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Question 1:
Describe the basic approach to finite element analysis in the engineering context.
Finite element analysis or FET is a process of analysing how a product performs when it is
exposed to various forces which the product might encounter during application in real-
worlds. These forces includes vibration, heat, fluid flow, and other physical effects. This
provides a comprehensive idea of durability and quality of the product along with details
regarding the performance of the product when it is considered for application (Kurowski
2017). However, it is important to note that this process is not executed manually and it is
completely automated for which computerised methods are considered.
In order to execute the finite element analysis, the approach is to breakdown a real object in
different numbers of finite elements which ranges from thousands to hundreds of thousands
for example little cubes. Now in this context, different mathematical equations are considered
for predicting the behaviour of each of the elements which is then combined and analysed by
a computer for predicting the behaviour in reference to the actual object considered in this
analysis
Question 2:
Define degrees of freedom (DOF) using 3 typical examples.
Degree of freedom refers to the minimum number of variables that is required to describe the
position as well as configuration of dynamic system in the space (Filippi, Carrera and
Zenkour 2015)

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If a rigid body is kept in space, then there is 3 transitional as well as 3 rotational motion is
possible. Therefore, the degree of freedom is 6 in this context
If a rigid body is kept in plane, then there is 2 transitional and 1 rotational motion is possible.
Therefore, the degree of freedom is 3 in this context
Question 3:
Define and briefly discuss the following with appropriate examples:
(a) Static analysis: static analysis is the process of analysing the behaviour of a physical
structure when it is subjected to a load which is applied slowly on the structure without
significant acceleration in reference to the natural frequency of the structure (Filippi, Carrera
and Zenkour 2015)
(b) Dynamic analysis: dynamic analysis refers to the process of analysing the behaviour of a
physical structure when it is subjected to a load which is applied suddenly on the structure
with significant acceleration in reference to the natural frequency of the structure (Kurowski
2017)
(c) Transient analysis: transient analysis refers to the process of analysing the behaviour of a
physical structure due to some applied load where the load varies with time (Filippi, Carrera
and Zenkour 2015)
(d) Linear analysis: linear analysis is referred to structural analysis where there is a linear
relationship between the applied force and the displacement. Therefore, in this type of
analysis, it is possible to determine the displacement of the structure through some linear
equation if the applied force is known and defined properly for the analysis (Komzsik 2016)

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
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(e) Nonlinear analysis: non-linear analysis is referred to structural analysis where there is no
linear relationship defined between the applied force and the displacement. Therefore, in this
type of analysis, it requires some complex non-linear equations to determine the displacement
of the structure because it is not possible to determine this through some linear equation even
if the applied force is known and defined properly for the analysis (Labiod et al. 2017)
Question 4:
(a) What is axisymmetry?
Axisymmetry is referred to a different type of rotational symmetry and in this symmetry,
rotation of a one or two-dimensional shape is considered which include a 360 degrees
rotation about a central axis (Wan et al. 2016)
(b) How is it significant in a modelling context?
The main application of Axisymmetry in modelling context is that it reduces 3D structure
problems into 2D structure problem (Wan et al. 2016). The benefit of 2D approximation is
that it reduces computational time due to less number of elements. Along with that it also
increase accuracy in the mesh generation and convergence error is reduced as well.
(c) What are the governing conditions for axisymmetry?
In axisymmetry, it is not only enough for the structure to be symmetric about the axis, the
boundary conditions and other related parameters of the structure need to be symmetric as
well about the axis as well