Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Brief Contents
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The Finite Element Method: Introductory Remarks
- 2 Some Methods for Solving Continuum Problems
- 3 Variational Approach
- 4 Requirements for the Interpolation Functions
- 5 Heat Transfer Applications
- 6 One-Dimensional Steady-State Problems
- 7 The Two-Dimensional Heat-Conduction Problem
- 8 Three-Dimensional Heat-Conduction Applications with Convection and Internal Heat Absorption
- 9 One-Dimensional Transient Problems
- 10 Fluid Mechanics Finite Element Applications
- 11 Use of Nodeless Degrees of Freedom
- 12 Finite Element Analysis in Curvilinear Coordinate
- 13 Finite Element Modeling of Flow in Annular Axisymmetric Passages
- 14 Extracting the Finite Element Domain from a Larger Flow System
- 15 Finite Element Application to Unsteady Flow Problems
- 16 Finite Element-Based Perturbation Approach to Unsteady Flow Problems
- Appendix A Natural Coordinates for Three-Dimensional Surface Elements
- Appendix B Classification and Finite Element Formulation of Viscous Flow Problems
- Appendix C Numerical Integration
- Appendix D Finite Element-Based Perturbation Analysis: Formulation of the Zeroth-Order Flow Field
- Appendix E Displaced-Rotor Operation: Perturbation Analysis
- Appendix F Rigorous Adaptation to Compressible-Flow Problems
- Index
4 - Requirements for the Interpolation Functions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2014
- Frontmatter
- Brief Contents
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The Finite Element Method: Introductory Remarks
- 2 Some Methods for Solving Continuum Problems
- 3 Variational Approach
- 4 Requirements for the Interpolation Functions
- 5 Heat Transfer Applications
- 6 One-Dimensional Steady-State Problems
- 7 The Two-Dimensional Heat-Conduction Problem
- 8 Three-Dimensional Heat-Conduction Applications with Convection and Internal Heat Absorption
- 9 One-Dimensional Transient Problems
- 10 Fluid Mechanics Finite Element Applications
- 11 Use of Nodeless Degrees of Freedom
- 12 Finite Element Analysis in Curvilinear Coordinate
- 13 Finite Element Modeling of Flow in Annular Axisymmetric Passages
- 14 Extracting the Finite Element Domain from a Larger Flow System
- 15 Finite Element Application to Unsteady Flow Problems
- 16 Finite Element-Based Perturbation Approach to Unsteady Flow Problems
- Appendix A Natural Coordinates for Three-Dimensional Surface Elements
- Appendix B Classification and Finite Element Formulation of Viscous Flow Problems
- Appendix C Numerical Integration
- Appendix D Finite Element-Based Perturbation Analysis: Formulation of the Zeroth-Order Flow Field
- Appendix E Displaced-Rotor Operation: Perturbation Analysis
- Appendix F Rigorous Adaptation to Compressible-Flow Problems
- Index
Summary
Our procedure for formulating the individual element equations from a variational principle and our privilege to assemble these equations to obtain the system's (global) equations rely on the assumption that the interpolation functions satisfy certain requirements. The requirements we place on the choice of interpolation functions stem from the need to ensure that our approximate solution converges to the correct one when we use an increasing number of smaller elements, that is, when we refine the element mesh. Mathematical proofs of convergence assume that the process of mesh refinement occurs in a regular fashion as follows:
• The elements must be made smaller in such a way that every point of the solution domain can always be within an element regardless of how small the element might be.
• All previous meshes must be contained in the refined meshes.
• The form of interpolation functions must remain unchanged during mesh refinement.
These three conditions are illustrated in Figure 4.1, where a simple two dimensional solution domain in the form of an equilateral triangle is discretized with an increasing number of three-noded triangles. We note that when elements with straight boundaries are used to model solution domains with curved boundaries, the first two conditions are not satisfied, and rigorous mathematical proofs of convergence may not be obtainable. Despite this limitation, many applications of the finite element method to problems with non-polygonal solution domains yield acceptable engineering solutions.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2013