Study Guide for Chapter 16. Introduction to Finite Element Method
Master the following concept or procedures：
●​ How to write the stiffness matrix for an element (slide 15, Eq.17)
●​ How to write the mass matrix for an element (slide 23, Eq.26)
●​ Stiffness Matrix Assemblage (slides 24-28) (Mass Matrix Assemblage follows the same
way)
Understand the following concept or procedures：
●​ The concept of Finite Element Method (FEM)
●​ Nodal displacement vector and nodal force vector
●​ The Euler-Bernoulli Model
Know the following procedures:
●​ The procedure to derive the stiffness matrix based on the relationship btw nodal force
vector and nodal displacement vector (slides 7-15)
●​ The procedure to derive the stiffness matrix based on the potential energy (slides 18-19)
●​ The procedure to derive the mass matrix based on the kinetic energy (slides 20-23)