ABSTRACT
Using a suitable mesh is an essential condition for obtaining accurate results in FEM. Information for a consistent modeling is scarce and appropriate meshing can generally be achieved by experience. The present article provides a guideline regarding certain aspects that appear in 2D FEM modeling problems: number of finite elements, type of finite elements to be used, procedure of numerical integration, model dimension. A number of “numerical” quality indicators have been deduced and information has been provided to ease FEM modeling. The problems analyzed are: strip load on elastic half space (problem in plane deformations), circular cavity expansion (handled both as an axisymmetric problem in plane deformations and as a problem in axisymmetric deformations). Numerical solutions have been validated by the analytical solutions, considered as exact solutions. Errors have been computed for the Gauss points.
