The FEM is a novel numerical method used to SOLVE ordinary and partial differential equations. The method is based on the integration of the terms in the equation to be solved, in lieu of point discretization schemes like the FINITE difference method. The FEM utilizes the method of weighted residuals and integration by parts (Green-Gauss THEOREM) to reduce second order derivatives to first order terms. The FEM has been used to solve a wide range of problems, and permits PHYSICAL domains to be modeled directly using unstructured meshes typically based upon triangles or quadrilaterals in 2-D and tetrahedrons or hexahedrals in 3-D. The solution domain is discretized into individual elements – these elements are operated upon individually and then solved GLOBALLY using matrix solution techniques.

The FEM is a novel numerical method used to solve ordinary and partial differential equations. The method is based on the integration of the terms in the equation to be solved, in lieu of point discretization schemes like the finite difference method. The FEM utilizes the method of weighted residuals and integration by parts (Green-Gauss Theorem) to reduce second order derivatives to first order terms. The FEM has been used to solve a wide range of problems, and permits physical domains to be modeled directly using unstructured meshes typically based upon triangles or quadrilaterals in 2-D and tetrahedrons or hexahedrals in 3-D. The solution domain is discretized into individual elements – these elements are operated upon individually and then solved globally using matrix solution techniques.