APPLICATION OF FINITE ELEMENTS METHOD IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

The most accurate mathematical solutions for a bearing structural system arise from partial differential equations. For example, finding the exact solution for a rod is reduced to the determination of the integration constants with respect to the basic relations described in boundary conditions. The finite element method is used for transition from partial differential equation into a system of linear ordinary equations which can be written in matrix formulation, i.e. the observed domain is discretized in a number of parts (finite elements) necessary to obtain a sufficiently accurate solution for the required places. In most cases, FEM does not give the exact solution, but the results are enough precise and acceptable for engineering practice. This paper presents the application procedure by FEM in the case of simple rod elements.