The Finite Element Method: Linear Static and Dynamic Finite Element Analysis

by Thomas J.R. Hughes

Book Overview

This text is geared toward assisting engineering and physical science students in cultivating comprehensive skills in linear static and dynamic finite element methodology. Based on courses taught at Stanford University and the California Institute of Technology, it ranges from fundamental concepts to practical computer implementations. Additional sections touch upon the frontiers of research, making the book of potential interest to more experienced analysts and researchers working in the finite element field. In addition to its examination of numerous standard aspects of the finite element method, the volume includes many unique components, including a comprehensive presentation and analysis of algorithms of time-dependent phenomena, plus beam, plate, and shell theories derived directly from three-dimensional elasticity theory. It also contains a systematic treatment of "weak," or variational, formulations for diverse classes of initial/boundary-value problems. Directed toward students without in-depth mathematical training, the text incorporates introductory material on the mathematical theory of finite elements and many important mathematical results, making it an ideal primer for more advanced works on this subject.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486411818
• ISBN13: 9780486411811
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 704 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

An excellent book on FEM for graduates or professionals

The Finite Element Methodology though conceptually simple (eat the elephant by chopping it up into mouthfuls), becomes somewhat involved when applied, because the of tricks used to get solutions, after all you still may have to solve 100,000 PDEs to get your approximate solution to an otherwise intractable problem. So in its own way FEM can become a bit of a pachyderm itself. This book is very good, but be aware that this book is aimed at graduate physical-science/engineering students. This means that you know how to solve basic second order differential equations and understand how to perform path integrals for example. This book is aimed at people who would like to be able to write their own FEM solver. If you are looking to gain some backgrounding in how to construct finite element models using a program to solve problems, this book is probably much more than you need. You might want to try Schaum's Outline of Finite Element Analysis if this is your objective. DLearn is available from the http://www.zace.com/afdlearn.html or by typing "Dlearn program FEA" into google and following the link.

Response to Sylmar, CA reviewer

The reviewer who said that the software is not available from the ZACE website is incorrect. Go to www.zace.com and click on "Home Page." There you will be able to download DLEARN for free in addition to a C++ finite element code.

excellent book

an excellent,and also one of the best several books in FEM, definitely. But you need to invest much time to read and understand those math and theories behind the FE, then you can only get the really good insight into the subject.

don't miss this book

I consider this book simply excellent. The book does contain all the information you need to understand the finite element method. It comes with a companion software you can download. I don't actually understand those people who complain about the "excess" of math: com'on. If you don't like math, why in the world are you trying to do FE analysis? If you need to know, say, what is hourglassing, you need to know the theory behind the integration over a master element, otherwise you will never understand what hourglassing is. This is a bare example of what you need to know in order to do some FEA. If this is the kind of information (plus a much more) you're looking for, this is the book for you. Even though, as many other FE books, it's full of math, I've found it less "cryptic" than Bathe's book.Enjoy it!

Definitely five stars!

The author hase chosen the best, in my oppinion, way to present the background maths using functionals, this not being the fact with other, indeed classic and valuabe, though much more expensive, texts on the subject. Actually most use the original forms of variatonal formulations, which are tricky and result in very lengthy equations. Regarding the method itself, this text includes almost everything you should know to solve linear problems, both static and dynamic (i especially appreciated the dynamic part). Price over value ratio tends to zero, so it is a real bargain!