The Finite Element Method

Element connectivity

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Geometry
Connect keypoint K1 and keypoint K2 by a Straight line

K1

L1

K2

Line L1 is defined by keypoint K1 and keypoint K2

A task performed by the user

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Element model (meshed model)

Specify element size for line L1, e.g. number of subdivisions NDIV=1 Generate elements on L1, i.e. mesh the geometry

K1

L1

K2

N1

E1

N2

Element E1 is defined by node N1 and node N2

A task performed automatically by a mesh generation algorithm

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Geometry
Connect keypoint K2 and keypoint K1 by a Straight line

K2

L1

K1

Line L1 is defined by keypoint K2 and keypoint K1

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Element model (meshed model)

Specify element size for line L1, e.g. number of subdivisions NDIV=1 Generate elements on L1, i.e. mesh the geometry

K2

L1

K1

N2

E1

N1

Element E1 is defined by node N2 and node N1

A task performed automatically by a mesh generation algorithm

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Geometry
Connect keypoint K1 and keypoint K3 by a Straight line

K1

L1

K3

K2

Line L1 is defined by keypoint K1 and keypoint K3

A task performed by the user

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Geometry
Connect keypoint K3 and keypoint K2 by a Straight line

K1

L1

K3

L2

K2

Line L2 is defined by keypoint K3 and keypoint K2

A task performed by the user

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Element model (meshed model)

Specify element size for line L1, e.g. number of subdivisions NDIV=3 Generate elements on L1, i.e. mesh the geometry

K1 E1

L1

K2

N1 i

N3 ji

E2

N4 ji

E3

N2 j

Element E1 is defined by node N1 and node N3 Element E2 is defined by node N3 and node N4 Element E3 is defined by node N4 and node N2 A task performed automatically by a mesh generation algorithm
The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Apply load On keypoint

FY K2 L1 K1 N2 E1 N1

The force FY is applied on keypoint K1

Now investigate the accuracy of the obtained result, i.e. modify the element size

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Apply load On keypoint

Specify element size for line L1, e.g. number of subdivisions NDIV=3 Generate elements on L1, i.e. re-mesh the geometry FY K1 E1 L1 K1 N1 N3 E2 N4 E3 N2

The force FY is STILL applied on keypoint K1

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Apply load On node

FY K2 L1 K1 N2 E1 N1

The force FY is applied on node N1

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg

Apply load On node

Specify element size for line L1, e.g. number of subdivisions NDIV=3 Generate elements on L1, i.e. remesh the geometry FY K1 E1 L1 K1 N1 N3 E2 N4 E3 N2

The force FY is REMOVED from node N1 The force FY need to be re-applied on node N1

The Finite Element Method Element connectivity Computational Mechanics, AAU, Esbjerg