Finite Element Method (FEM)
The Finite Element Method is a numerical technique for solving partial differential equations by discretizing a continuous domain into finite elements. It approximates the solution by solving a system of algebraic equations [K]{u} = {F}, where [K] is the stiffness matrix, {u} is the displacement vector, and {F} is the force vector.
Knowledge Check
1.What is the primary purpose of the Finite Element Method?
2.In the equation [K]{u} = {F}, what does [K] represent?
3.What is discretization in FEM?
4.What are 'degrees of freedom' (DOF) in FEM?
5.Which step comes first in the FEM workflow?
6.What is the purpose of shape functions in FEM?
7.What is the global stiffness matrix assembled from?
8.What are boundary conditions in FEM?
9.What is post-processing in FEA?
10.What type of problems can FEM solve?