Continue to Site

Eng-Tips is the largest engineering community on the Internet

Intelligent Work Forums for Engineering Professionals

  • Congratulations cowski on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Practical FEA book 2

Status
Not open for further replies.

BMart006

Structural
Mar 20, 2017
61
Hey everyone, I’m looking for recommendations on good FEA books focused toward structural engineering that are of a more practical approach. Ive worked through books by Reddy, Hutton, and Chandrupatla but those take a more theoretical approach of how to derive shape functions and such. Any help is appreciated.
 
Replies continue below

Recommended for you

They are hard to find. Some of the best I've seen:


'A First Course in the Finite Element Method' (2011), by: Daryl L. Logan

'Introductory Guide to Finite Element Analysis', (2003), by: A. A. Becker

'Building Better Products with Finite Element Analysis' (1st Edition, 1998), by: Adams & Askenazi

For me, Logan's is (hands down) the best. I came away from it understanding the method much better. There is a chapter set aside for practicality issues. (I.e. good aspect ratios for plates and so forth. Good elements to use to model certain behaviors. Meshing. Etc.) Becker's book is real good too.

The Adams & Askenazi book I kind of recommend with reservations. Some people call it dumbed down and so on (there is virtually no math in it at all)......but if you know the background of the technique, it does make for some interesting reading.
 
I have Logan and like it. My favorite is this: Link. Also has an excellent section on practical issues associated with modelling.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
 
It depends on what you're looking for.

My favorite one for structural engineers is a book that doesn't do any plate elements, just beam members. "Matrix Structural Analysis" by McGuire, Gallagher, and Ziemian. Now, if you're interested in dynamics, plates and solids and such then this isn't the book for you. But, it does a great job with frames and geometric non-linearity and such.

In fact, I lost access to my copy because it really belonged to my previous employer. This thread is a good reminder to me that I need to purchase another copy.
 
JushPlum said:
"Matrix Structural Analysis" by McGuire, Gallagher, and Ziemian...In fact, I lost access to my copy because it really belonged to my previous employer. This thread is a good reminder to me that I need to purchase another copy.

Today is your lucky day...FREE and LEGAL (digital commons) PDF copy here: Link

Or, for a modest US$30 get a hardcopy here: Link

Courtesy of Bucknell University, so probably Prof Ron Ziemian.

 
Josh - I was just about to direct you to my last post in the non-linear frame analysis thread, but I see Ingenuity got in there with a link to the free version first.

Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
 
I like the following books:

For concrete structures:
"Finite Element Design of Concrete Structures", Rombach (Link). Lots of practical advice for modelling.
"FIB Bulletin 45, Practitioners' guide to finite element modelling" (Link)

For steel structures:
"Steel Structures: Design using FEM", Kindmann (Link)

For programming:
"Programming the Finite Element Method" (Link) and "Numerical Methods for Engineers" (Link), Smith and Griffiths
 
Thanks all for the recommendations! It is much appreciated. I have a fair amount of experience in the beam/frame element realm so mostly I'm looking for solids and plates.
 
Let me know what you find. I always wanted to find a reference that would do a better job of walking me through the derivation of shape functions. Even it it started with elements that are no longer practical to use. When I was at RISA, I could always research various methods and such. But, then hand the derivation off to Christine (a brilliant PhD developer) who speaks English well, but who's primary language must be Variational Calculus or such.
 
I just ordered a used 5th edition (2011) of the Logan Book from Amazon (~$70). There is also a paperback international version for ~$20.

The new 6th edition is out but Amazon wants $218 for it! (wow!)

Also, although most reviews for the Logan book are positive; several people have said there are many error in it; even in the new 6th edition. Below is one review. I found similar comments on the older edition.

Logan_Review_gbgk7i.jpg



 
it'd be nice then for someone to put together an errata for it.

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
 
Finite Element Method/Analysis (FEM/A) book list
This compilation is done based on referred books and research online in all related forums regarding recommendation of good books for FEM/A.

[highlight #FCE94F]Note- This list may be biased since I have not completely read each and every book but just come across recommended books online. However, it can get you started immediately for required information.[/highlight]

Category 1-Practical Engineering Analysis Approach (Beginner and Intermediate level)
This category books are for beginners and intermediate users who are learning FE method/analysis software, Students who want to start using software, practicing stress analysts and all professional design engineers who do not want mathematics (still some of these books come with mathematics, which is essential to understand FEM/A). You can refer these books if you want practical guide on how to setup problems and how to avoid errors in analysis and its rectification. These books emphasize on practical aspects of analysis problems.

1.Building Better products with Finite Element Analysis by Adams & Askenazi
2.Finite element modelling for stress analysis by R D Cook
3.Practical Stress Analysis with Finite Elements by Brian J. MacDonald
4.Practical Finite Element Analysis by S Deshpande, N Gokhale, S Bedekar and A Thite.
5.Finite element analysis: From concepts to applications by David S. Burnett
6.A Practical Guide to Reliable Finite Element Modelling by Alan Morris
7.The Finite Element Method and Applications in Engineering Using Ansys by Erdogan Madenci and Ibrahim Guven
8.The Finite Element Method - A practical course by G.R Liu & S.S Quek.
9.A First Course in Finite Elements by J Fish and T Belytschko
10.Understanding finite element stress analysis by John Robinson
11.NAFEMS Publications-
1.Finite Element Analysis for Engineers- A Primer by T.K. Hellen and A.A. Becker​
2.A Designer’s Guide to Simulation with Finite Element Analysis by V Adams​
12.Finite Element Analysis for Design Engineers by Paul M. Kurowski
13.Finite Element Analysis and Design of Metal Structures by Ehab Ellobody, Ran Feng, Ben Young
14.Nonlinear Problems in Machine Design by Eliahu Zahavi, David M. Barlam

Category 2- Advance Engineering analysis, Academic, Research and Programming Approach (Advanced level)
This category books are for advanced users of FEA/M, Programmers, researchers, scholars, student, professors, teachers, academicians and professional engineers or anyone who want to learn theory and in depth knowledge of behind the screen calculations. These books emphasize more on theoretical aspects of analysis problems.

1.Finite element procedures by K J Bathe
2.Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis by R D Cook, D Malkus, M. Plesha and R Witt.
3.The finite element method by O.C. Zienkiewicz and R.L. Taylor
1.Volume 1 The Basis​
2.Volume 2 Solid Mechanics​
3.Volume 3 Fluid Dynamics​
4.The finite element method in engineering by S S Rao
5.The finite element analysis of shells by D Chappelle and K J Bathe
6.Fundamentals of Finite Element Analysis by David V Hutton
7.Finite Elements for Nonlinear Continua and Structure by Ted Belytschko
8.The Finite Element Method: Linear Static and Dynamic Finite Element Analysis by Thomas J.R. Hughes
9.Introduction to Finite Element Analysis Using MATLAB and Abaqus by Amar Khennane
10.Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering, by T R Chandrupatla and A Belegundu
11.A First Course in the Finite Element Method by Daryl L Logan
12.Programming the Finite Element Method by Smith and Griffiths
13.Computational Inelasticity by Simo and Hughes
14.Non-linear FEA of solids and structures Volume 1 and Volume 2 by Crisfield.
15.MATLAB Codes for Finite Element Analysis by A.J.M. Ferreira

In addition to these books, you can refer the particular software theory manuals for both categories, which are very informative and simple to understand.

I am going to put this as FAQ for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) engineering forum.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor