Finite element method in structural mechanics

The finite element method (FEM) is a powerful technique originally developed for the numerical solution of complex problems in structural mechanics, and it remains the method of choice for analyzing complex systems. In FEM, the structural system is modeled by a set of appropriate finite elements interconnected at discrete points called nodes. Elements may have physical properties such as thickness, coefficient of thermal expansion, density, Young's modulus, shear modulus and Poisson's ratio.