Finite Element Methods For Structural Engineers

About the Book: The book presents the basic ideas of the finite element method so that it can be used as a textbook in the curriculum for undergraduate and graduate engineering courses. In the presentation of fundamentals and derivations care had been taken not to use an advanced mathematical approach, rather the use of matrix algebra and calculus is made. Further no effort is being made to include the intricacies of the computer programming aspect, rather the material is presented in a manner so that the readers can understand the basic principles using hand calculations. However, a list of computer codes is given. Several illustrative examples are presented in a detailed stepwise manner to explain the various steps in the application of the method. A fairly comprehensive references list at the end of each chapter is given for additional information and further study. About the Author: Wail N. Al-Rifaie is Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University College, Cardiff, U.K. in 1975. Dr. Wail established the Civil Engineering Department at the Engineering College in Baghdad and was the Head for nearly seven years. He received the Telford Premium Prize from the Institution of Civil Engineering (London) in 1976. His main areas of research are: Box girder bridge, folded plate structures, frames and shear walls including dynamic analysis. He is the author of three books on structural analysis in Arabic. Ashok K. Govil is Professor in the Department of Applied Mechanics, Motilal Nehru Regional Engineering College, Allahabad, India and was also Head of the same department for over five years. He obtained B.E. degree in Civil Engineering (1963) from BITS, Pilani, India, and M.S. (1969) and Ph.D., (1977) from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, U.S.A. Dr. Govil`s main areas of research are: Optimal design of structures, fail-safe design of structures, and finite element method. He has written several research papers and technical reports, and developed many computer programmes for optimal design of structures including dynamic analysis and vulnerability reduction.

Highlights of the book: Discussion about all the fields of Computer Aided Engineering, Finite Element Analysis Sharing of worldwide experience by more than 10 working professionals Emphasis on Practical usuage and minimum mathematics Simple language, more than 1000 colour images International quality printing on specially imported paper Why this book has been written ... FEA is gaining popularity day by day & is a sought after dream career for mechanical engineers. Enthusiastic engineers and managers who want to refresh or update the knowledge on FEA are encountered with volume of published books. Often professionals realize that they are not in touch with theoretical concepts as being pre-requisite and find it too mathematical and Hi-Fi. Many a times these books just end up being decoration in their book shelves ... All the authors of this book are from IIT€™s & IISc and after joining the industry realized gap between university education and the practical FEA. Over the years they learned it via interaction with experts from international community, sharing experience with each other and hard route of trial & error method. The basic aim of this book is to share the knowledge & practices used in the industry with experienced and in particular beginners so as to reduce the learning curve & avoid reinvention of the cycle. Emphasis is on simple language, practical usage, minimum mathematics & no pre-requisites. All basic concepts of engineering are included as & where it is required. It is hoped that this book would be helpful to beginners, experienced users, managers, group leaders and as additional reading material for university courses.

The book introduces the basic concepts of the finite element method in the static and dynamic analysis of beam, plate, shell and solid structures, discussing how the method works, the characteristics of a finite element approximation and how to avoid the pitfalls of finite element modeling. Presenting the finite element theory as simply as possible, the book allows readers to gain the knowledge required when applying powerful FEA software tools. Further, it describes modeling procedures, especially for reinforced concrete structures, as well as structural dynamics methods, with a particular focus on the seismic analysis of buildings, and explores the modeling of dynamic systems. Featuring numerous illustrative examples, the book allows readers to easily grasp the fundamentals of the finite element theory and to apply the finite element method proficiently.

The finite element method is widely employed for numerical simulations in engineering and science due to its accuracy and efficiency. This concise introduction to the mathematical theory of the finite element method presents a selection of applications in civil and mechanical engineering including beams, elastic membranes, the wave equation, heat transfer, seepage in embankment, soil consolidation, incompressible fluids, and linear elasticity. Jupyter notebooks containing all Python programs of each chapter can be downloaded from the book's companion website. Arzhang Angoshtari is an assistant professor and Ali Gerami Matin is a graduate student, both in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the George Washington University, USA. Their research interests cover theoretical and computational mechanics and finite element methods.

Advanced Finite Element Method in Structural Engineering systematically introduces the research work on the Finite Element Method (FEM), which was completed by Prof. Yu-qiu Long and his research group in the past 25 years. Seven original theoretical achievements - for instance, the Generalized Conforming Element method, to name one - and their applications in the fields of structural engineering and computational mechanics are discussed in detail. The book also shows the new strategies for avoiding five difficulties that exist in traditional FEM (shear-locking problem of thick plate elements; sensitivity problem to mesh distortion; non-convergence problem of non-conforming elements; accuracy loss problem of stress solutions by displacement-based elements; stress singular point problem) by utilizing foregoing achievements.

This book provides a solid introduction to the foundation and the application of the finite element method in structural analysis. It offers new theoretical insight and practical advice. This second edition contains additional sections on sensitivity analysis, on retrofitting structures, on the Generalized FEM (X-FEM) and on model adaptivity. An additional chapter treats the boundary element method, and related software is available at www.winfem.de.

Fundamental coverage, analytic mathematics, and up-to-date software applications are hard to find in a single text on the finite element method (FEM). Dimitrios Pavlou’s Essentials of the Finite Element Method: For Structural and Mechanical Engineers makes the search easier by providing a comprehensive but concise text for those new to FEM, or just in need of a refresher on the essentials. Essentials of the Finite Element Method explains the basics of FEM, then relates these basics to a number of practical engineering applications. Specific topics covered include linear spring elements, bar elements, trusses, beams and frames, heat transfer, and structural dynamics. Throughout the text, readers are shown step-by-step detailed analyses for finite element equations development. The text also demonstrates how FEM is programmed, with examples in MATLAB, CALFEM, and ANSYS allowing readers to learn how to develop their own computer code. Suitable for everyone from first-time BSc/MSc students to practicing mechanical/structural engineers, Essentials of the Finite Element Method presents a complete reference text for the modern engineer. Provides complete and unified coverage of the fundamentals of finite element analysis Covers stiffness matrices for widely used elements in mechanical and civil engineering practice Offers detailed and integrated solutions of engineering examples and computer algorithms in ANSYS, CALFEM, and MATLAB