FEA basic book 1

[Guideon]

Hi everyone,

I am from the previous generaion of engineers, prior to the FEA widely usage.I intend to study (by myself) this subject, and I wish to get your proffessional recommendations/tips for basic books that I can study from (basic principles, easy to understand, includes examples & exercises, makes me able to apply the method on simple problems without the need of heavy softwares, not making me superstar in that field (yet...)
Please, keep in your mind that I am about 25 years after graduated, while you recommend something to study..

Thanks,
Guideon

 

[flash3780]

Might I suggest that you being by reviewing your calculus of variations before delving into finite element theory too deeply. Here is a lecture discussing functionals:

http://academicearth.org/lectures/calculus-variations-weak-form.

 

[flash3780]

Another helpful series of lectures from the Indian Institute of Technology:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djd9-f-onLs&feature=relmfu

 

[ESPcomposites]

Guideon,

What sorts of problems do you want to solve (in general and also some specific examples)? In what way do you hope FEM will improve what you have been doing for 25 years. This will give a better idea of what a good direction might be.

Brian

http://www.espcomposites.com

 

[TheTick]

A must-read:

http://www.amazon.com/Building-Better-Products-Element-Analysis/dp/156690160X

 

[ESPcomposites]

I was going to recommend the same book. I wonder why it is out of print. All the other FEM books I have are quite theoretical.

Brian

http://www.espcomposites.com

 

[Guideon]

Thank you all,
Guideon

 

[racookpe1978]

Continuing the original poster's question, which FEA book best describes the global circulation models that NASA/GISS and NSDRC/NOAA try to use for global warming analysis?

 

[braddles90]

I have this one, and most of the mech guys where I work have it too (it was the prescribed text for the third-year FEA course at university):

http://www.amazon.com/Finite-Element-Modeling-Stress-Analysis/dp/0471107743

Sounds more theoretical than the other book recommended, but I find it reasonably easy to understand.

 

[ESPcomposites]

Both of the linked books are good, but serve different purposes. The Cook book is more theoretical, but relatively light compared to other theoretical books (i.e. Bathe's, Zienkiewicz books, and Cook's other book). The Adams book is very light on theory and is far more practical. Howevers, it is at a relatively low level and better used as a primer.

Brian

http://www.espcomposites.com

 

[arnie333]

The books above are all great. I have them all and a few others.

However, the best book for your level in starting out with FEA, and matching the criteria you mention above in my humble is "A First Course in the Finite Element Method" by Daryl Logan 4th edition (2011).

Check it out.