Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for Stress Analysis

Stress analysis is essential to ensure the safety of mechanical structure. A generic method is desirable to analyze stresses on an arbitrary object subjected to arbitrary loading conditions. The finite element analysis (FEA) method is a default tool for stress analysis for complex objects to address all of the aforementioned issues. This chapter formulates the structural analysis problem, reviews the basics of FEA theory, presents the general procedure of using FEA for structural analysis, and a number of case studies to illustrate how FEA is applied for stress analysis. Generic engineering tools are desirable to solve diversified structural problems with arbitrary complexity of loads, geometries, materials properties, couplings, and the combination of these factors. A mechanical system is subjected to different types of loads, such as force, pressure, heat, temperature, or constraints at supports. Postprocessing helps in visualizing the results, identifying the weakest locations in product, and highlighting the areas of material waste.