Figure 2 is a vertical block type flow diagram showing the overall process of finite element analysis in a structural application. The first (top) part represents the pre-processing phase comprising about 70 per cent of total effort for an analysis project. This includes: Input data: Geometry, Material properties, Loading, Support conditions; Select element type, Formulate and prepare mesh.

The central portion depicts the actual solving stage, which comprises about 5 per cent the total effort and the steps: Evaluate individual element stiffness matrices; Assemble overall stiffness matrix for structure; Apply boundary conditions; Solve the force displacement matrix equation by inverting the stiffness matrix; Evaluate stresses.

The final post-processing phase comprises about 25 per cent of the total effort and includes the steps: Interrogate results, Refine mesh, Re-run analysis, Verify and validate results, Repeat whole process as necessary.

◄ 1.6 Outline of the finite element analysis process: structural analysis