Finite Element Applications: A Practical Guide to the FEM Process

This textbook demonstrates the application of the finite element philosophy to the solution of real-world problems and is aimed at graduate level students, but is also suitable for advanced undergraduate students. An essential part of an engineer’s training is the development of the skills necessary to analyse and predict the behaviour of engineering systems under a wide range of potentially complex loading conditions. Only a small proportion of real-life problems can be solved analytically, and consequently, there arises the need to be able to use numerical methods capable of simulating real phenomena accurately. The finite element (FE) method is one such widely used numerical method.

Finite Element Applications begins with demystifying the ‘black box’ of finite element solvers and progresses to addressing the different pillars that make up a robust finite element solution framework. These pillars include: domain creation, mesh generation and element formulations, boundary conditions, and material response considerations. Readers of this book will be equipped with the ability to develop models of real-world problems using industry-standard finite element packages.

Dr. Michael Okereke is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering Mechanics at University of Greenwich, UK where he leads research in computational mechanics, impact engineering and constitutive model development for different engineering materials. He obtained his PhD from University of Oxford and has researched extensively on the impact behaviour and micromechanics of composite materials. He teaches both undergraduate and post-graduate engineering mechanics courses, with a specific focus on finite element modelling. He also collaborates with commercial organizations on use of computational mechanics to improve their product design, material modelling and manufacturing processes.

Professor Simeon Keates is Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Engineering and Science at the University of Greenwich. He obtained his MA and PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge and continued his work there as an Industrial Research Fellow in the Engineering Design Centre. His research interests are primarily in design, simulation, optimisation and mathematical modeling.