Page 179 - Finite Element Analysis with ANSYS Workbench
P. 179
170 Chapter 9 Heat Transfer Analysis
The four-node quadrilateral element, as shown in the
figure, is a popular two-dimensional finite element. This is because
the quadrilateral element can provide a more accurate solution as
compared to two triangular elements. However, numerical integra-
tion is needed to compute the finite element matrices and load
vectors.
( ) hT T
q s 4 3
( 4 T 4 )T
Q
y
1
x t 2
The four-node tetrahedral element is a simple element
type. The element contains four faces with a node at each corner as
shown in the figure. The element matrices and load vectors can be
derived in closed form ready for computer programming.
Examples of an element matrix and a load vector are,
4 q s
Q ( ) hT T
( 4 T 4 )T
1 3
z
y 2
x
