ME 316: TECHNICAL SEMINAR

VARIATIONAL METHODS OF FINITE ELEMENT FORMULATION

NAME : NITISH KUMAR
ENROLMENT NO. : 10ME001076




1. OBJECTIVE
Through this topic for technical seminar, I wish to present a generalized discussion on
various mathematical models and techniques used in finite element analysis and hence
discuss some of the common method to solve such situations.
2. INTRODUCTION
In engineering world, every situation is considered in a form of physical phenomenon
i.e. it can be explained in terms of algebraic, differential and/or exponential equation relating
it with various laws of physics. Analytical computation done by dividing the given situation
in smaller elements upon which the same laws are applicable, is the field of scope of Finite
Element Analysis or FEM.

3. APPLICATIONS
Variational methods of finite element formulation is helpful in solving complex
equations problems from field of automobile industry, aerospace industry, structural
engineering and even in new technologies like Nano-sciences or bio-pharmaceutical
industries. The finite element method is a good choice for solving partial differential
equations over complicated domains (like cars and oil pipelines), when the domain changes
(as during a solid state reaction with a moving boundary), when the desired precision varies
over the entire domain; or when the solution lacks smoothness. For instance, in a frontal
crash simulation it is possible to increase prediction accuracy in "important" areas like the
front of the car and reduce it in its rear (thus reducing cost of the simulation).