The purpose of this third edition is again to provide a simple, basic approach to the finite element method that can be understood by both undergraduate and graduate students without the usual preerquisites [such as structural analysis] required by most available texts in this area. The book is written primarily as a basic learning tool for the undergraduate student in civil and mechanical engineering whose main interest is in stress analysis and heat transfer. However, the concepts are presented in sufficiently simple form so that the book serves as a valuable learning aid for students with other backgrounds, as well as for practicing engineers. The text is geared toward those who want to apply the finite element method to solve practical physical problems.
General principles are presented for each topic, followed by traditional applications of these principles, which are in turn followed by computer applications where relevant. This approach is taken to illustrate concepts used for computer analysis of large-scale problems.
The book proceeds from basic to advanced topics and can be suitably used in a two-course sequence. Topics include basic treatments of [1] simple springs and bars, leading to two-and three-dimensional truss analysis; [2] beam bending, leading to plane frame and grid analysis and apace frame analysis; [3] elementary plane stress / strain elements, leading to more advanced plane stress - strain elements; [4] axisymmertric stress; [5] isoparametric formulation of the finite element method; [6] threedimensional stress; [7] plate bending; [8] heat transfer and fluid mass transport; [9] basic fluid mechanics; [10] thermal stress; and [11] time-dependent stress and heat transfer.
1. Introduction
2. Introduction to the Stiffness (Displacement) Method
3. Development of Truss Equations
4. Development of Beam Equations
5. Frame and Grid Equations
6. Development of the Plane Stress and Plane Strain Stiffness Equations
7. Practical Considerations in Modeling; Interpreting Results; and Examples of Plane Stress / Strain Analysis
8. Development of the Linear - Strain Triangle Equations
9. Axisymmetric Elements
10. Isoparametric Formulation
etc.