The physical behavior of each element is described by simple algebraic equations (e.g.,
for force, stiffness, and displacement). These are then assembled into a massive to solve for the entire system at once. 2. The Three Stages of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) FINITE ELEMENT METHODS IN ENGINEERING
Building a CAD model, simplifying geometry, creating the mesh, defining material properties (e.g., Young’s Modulus), and applying boundary conditions (loads and supports). The physical behavior of each element is described