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McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, N.Y., 1984, 495 They are: (a) Newton-Cotes quadrature, and (b) Gauss-
pp., ISBN 0-07-015346-5. Legendre quadrature. The latter being the most productive.
The concluding section attempts to answer the question of
This is a unique book on finite element methods (FEM) and computer implementation. Beginning with the pre-processor,
applications. In this book, FEM is presented to the reader as a this goes forth to the processor (calculation of element
variational-based technique of solving differential equations. matrices). The program consists of an assembly of a banded
Usually FEM is introduced to the reader via solid mechanics matrix form and imposition of the boundary conditions. The
approach. In the present day, FEM has been successfully three computer programs (FEM1D, PLATE and FEM2D) ac-
employed in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and acoustics. companied by a lengthy discussion of their contents, use and
FEM overcomes some of the problems associated with varia- aid in the solution of the illustrative examples. A most in-
tional methods (Ritz and weighted residual methods) and pro- teresting chapter and well worth reading!
vides systematic procedures for the derviation method of the Chapter 4 is the lengthiest and reports on finite element
approximation method. First, a geometrically complex do- analysis of two-dimensional problems. The second-order
main is represented as a collection of geometrical subdomains. equation involving a scaled-value function opens the chapter.
Over each FE, the approximation functions are derived Starting with the variational formulation, this continues with
employing the basic concept that any continuous function can FE formulation, integration functions with application to
be represented by a linear combination of algebraic three-node triangular element and a four-node rectangular ele-
polynomials. These approximation functions are derived using ment. After assembling the element matrices, the author
the ideas from interpolation theory. Thus, they are denoted as plunges ahead with the makeup of the element matrice accom-
interpolation functions. The values of the solutions at a finite panied by clear-cut examples showing the power of the finite
number of prescribed points in the boundary or interior are element tool. Comments on mesh generation are next in order.
called nodes. Interpolation theory is one of the important sub- This involves discretization of a given domain, generation of
jects of this book. This volume consists of five chapters and FE data, and imposition of boundary conditions. Jumping
three computer programs. ahead, we encounter the triangular and rectangular elements
The initial chapter introduces the subject, presents some and the serendipity elements. This is a forerunner of the sec-
historical comments and explains some basic concepts. tion on second-order multivariable equations. The resulting
Chapter 2 introduces the reader to the variational formulation coupled equations are provided by the following examples.
and approximation. Beginning with the differential equation They are: (a) the plane elastic deformation of a linear
and its variants, this continues with boundary and initial value elastic solid, (b) flow of an incompressible viscous fluid, and
problems, gradient and divergence theories. The next section (c) bending of elastic plates with transverse shear strains.
presents the variation formulation of boundary value Continuing, we meet the time-dependent problems and are
problems, including Poisson equation. This leads to the varia- then introduced to heat transfer problem and incompressible
tional method of approximation (Ritz and weighted residuals) viscous fluid flow. In the latter, mention is made of a fixed
and a concluding section on time-dependent problems. The model plus the derivation and employment of the penalty
author discusses the forward difference (Eulers, Crank- model This section ends with temporal approximations. It is
Nicholson Scheme, Galerkin method) and backward dif- then compared to the finite-difference and finite elements
ference schemes. This is accompanied by the stability concept solutions plus an exact solution of the heat conduction
and a number of illustrative examples. problem. The next section proceeds with isoparametric
The next chapter is a lengthy one. It introduces the reader to elements and methods of numerical integration. The chapter
finite element analysis of one-dimensional second-order equa- concludes with computer implementation as to element
tions and their respective problems. Opening the next chapter calculation. Extensive application of the three computer pro-
is the one-dimensional second-order equation. The author grams are provided. They acquaint the reader with the power-
delves into the derivation and assembly of element equations, ful FE method. This is an excellent chapter and should be read
imposition of boundary conditions and solutions of the thoroughly.
foregoing. This leads to the one-dimensional fourth-order The author announces that the last chapter is a prelude to
equation. We next read about the various errors introduced in- advanced topics. Starting with alternate formulation (least
to FE solution of a given differential equation. They squares and mixed formulation), we move ahead into the solu-
are: (a) boundary errors, (b) quadrature and finite tion of eigenvalue problems and nonlinear problems. Three-
arithmetic errors, and (c) approximation errors. These are dimensional problems are touched upon very lightly.
further developed via illustrative examples. A short il- In summary, this is a good book. The reviewer believes that
luminating example explaining the time-dependent second- the three-dimensional section should be greatly expanded and
order problem is considered. extended. Mention should have been made of the Wilson 6 and
The next important section develops the one-dimensional Houbalt methods in the solution of transient problems. Addi-
isoparametric element. The latter is explained in great clarity tional topics of interest that are missing are the variable nodes