FEM has been in development for over 50 years. Initially it was applied to the structural analysis of complex objects such as aircraft wings and calculations were performed by hand. In recent years with improvements in FEM technology and its automation by computers, larger and more complex models can be analyzed. In addition to structural analysis, this method has been extended to other disciplines such as heat transfer, fluid flow and electromagnetics. The size and complexity of the physical object to be analyzed determines how many calculations must be made.
Some simple objects require only a few equations that can be solved by hand with a calculator.
More complex objects require millions of calculations. The objects to be studied in this project will require students to use the CRAY T94 supercomputer here at the Ohio Supercomputer Center. The DYNA3D computer program, based on the finite element method, will be used to study how mechanical systems deform and fail under load to gain insight on how to improve the designs. Basically, the program simulates the effect of stress on structures. DYNA is based on the finite element method and was developed over 15 years ago at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab to study the effects of weapons systems.