Finite element analysis

Abstract

Finite-element analysis (FEA) is a complex mathematical technique that used to take engineers months to conquer; even in the 1960s it took weeks. Today, FEA software flies through hundreds of thousands of simultaneous equations on the jet aircraft of computers - from PCs packing the power of yesterday's mainframes to massive supercomputers that multiply and divide millions of times in the blink of an eye. And as these powerhouses have become ever more affordable, accessible, and abundant, FEA has zoomed to the heart of manufacturing, carving a deep niche in the design and engineering process. Speed is the commodity FEA deals in. It does not help engineers find designs they never dreamed of before. Rather, FEA compacts the time it takes to test designs, so that companies can put more engineering into their products.