Programming the Finite Element Method [Paperback]

Ian M. Smith (Author), D. V. Griffiths (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0470849703 | ISBN-13: 978-0470849705 | Edition: 4

This title demonstrates how to develop computer programmes which solve specific engineering problems using the finite element method. It enables students, scientists and engineers to assemble their own computer programmes to produce numerical results to solve these problems. The first three editions of Programming the Finite Element Method established themselves as an authority in this area.  This fully revised 4th edition includes completely rewritten programmes with a unique description and list of parallel versions of programmes in Fortran 90.  The Fortran programmes and subroutines described in the text will be made available on the Internet via anonymous ftp, further adding to the value of this title. 

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Following the highly successful previous editions, this 4th edition contains programs and subroutine libraries fully updated to Fortran95, which are freely available on the Internet. A wide variety of problem solving capabilities are presented including structural analysis, elasticity and plasticity, construction processes in geomechanics, uncoupled and coupled steady and transient fluid flow and linear and nonlinear solid dynamics. A major new feature is the inclusion of parallelised programs, using MPI, which enable parallel processing of all types of finite element analyses. Performance evaluation shows that these programs make efficient use of parallel hardwares ranging from supercomputers to clusters of PCs.

Key features include:

• A clear outline of modular programming philosophy.
• More than 60 programs covering a wide range of problems in engineering and science.
• Results display using PostScript files.
• Exercises for students to solve.
• A simple but powerful parallelisation strategy.

These improvements all contribute to a more comprehensive book with a wide appeal. It will be of particular interest to students and practitioners in the application of finite element methods; to undergraduates and postgraduates in civil, mechanical and aeronautical engineering (stress analysis and fluid flow problems); to applied mathematicians and physicists (solution of partial differential equations); and to engineers in all of the above fields.

About the Author

Professor Smith is currently the Head of the Geotechnics Division at the Manchester Centre for Civil and Construction Engineering, UMIST.

Professor Griffiths is Professor of Civil Engineering, Division of Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.

Product Details

• Paperback: 646 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 4 edition (October 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470849703
• ISBN-13: 978-0470849705
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,031,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A valuable book, but not suited as a first course in the FEM, August 4, 1998

By 

Don W. Dotson (Nashville, Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Programming the Finite Element Method, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

This book is an excellent textbook for advanced graduate students as well as the theoretically oriented practitioner with considerable programming experience. However, it should not be considered as a text for a first course in finite elements. Those hoping to learn the fundamentals of the FEM from this text will be disappointed. Other texts, such as Logan's "A First Course in the Finite Element Method," are better suited because of the hand examples along with the step-by-step worked out procedures. Logan's example code is not as powerful as Smith and Griffiths', but is easier to understand for the beginner. Another problem for practitioners is the exclusive use of Fortran 90. Fortran 90 is extremely powerful and may, eventually, save the Fortran language from extinction. However, most practitioners will be almost as unfamiliar with Fortran 90 as they are with C/C++. Additionally, Fortran 90 compilers are relatively expensive compared with C/C++ compi! lers and either will require a steep learning curve. For the student and practitioner with a good background in Finite Element programming and able and willing to invest considerable time and effort, this book will be invaluable. Geomechanic practitioners will find Chapter 6, "Material Nonlinearity," especially useful. Smith and Griffiths have written a very fine book, but not for beginners. The authors should consider writting a true first course in Finite Element programming suitable for the advanced undergraduate or first-year graduate student. If they do so, the two volume series may become the benchmark which defines excellence in FEM textbooks.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Most modern FEM programming book available., July 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Programming the Finite Element Method, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

This book does a good job showing how to take advantage of modern Fortran90 to program the finite element method with both direct and iterative equation solvers. In fact, this is the only book available to do so. All other finite element books have code which is somewhat outdated in that they use Fortran77 and only cover direct equation solvers, and do not cover iterative solvers.

The book does a good job with showing "element-by-element" iterative solvers developed by researchers in the 1980's. Unfortunately, the book does not cover the more recent iterative methods such as methods which utilize compressed storage formats and domain decomposition methods.

The most disappointing aspect of the book is that the contents claim that parallel computing methods are included. In fact, there is only a very short chapter outlining parallel methods for the element-by-element iterative solution method. Some results are presented of the authors

research but no details are given at all. The authors appear to be novice parallel programming users who are currently learning to write parallel programs for finite elements at the time of the publication. The book would have been much more valuable if parallel programming aspects were included, this would have truly set the book apart from other finite element books. I suspect that the authors will publish a fourth edition of their book after they have learned how to program the finite element method for parallel computers.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent piece on finite element programming, December 2, 1999

By 

Matovu John Mary (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Programming the Finite Element Method, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

This is an excellent piece of work demonstrating the use of finite elements. The fortran 90 programs used give a hands on experience to develop finite elements for various applications. In addition to the detailed explanation of finite elements, this text makes you appreciate fortran 90 to build finite elements for real world problems. The coding of modules used repetitively , which is an important element for learning to write code for finite elements,is emphasized. Despite its emphasis on engineering problems, the concepts can easily be used for other fields.