This chapter explains the meaning of finite element analysis (FEA) and why it is a popular computational method for engineering analysis. By using a structural analysis of a thin plate as an example, the procedure of a typical FEA is illustrated. The history of the development of the method, its applications, and software commercialization are introduced briefly, followed by a description of some of the trends in the current development of the method. The chapter also provides a list of commercial and open-source FEA codes that are popular today.
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