Early work on numerical SOLUTION of boundary-valued problems can be TRACED to the use of finite difference schemes; SOUTH well used such methods in his book published in the mid 1940’s. The beginnings of the finite element method actually stem from these early numerical methods and the frustration associated with attempting to use finite difference methods on more difficult, geometrically irregular problems. Beginning in the mid 1950s,efforts to solve continuum problems in elasticity using small, discrete "elements" to describe the overall behavior of simple elastic bars began to appear, and such techniques were initially applied to the aircraft industry. Actual coining of the term "finite element"appeared in a paper by Clough in 1960. The early use of finite elements lay in the application to structural-related problems. However, others soon recognized the versatility of the method and its UNDERLYING rich mathematical basis for application in non-structural areas. Since these early works, rapid growth in usage of the method has continued since the mid 1970s. NUMEROUS articles and texts have been published, and new applications appear routinely in the literature.

Early work on numerical solution of boundary-valued problems can be traced to the use of finite difference schemes; South well used such methods in his book published in the mid 1940’s. The beginnings of the finite element method actually stem from these early numerical methods and the frustration associated with attempting to use finite difference methods on more difficult, geometrically irregular problems. Beginning in the mid 1950s,efforts to solve continuum problems in elasticity using small, discrete "elements" to describe the overall behavior of simple elastic bars began to appear, and such techniques were initially applied to the aircraft industry. Actual coining of the term "finite element"appeared in a paper by Clough in 1960. The early use of finite elements lay in the application to structural-related problems. However, others soon recognized the versatility of the method and its underlying rich mathematical basis for application in non-structural areas. Since these early works, rapid growth in usage of the method has continued since the mid 1970s. Numerous articles and texts have been published, and new applications appear routinely in the literature.