QUESTIONS and ANSWERS Module

Finite Element Method (ME605B)

Prepared by: Tanmoy Bose(TNB)
Assistant Professor
Academy of Technology

MODULE 1 (Short answer type)

1. What is meant by finite element?

A small units having definite shape of geometry and nodes is called finite element.

2. What is meant by node or joint?

Each kind of finite element has a specific structural shape and is inter-connected with the adjacent
element by nodal point or nodes. At the nodes, degrees of freedom are located. The forces will act only at
nodes at any others place in the element.

3. What is the basic of finite element method?

Discretization is the basis of finite element method. The art of subdividing a structure in to convenient
number of smaller components is known as discretization.

4. What are the types of boundary conditions?

(i) Essential or Primary boundary conditions, (ii) Natural or Secondary boundary conditions.

5. State the methods of engineering analysis?

(i) Experimental methods, (ii) Analytical methods, (iii) Numerical methods or approximate methods

6. What are the types of element?

(i) 1D element, (ii) 2D element, (iii) 3D element.

7. State the three phases of finite element method.

(i) Preprocessing, (ii) Analysis, (iii) Post Processing.

8. What is structural problem?

Displacement at each nodal point is obtained. By these displacements solution stress and strain in each
element can be calculated.

9. What are the methods generally associated with the finite element analysis?
(i) Force method, (ii) Displacement or stiffness method.

10. Explain the stiffness method.

In displacement or stiffness method, displacement of the nodes is considered as the unknown of the
problem. Among the displacement and force based method, displacement method is desirable.

12. What is meant by post processing?

Analysis and evaluation of the solution result is referred to as post processing. Postprocessor computer
program help the user to interpret the result by displaying them in graphical form.

13. Name the variation methods.

(i) Ritz method, (ii) Rayleigh-Ritz method.

14. What is meant by degrees of freedom?

The number of translation and rotation movements undergone by a body is known as its degree of
freedom. The d.o.f. of a free body is 6 (3 translational and 3 rotational). D.o.f. decreases with increase in
constraint.

15. What is meant by discretization and assemblage?

The art of subdividing a structure in to convenient number of smaller components is known as

discretization. These smaller components are then put together. The process of uniting the various
elements together is called assemblage.

16. What is Rayleigh-Ritz method?

It is integral approach method which is useful for solving complex structural problem, encountered in
finite element analysis. This method is possible only if a suitable function is available.

17. What is Aspect ratio?

It is defined as the ratio of the largest dimension of the element to the smallest dimension. In
many cases, as the aspect ratio increases the in accuracy of the solution increases. The conclusion
of many researches is that the aspect ratio should be close to unity as possible.

18. What is truss element?

The truss elements are the part of a truss structure linked together by point joint which transmits
only axial force to the element.

19. What are the h and p versions of finite element method?

It is used to improve the accuracy of the finite element method. In h version, the order of polynomial
approximation for all elements is kept constant and the numbers of elements are increased. In p
version, the numbers of elements are maintained constant and the order of polynomial approximation of
element is increased.
20. Name the weighted residual method

(i) Point collocation method, (ii) Sub domain collocation method, (iii) Least squares method,
(iv) Galerkins method.

21. List the two advantages of post processing.

(i) Required result can be obtained in graphical form, (ii) Contour diagrams can be used to understand the
solution easily and quickly.

22. During discretization, mention the places where it is necessary to place a node?

(i) Concentrated load acting point, (ii) Cross-section changing point, (iii) Different material interjections,
(iv)Sudden change in point load

23. What is the difference between static and dynamic analysis?

Static analysis: The solution of the problem does not vary with time is known as static analysis.
Example: stress analysis on a beam. Dynamic analysis: The solution of the problem varies with time
is known as dynamic analysis. Example: vibration analysis problem.

25. Differentiate between global and local axes.

Local axes are established in an element. Since it is in the element level, they change with the change in
orientation of the element. The direction differs from element to element. Global axes are defined for
the entire system. They are same in direction for all the elements even though the elements are differently
oriented.

27. What are the types of loading acting on the structure?

(i) Body force (f), (ii) Traction force (T), (iii)Point load (P).

28. Define the body force

A body force is distributed force acting on every elemental volume of the body Unit: Force per
unit volume. Example: Self weight due to gravity

29. Define traction force

Traction force is defined as distributed force acting on the surface of the body. Unit: Force per
unit area. Example: Frictional resistance, viscous drag, surface shear.

30. What is point load?

Point load is force acting at a particular point which causes displacement.

31. What are the basic steps involved in the finite element modeling.
(i) Discretization of structure, (ii) Numbering of nodes.

32. Define initial value problem.

An initial value problem is one in which the dependent variable and possibly is derivatives are
specified initially.

33. Define boundary value problem.

A differential equation is said to describe a boundary value problem if the dependent variable and its
derivatives are required to take specified values on the boundary.

34. What are the classifications of coordinates?

(i) Global coordinates, (ii) Local coordinates, (iii) Natural coordinates.

35. What is Global coordinates?

The points in the entire structure are defined using coordinates system is known as global coordinate
system.

36. What is natural coordinates?

A natural coordinate system is used to define any point inside the element by a set of dimensionless
number whose magnitude never exceeds unity. This system is very useful in assembling of stiffness
matrices.

37. What is the utility of shape function.

Shape functions are used to express the geometry or shape of the element.

38. What are the characteristic of shape function?

It has unit value at one nodal point and zero value at other nodal points. The sum of shape function is
equal to one.

39. Why polynomials are generally used as shape function?

Differentiation and integration of polynomial are quit easy. The accuracy of the result can be
improved by increasing the order of the polynomial. It is easy to formulate and computerize the finite
element equations.

40. How do you calculate the size of the global stiffness matrix?

Global stiffness matrix size = Number of nodes X Degrees of freedom per node.

41. State the properties of stiffness matrix

(i) It is a symmetric matrix, (ii) Before application of B.C., the sum of elements in any column must be
equal to zero, (iii) Before application of B.C. the determinant is equal to zero and after applying B.C. the
determinant is positive.

42. What is Rayleigh-Ritz method?

It is integral approach method which is useful for solving complex structural problem, encountered in
finite element analysis. This method is possible only if a suitable function is available.

43. What is Aspect ratio?

It is defined as the ratio of the largest dimension of the element to the smallest dimension. In
many cases, as the aspect ratio increases the in accuracy of the solution increases. The conclusion of
many researches is that the aspect ratio should be close to unity as possible.

44. What is non-homogeneous form?

When the specified values of dependent variables are non-zero, the boundary condition said to be
non-homogeneous.

45. What is homogeneous form?

When the specified values of dependent variables is zero, the boundary condition are said to be
homogeneous.

46. State the principle of minimum potential energy.

Among all the displacement equations that satisfied internal compatibility and the boundary condition
those that also satisfy the equation of equilibrium make the potential energy a minimum is a stable
system.

47. What is truss?

A truss is defined as a structure made up of several bars, riveted or welded together.

48. States the assumption are made while finding the forces in a truss.

(i) All the members are pin jointed, (ii) The truss is loaded only at the joint, (iii) The self weight of the
members is neglected unless stated.

49. State the principles of virtual energy?

A body is in equilibrium if the internal virtual work equals the external virtual work for the every
kinematically admissible displacement field.

50. What is essential boundary condition?

Primary boundary condition or EBC Boundary condition which in terms of field variable is known
as Primary boundary condition.

51. Natural boundary conditions?

Secondary boundary natural boundary conditions which are in the differential form of field variable is
known as secondary boundary condition.

52. How do you define two dimensional elements?

Two dimensional elements are define by three or more nodes in a two dimensional plane. The basic
element useful for two dimensional analysis is the triangular element.

53. What is CST element?

Three noded triangular elements are known as CST. It has six unknown displacement degrees of
freedom (u1, v1, u2, v2, u3, v3). The element is called CST because it has a constant strain
throughout it.

54. What is LST element?

Six nodded triangular elements are known as LST. It has twelve unknown displacement degrees of
freedom. The displacement function for the elements are quadratic instead of linear as in the CST.

55. What is QST element?

Ten nodded triangular elements are known as Quadratic strain triangle. It is also called as cubic
displacement triangle.

56. What meant by plane stress analysis?

Plane stress is defined to be a state of stress in which the normal stress and shear stress directed
perpendicular to the plane are assumed to be zero.

57. Give example for essential boundary conditions.

The geometry boundary condition are displacement, slope.

58. Give example for non essential boundary conditions.

The natural boundary conditions are bending moment, shear force.

59. List the two advantages of post processing.

(i) Required result can be obtained in graphical form, (ii) Contour diagrams can be used to understand the
solution easily and quickly.

60. Define plane strain analysis.

Plane strain is defined to be state of strain normal to the xy plane and the shear strains are
assumed to be zero.

61. What is axisymmetric element?

Many three dimensional problem in engineering exhibit symmetry about an axis of rotation such type of
problem are solved by special two dimensional element called the axisymmetric element.

62. What are the conditions for a problem to be axisymmetric?

(i) The problem domain must be symmetric about the axis of revolution, (ii) All boundary condition must
be symmetric about the axis of revolution, (iii) All loading condition must be symmetric about the axis of
revolution.

63. What is the purpose of Isoparametric element?

It is difficult to represent the curved boundaries by straight edges finite elements. A large number of
finite elements may be used to obtain reasonable resemblance between original body and the
assemblage.

64. Define super parametric element.

If the number of nodes used for defining the geometry is more than of nodes used for defining the
displacement is known as super parametric element.

65. Define sub parametric element.

If the number of nodes used for defining the geometry is less than number of nodes used for defining
the displacement is known as sub parametric element.

66. What is meant by Isoparametric element?

If the number of nodes used for defining the geometry is same as number of nodes used for defining the
displacement is known as Isoparametric element.

67. Is beam element an Isoparametric element?

Beam element is not an Isoparametric element since the geometry and displacement are defined by
different order interpretation functions.

68. What is simple natural coordinate?

A simple natural coordinate is one whose value between -1 and 1.

Module 2 (Multiple choice)

1. The solution by FEM is

 (a) always exact, (b) mostly approximate, (c) sometimes exact (d) none of the above.
Answer: (b)
2. Variational principal is the basis for
(a) Displacement method, (b) Weighted residual method, (c) Finite difference method,
(d) Finite volume method.
Answer: (b)
3. Displacement method is based on
(a) Potential energy, (b) strain energy, (c) complementary strain energy, (d) work done.
Answer: (d)
4. Primary variable in FEM structural analysis is
(a) Displacement, (b) force, (c) stress, (d) strain.
Answer: (a)
5. Stiffness method approach is used in
(a) Displacement method, (b) stress method, (c) forced method, (d) mixed method.
Answer: (a)
6. Displacement method of FEM for structural analysis gives
(a) Stiffness matrix, (b) flexibility matrix, (c) conductance matrix, (d) mixed matrix.
Answer: (a)
7. Flexibility method approach is used in
(a) Displacement method, (b) stress method, (c) forced method, (d) mixed method.
Answer: (a)
8. Transformation matrix _______ for all elements.
(a) Is always same, (b) is different, (c) depends on element axes, (d) depends on material.
Answer: (b)
9. A singular stiffness matrix means
(a) Unstable structure, (b) one or more DOF are unrestrained, (c) wrong connectivity of
element, (d) wrong solution expected.
Answer: (b)
10. Assembled stiffness matrix after applying boundary conditions is NOT
(a) Square, (b) symmetric, (c) banded, (d) singular.
Answer: (d)
11. Determinant of assembled stiffness matrix before applying boundary conditions is
(a) < 0, (b) > 0, (c) = 0, (d) depends on the problem.
Answer: (c)
12. Determinant of assembled stiffness matrix after applying boundary conditions is
(a) < 0, (b) = 0, (c) > 0, (d) depends on the problem.
Answer: (c)
13. Any point in a structure can have maximum of _____ DOF.
(a) 2, (b) 3, (c) 4, (d) 6.
Answer: (d)
14. A 1 – D structural element is a
(a) Truss element, (b) beam element, (c) pipe element, (d) all of them.
Answer: (d)
15. Meshing for 1 – D element is
(a) Essential, (b) optional, (c) reduces input data, (d) depends on other data.
Answer: (d)
16. A structure with loads at joints only is usually modeled by _____
(a) Truss element, (b) beam element, (c) pipe element, (d) any one of them.
Answer: (d)
17. A frame with nodal loads only is modeled as an assembly of truss elements, if resistance
of rotational degree of freedom of joints is
(a) Very small, (b) very large, (c) not related, (d) depends on other data.
Answer: (a)
18. A frame with nodal loads only is modeled as an assembly of beam elements, if resistance
of rotational degree of freedom of joints is
(a) Very small, (b) very large, (c) not related, (d) depends on other data.
Answer: (a)
19. A frame with distributed loads along members is modeled by an assembly of _____
elements.
(a) Truss, (b) beam, (c) pipe, (d) any one of them.
Answer: (b)
20. Stress across any 1 – D element is assumed to be constant
 (a) True for beam element, (b) true for truss element, (c) true for pipe element, (d) true
for all 1 – D elements.
Answer: (b)
21. A bar is modeled as 1 – D element only if its
(a) Area of cross section is small, (b) moment of inertia is small, (c) length is very large
compare to cross section dimension, (d) all the above.
Answer: (d)
22. A truss element in space has a stiffness matrix of order
(a) 2 × 2, (b) 1 × 1 , (c) 4 × 4, (d) 6 × 6.
Answer: (6)
23. A spring element is similar to
(a) Bar element, (b) beam element, (c) pipe element, (d) none of the above.
Answer: (a)
24. A plane truss element has a stiffness matrix of order
(a) 2 × 2, (b) 1 × 1 , (c) 4 × 4, (d) 6 × 6.
Answer: (c)
25. Penalty approach leads to _______ displacement at support (b)
(a) Zero, (b) very small, (c) significant, (d) depends on stiffness of connected members.
26. Accuracy of solution ______ with increase of number of elements (a)
(a) Improves, (b) reduces, (c) no change, (d) depends on other data.
27. Complete polynomial is ______ important, compared to symmetry of displacement
polynomial w.r.t. coordinate directions
(a) equally, (b) more, (c) less, (d) unrelated. (c)
28. A triangular element with cubic displacement function requires __ nodes to represent the
complete and symmetric polynomial
(a) 3, (b) 6, (c) 9, (d) 10. (d)
29. A triangular element with quadratic displacement function requires __ nodes to represent
the complete polynomial
(a) 3, (b) 6, (c) 9, (d) 10. (b)
30. A triangular 9-noded element will usually have ___ cubic displacement function
 (a) symmetric & complete, (b) unsymmetric & complete, (c) symmetric & incomplete,
(d) un symmetric & incomplete. (c)
31. A constant term in the displacement function ensures
(a) rigid body mode, (b) constant strain mode, (c) zero stress (d) zero deformation (a)
32. Number of terms in the displacement function in relation to the number of nodes in that
element is
(a) more, (b) equal, (c) less, (d) unrelated. (b)
33. A linear term in the displacement function ensures
(a) rigid body mode, (b) constant strain mode, (c) strain varying in the element, (d) stress
varying in the element. (b)
34. All stiffness coefficients of an axisymmetric element have _ units
(a) same, (b) different, (c) any set of, (d) depend on other data. (a)
35. Displacement method can NOT be used with ______ boundary conditions
(a) pressure, (b) temperature, (c) stress, (d) displacement. (c)
36. A triangular plane stress element has _____D.O.F
(a) 6, (b) 9, (c) 12, (d) 15. (a)
37. A plane stress element has ______ no. of DOF, compared to a plate bending element
(a) same, (b) more, (c) less, (d) unrelated. (c)
38. A triangular plane strain element has _____ DOF
(a) 3, (b) 6, (c) 9, (d) 15. (b)
39. Number of displacement polynomials used for an element depends on
(a) No. of nodes/element (b) No. of DOF/node, (c) No. of DOF/element, (d) type of
element. (a)
40. Optimum number of elements in finite element model depends on assessment of _____
distribution in the component
(a) displacement (b) stress (c) strain (d) potential energy (b)
41. Displacement function which matches function value at the specified nodes is classified
as
(a) Lagrange interpolation function, (b) Serendipity function, (c) Hermite interpolation
function (d) Pascal function. (a)
42. Displacement function which matches function value as well as its derivatives (slopes) at
the specified nodes is classified as
 (a) Lagrange interpolation function (b) Serendipity function (c) Hermite interpolation
function (d) Pascal function. (c)
43. An element with no internal nodes is classified as
(a) serendipity element (b) Hermite element (c) Lagrange element (d) Laplace element.
(a)
44. An element with internal nodes is classified as
(a) serendipity element (b) Hermite element (c) Lagrange element (d) Laplace element. (c)
45. A 3 - D dam is usually modeled with
(a) 2-D plane stress elements (b) 3-D solid elements (c) 2-D plane strain elements (d) 3-D
shell elements. (c)
46. Elements connecting lower order elements and higher order elements in a mesh are called
(a) transition elements (b) iso-parametric elements (c) sub-parametric elements (d) super-
parametric elements. (a)
47. Elements having mid-side nodes only on some sides are called
(a) transition elements (b) iso-parametric elements (c) sub-parametric elements (d) super-
parametric elements. (a)
48. Stress-strain matrix for axisymmetric element is of order
(a) 3 × 3 (b) 4 × 4 (c) 6 × 6 (d) 9 × 9. (c)
49. Actual thickness of plane strain element is
(a) very small (b) very large (c) any specified value (d) none of the above. (b)
50. Order of stiffness matrix for a plane stress model with 20 nodes is
(a) 10 (b) 20 (c) 40 (d) 60. (c)
51. Order of stiffness matrix for an axisymmetric model with 20 nodes is
(a) 10 (b) 20 (c) 40 (d) 60. (c)
52. Number of stress components per node calculated for a plane stress quadrilateral element is
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5. (b)
53. Curved boundary is better modeled by using
(a) non-dimensional shape functions (b) higher order elements (c) more number of simple
elements (d) isoparametric elements (b)
54. Sum of shape functions at a point is
(a) 1, (b) 0, (c) any positive integer, (d) any negative integer. (a)
55. When fewer nodes are used to define the geometry than are used to define the displacement,
the element is called __ element
(a) sub-parametric (b) iso-parametric (c) super-parametric (d) complex. (a)
56. When same number of nodes are used to define the geometry and displacement, the element
is called __ element
(a) sub-parametric (b) iso-parametric (c) super-parametric (d) simple. (b)
57. When more nodes are used to define the geometry than are used to define the displacement,
the element is called __ element
(a) sub-parametric (b) super-parametric (c) iso-parametric (d) complex. (b)
58. Derivatives of displacement function with respect to element coordinate system and non-
dimensional coordinate system is given by
(a) Lagrangian (b) Poisson (c) Gaussian (d) Jacobian. (d)
59. Number of shape functions for a triangular plane stress element are
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 6. (b)
60. Number of shape functions for a quadrilateral plane stress element are
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 8. (c)
61. Number of shape functions for a 8-noded quadrilateral plane stress element is
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 8. (d)
62. Shape functions for a triangular plane stress element are also called
(a) r-s coordinates (b) volume coordinates (c) area coordinates (d) x-y coordinates. (c)
63. Use of non-dimensional coordinates helps in
(a) numerical integration (b) displacement calculation (c) stress calculation (d) strain
calculation. (d)
64. Gaussian points are used for
(a) numerical integration (b) displacement calculation (c) stress calculation (d) strain
calculation. (a)
65. Quadrature means
(a) calculation of area of element (b) calculation of element stress (c) numerical integration
for getting stiffness coefficients (d) calculation of nodal displacements. (c)
66. Using symmetry condition ____; but gives same solution
 (a) saves computer time (b) saves computer memory (c) saves effort of data preparation (d)
all of them. (d)
67. Symmetry boundary condition about an edge is applicable when
(a) normal loads & normal displacements at nodes along the edge are zero, (b) loads &
displacements along the edge are zero (c) normal loads & normal displacements at nodes on
either side of the edge are equal & opposite (d) loads & displacements along the edge are
same. (a)
68. Lengths of longest side and shortest side of a 2-D or 3-D element decide the
(a) aspect ratio (b) shape function (c) order of displacement polynomial (d) included angle.
(a)
69. Loads command in ANSYS includes
(a) loads & displacements, (b) loads only (b) loads & stresses (d) loads or displacements. (a)
70. Most FEM software reduce computer memory requirement by storing
(a) half of symmetric stiffness matrix (b) half of banded matrix (c) stiffness matrix as a
column vector (d) complete stiffness matrix. (a)
71. Most FEM software use
(a) displacement method (b) force method (c) stress method (d) hybrid method. (a)