Development of a finite element program incorporating advanced element types

Scope and method of study. Finite Elements is an advanced method which is being used by engineers and researchers for the calculation of general field problems. Many software packages are available to make this field easier. Different concepts of integration are used to calculate the stiffness matrices for various elements. The primary objective of this study was the development of a finite element analysis computer program using advanced finite element formulation techniques. The FEA program is capable of determining the beam deflections when a static and dynamic loading is applied. This program is written in a computer programming language known as Matlab.;Findings and conclusions. A FEA program for the solution of a mesh of advanced finite elements is proposed in Matlab. This program is capable of generating displacement fields and contour plots for the structural systems. Isoparametric elements are used to solve the element stiffness matrices for all selected elements and Gaussian Quadrature is used to numerically integrate. The Gauss Elimination solution technique is used to solve for structural displacements. Structural displacements are found to be coherent for different types of elements. Maximum tip deflection indicates that the linearly interpolated elements are stiffer than the quadratic interpolated elements.