The finite element method (FEM) is a numerical technique for finding

approximate solutions to boundary value problems for partial differential

equations. It is also referred to as finite element analysis (FEA). FEM
subdivides a large problem into smaller, simpler, parts, called finite
elements. The simple equations that model these finite elements are then
assembled into a larger system of equations that models the entire problem.
FEM then uses variational methods from the calculus of variations to
approximate a solution by minimizing an associated error function.
Basic concepts
The subdivision of a whole domain into simpler parts has several
advantages:

Accurate representation of complex geometry

Inclusion of dissimilar material properties

Easy representation of the total solution

Capture of local effects.

A typical work out of the method involves (1) dividing the domain of the
problem into a collection of subdomains, with each subdomain represented
by a set of element equations to the original problem, followed by (2)
systematically recombining all sets of element equations into a global
system of equations for the final calculation. The global system of equations
has known solution techniques, and can be calculated from the initial
values of the original problem to obtain a numerical answer.
In the first step above, the element equations are simple equations that
locally approximate the original complex equations to be studied, where the
original equations are often partial differential equations (PDE). To explain
the approximation in this process, FEM is commonly introduced as a special
case of Galerkin method. The process, in mathematical language, is to
construct an integral of the inner product of the residual and the weight
functions and set the integral to zero. In simple terms, it is a procedure that
minimizes the error of approximation by fitting trial functions into the PDE.
The residual is the error caused by the trial functions, and the weight
functions are polynomial approximation functions that project the residual.
The process eliminates all the spatial derivatives from the PDE, thus
approximating the PDE locally with

a set of algebraic equations for steady state problems,

a set of ordinary differential equations for transient problems.

These equation sets are the element equations. They are linear if the
underlying PDE is linear, and vice versa. Algebraic equation sets that arise in
the
steady
state
problems
are
solved
using numerical
linear
algebra methods, while ordinary differential equation sets that arise in the
transient problems are solved by numerical integration using standard
techniques such as Euler's method or the Runge-Kutta method.
In step (2) above, a global system of equations is generated from the
element equations through a transformation of coordinates from the
subdomains' local nodes to the domain's global nodes. This spatial
transformation includes appropriate orientation adjustmentsas applied in
relation to the reference coordinate system. The process is often carried out
by FEM software using coordinate data generated from the subdomains.
FEM is best understood from its practical application, known as finite
element analysis (FEA). FEA as applied in engineering is a computational
tool for performing engineering analysis. It includes the use of mesh
generation techniques for dividing a complex problem into small elements,
as well as the use of software program coded with FEM algorithm. In applying
FEA, the complex problem is usually a physical system with the
underlying physics such as the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation, the heat
equation, or theNavier-Stokes equations expressed in either PDE or integral
equations, while the divided small elements of the complex problem
represent different areas in the physical system.
FEA is a good choice for analyzing problems over complicated domains (like
cars and oil pipelines), when the domain changes (as during a solid state
reaction with a moving boundary), when the desired precision varies over the
entire domain, or when the solution lacks smoothness. For instance, in a
frontal crash simulation it is possible to increase prediction accuracy in
"important" areas like the front of the car and reduce it in its rear (thus
reducing cost of the simulation). Another example would be in numerical
weather prediction, where it is more important to have accurate predictions
over developing highly nonlinear phenomena (such as tropical cyclones in
the atmosphere, or eddies in the ocean) rather than relatively calm areas.

FEM mesh created by an analyst prior to finding a solution to

a magnetic problem using FEM software. Colours indicate that the analyst
has set material properties for each zone, in this case a conductingwire coil
in orange; a ferromagnetic component (perhaps iron) in light blue; and air in
grey. Although the geometry may seem simple, it would be very challenging
to calculate the magnetic field for this setup without FEM software,
using equations alone.

FEM solution to the problem at left, involving acylindrically shaped magnetic

shield. Theferromagnetic cylindrical part is shielding the area inside the
cylinder by diverting the magnetic fieldcreated by the coil (rectangular area
on the right). The color represents the amplitude of the magnetic flux
density, as indicated by the scale in the inset legend, red being high
amplitude. The area inside the cylinder is low amplitude (dark blue, with

widely spaced lines of magnetic flux), which suggests that the shield is
performing as it was designed to.