Finite Element Modeling for Materials Engineers Using MATLAB®

Book excerpt: The finite element method is often used for numerical computation in the applied sciences. It makes a major contribution to the range of numerical methods used in the simulation of systems and irregular domains, and its importance today has made it an important subject of study for all engineering students. While treatments of the method itself can be found in many traditional finite element books, Finite Element Modeling for Materials Engineers Using MATLAB® combines the finite element method with MATLAB to offer materials engineers a fast and code-free way of modeling for many materials processes. Finite Element Modeling for Materials Engineers Using MATLAB® covers such topics as: developing a weak formulation as a prelude to obtaining the finite element equation, interpolation functions, derivation of elemental equations, and use of the Partial Differential Equation ToolboxTM. Exercises are given based on each example and m-files based on the examples are freely available to readers online. Researchers, advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, and practitioners in the fields of materials and metallurgy will find Finite Element Modeling for Materials Engineers Using MATLAB® a useful guide to using MATLAB for engineering analysis and decision-making.