Book Bytes: free practical FEA guides
Short, practical guides adapted from the book Practical Finite Element Analysis for Mechanical Engineers by Dominique Madier.
Each Book Byte covers one topic of finite element analysis, from the definition of FEA and meshing to RBEs, bolted joints, contact, buckling and nonlinear analysis. They follow the order of the book, so you can read them as a complete learning path or jump straight to the topic you need.
- BOOK BYTE #1Defining FEAWhat finite element analysis is: numerical vs classical methods, why engineers need FEA, divide and conquer, and the balance between accuracy and cost.
- BOOK BYTE #2Working with FEAHow FEA helps engineers: the FEA process, software capabilities and outcomes, how accurate FEA is, why to do FEA and the inputs you need.
- BOOK BYTE #3Becoming an FEA SpecialistThe three stages of FEA learning, the main rule and main danger of FEA, what to learn, and 10 guidelines to become an FEA specialist.
- BOOK BYTE #4History of FEAThe history of FEA, from Hrennikoff and Courant in the 1940s to Clough, Argyris, Zienkiewicz, NASTRAN, ANSYS, ABAQUS and V&V standards.
- BOOK BYTE #5Basis of the FEM TheoryThe FEM equilibrium equation, element and global stiffness matrices, degrees of freedom, and how the solver uses the LDLáµ decomposition.
- BOOK BYTE #6Defining Your FEA StrategyPlan your finite element analysis before you model: the 10 steps to build an FEA strategy and the 14 questions to answer before you begin modeling.
- BOOK BYTE #7The Library of ElementsTruss, beam, spring, membrane, plate, shell and solid elements: their DOFs, practical uses, and how to choose the right finite element.
- BOOK BYTE #8MeshingHow to plan an FEA mesh, refine it, run a convergence study, apply 2D and 3D meshing rules, avoid common errors and make mesh transitions.
- BOOK BYTE #9Loads and Boundary ConditionsWhat boundary conditions are, why FEA needs them, constraint and load types, active DOFs by element type, and a strategy to define them well.
- BOOK BYTE #10RBEs and MPCsWhen to use RBE2 rigid elements, RBE3 interpolation elements or MPCs: Nastran, Ansys and Abaqus terms, key rules, and how to choose.
- BOOK BYTE #11Modeling Bolted JointsBolt behavior, when to model each fastener, rigid vs spring vs beam bolt models, and how to connect fastener elements to the mesh.
- BOOK BYTE #12Modeling ContactWhat contact is in FEA, why it is nonlinear, how solvers handle it, glued vs touching contact, rigid vs deformable bodies, and detection.
- BOOK BYTE #13SubmodelingWhat submodeling is, GFEM vs DFEM, Saint-Venant's principle, why it saves computing time, the two methods and six practical tips.
- BOOK BYTE #14Verification and ValidationVerification vs validation per ASME, the 18 accuracy checks, the mathematical checks, and how to correlate FEA with strain gauge tests.
- BOOK BYTE #15Understanding FEM OutputsStandard FEA outputs (displacements, element forces, stresses, reactions, free bodies), stresses by element type, and 10 post-processing rules.
- BOOK BYTE #16Linear Static AnalysisWhat linear static analysis is, its five assumptions, the 11 steps a solver follows to solve [K]{u} = {P}, and its six characteristics.
- BOOK BYTE #17Linear Buckling AnalysisWhat linear (eigenvalue) buckling predicts, its assumptions and limits, how to read load factors and mode shapes, and meshing rules.
- BOOK BYTE #18Modal AnalysisWhat modal analysis is, the eigen equation, Lanczos vs inverse power methods, what a mode is and is not, and why to run a modal analysis.
- BOOK BYTE #19Nonlinear Static Analysis, Part 1What a nonlinear system is, geometric, material and boundary nonlinearity, and the eight characteristics that set nonlinear FEA apart.
- BOOK BYTE #20Nonlinear Static Analysis, Part 2Newton-Raphson and modified Newton-Raphson, incremental loading, stiffness updates, convergence criteria and tolerances, convergence issues.
- BOOK BYTE #21Nonlinear Static Analysis, Part 3How to manage convergence problems in nonlinear FEA, find their cause step by step, and avoid the 8 most common nonlinear analysis mistakes.
- BOOK BYTE #22Nonlinear Buckling AnalysisWhen linear buckling is not enough, real vs false buckling on the load history path, post-buckling and arc-length methods explained.
- BOOK BYTE #23How to Choose the Right FEA SolutionDecision tables to choose static or dynamic, linear or nonlinear, buckling or normal mode FEA solutions before you run your analysis.
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