The Finite Element Method and Applications in Engineering Using ANSYS®

Abstract

The finite element method (FEM) has become a staple for predicting and simulating the physical behavior of complex engineering systems. The commercial finite element analysis (FEA) programs have gained common acceptance among engineers in industry and researchers at universities and government laboratories. Therefore, academic engineering departments include graduate or undergraduate senior-level courses that cover not only the theory of FEM but also its applications using the commercially available FEA programs. The goal of this book is to provide students with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the finite element method and the skills required to analyze engineering problems with ANSYS®, a commercially available FEA program. This book, designed for seniors and first-year graduate students, as well as practicing engineers, is introductory and self-contained in order to minimize the need for additional reference material. In addition to the fundamental topics in finite element methods, it presents advanced topics concerning modeling and analysis with ANSYS®. These topics are introduced through extensive examples in a step-by-step fashion from various engineering disciplines. The book focuses on the use of ANSYS® through both the Graphics User Interface (GUI) and the ANSYS® Parametric Design Language (APDL). Furthermore, it includes a CD-ROM with the “input” files for the example problems so that the students can regenerate them on their own computers. Because of printing costs, the printed figures and screen shots are all in gray scale. However, color versions are provided on the accompanying CD-ROM. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the concept of FEM.