Finite elements and approximation functions

Abstract

In this chapter we will present material on the different types of finite elements encountered in practice and the approximation functions which are associated with them. We do not intend to describe comprehensively all the types of finite elements used in all types of applications; this has already been accomplished in the excellent work of Fouzot and Dhatt to which we refer the interested reader. We will therefore only describe the most common types of elements and illustrate their use in CAD. In practice, finite element programs designed especially for the analysis of a particular apparatus, and software packages designed to analyse a family of technical products, often have contradictory objectives which lead to opposing philosophies.