Theory And Practice Of Finite Elements

This text presenting the mathematical theory of finite elements is organized into three main sections. The first part develops the theoretical basis for the finite element methods, emphasizing inf-sup conditions over the more conventional Lax-Milgrim paradigm. The second and third parts address various applications and practical implementations of the method, respectively. It contains numerous examples and exercises.

The finite element method, which emerged in the 1950s to deal with structural mechanics problems, has since undergone continuous development. Using partial differential equation models, it is now present in such fields of application as mechanics, physics, chemistry, economics, finance and biology. It is also used in most scientific computing software, and many engineers become adept at using it in their modeling and numerical simulation activities. This book presents all the essential elements of the finite element method in a progressive and didactic way: the theoretical foundations, practical considerations of implementation, algorithms, as well as numerical illustrations created in MATLAB. Original exercises with detailed answers are provided at the end of each chapter.

The 7th International Conference on Large-Scale Scienti?c Computations (LSSC 2009) was held in Sozopol, Bulgaria, June 4–8, 2009. The conference was organized and sponsored by the Institute for Parallel Processing at the B- garian Academy of Sciences. The conference was devoted to the 70th birthday anniversary of Professor Zahari Zlatev. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences awarded him the Marin Drinov medal on ribbon for his outstanding results in environmental mat- matics and for his contributions to the Bulgarian mathematical society and the Academy of Sciences. The plenary invited speakers and lectures were: – P. Arbenz, “?Finite Element Analysis of Human Bone Structures” – Y. Efendiev, “Mixed Multiscale Finite Element Methods Using Limited Global Information” – U. Langer, “Fast Solvers for Non-Linear Time-Harmonic Problems” – T. Manteu?el, “First-Order System Least-Squares Approach to Resistive Magnetohydrodynamic Equations” – K. Sabelfeld, “Stochastic Simulation for Solving Random Boundary Value Problems and Some Applications” – F. Tro ¨ltzsch,“OnFinite ElementErrorEstimatesforOptimalControlPr- lems with Elliptic PDEs” – Z. Zlatev, “On Some Stability Properties of the Richardson Extrapolation Applied Together with the ?-method” The success of the conference and the present volume in particular are an outcome of the joint e?orts of many partnersfrom various institutions and or- nizations. Firstwe wouldlike to thank allthe membersofthe Scienti?c Comm- tee for their valuable contribution forming the scienti?c face of the conference, as well as for their help in reviewing contributed papers. We especially thank the organizers of the special sessions.

The finite element method, which emerged in the 1950s to deal with structural mechanics problems, has since undergone continuous development. Using partial differential equation models, it is now present in such fields of application as mechanics, physics, chemistry, economics, finance and biology. It is also used in most scientific computing software, and many engineers become adept at using it in their modeling and numerical simulation activities. This book presents all the essential elements of the finite element method in a progressive and didactic way: the theoretical foundations, practical considerations of implementation, algorithms, as well as numerical illustrations created in MATLAB. Original exercises with detailed answers are provided at the end of each chapter.

This book gives an introduction to the finite element method as a general computational method for solving partial differential equations approximately. Our approach is mathematical in nature with a strong focus on the underlying mathematical principles, such as approximation properties of piecewise polynomial spaces, and variational formulations of partial differential equations, but with a minimum level of advanced mathematical machinery from functional analysis and partial differential equations. In principle, the material should be accessible to students with only knowledge of calculus of several variables, basic partial differential equations, and linear algebra, as the necessary concepts from more advanced analysis are introduced when needed. Throughout the text we emphasize implementation of the involved algorithms, and have therefore mixed mathematical theory with concrete computer code using the numerical software MATLAB is and its PDE-Toolbox. We have also had the ambition to cover some of the most important applications of finite elements and the basic finite element methods developed for those applications, including diffusion and transport phenomena, solid and fluid mechanics, and also electromagnetics.​

This volume covers the proceedings ofthe ICASE/LaRC workshop on "Finite Element Theory and Application" held during July 28-30, 1986. The purpose of this workshop was to provide an update on the status of finite element theory, to assess the impactoftbis theory on practice, and to suggest directions for Cuture research. There were thirteen participants in the workshop. Some of them were leading mathematicians working on the finite element theory, and the rest expert practitioners in the areas of fluid dynamics and structural analysis. The first six articles in this volume provide a brief review of the theoretical and computational aspects of finite element methods (FEM). The remaining seven articles deal with a variety of applications highlighting the type of results that are possible, and indicating areas which deserve future research. The first article is by Temam. lt provides an introduction and overview of the general finite element methods for the nonspecialist. lt also illustrates the power of finite element methods with two specific applications-the free surface flowjstructure interaction problern and the compressible Euler solu tion to the flow past a finite aspect ratio flat plate at incidence. The second article by Brezzi is againan introduction and overview ofmixed finite element methods. lt includes a brief discussion of special techniques for solving the discrete problem, as weil as some applications to certain basic problems in elasticity and hydrodynamics.