scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1324218

Publication date 15 August 1999

This is the third edition of this book [for the first edition see the first author, Programming the finite element method. With application to geomechanics. Chichester etc.: John Wiley \& Sons. IX (1982; Zbl 0561.73072)], and it seems that there are many new facts since the second edition, but I am not able to comment them since I do not have a copy of the second edition. Concerning the third edition, it is without doubt a book to teach the finite element method to engineers, and more precisely, to teach how to implement the finite element method. In this way, besides classical applications in solid mechanics (mainly), fluid mechanics, transient problems, ``coupled problems, eigenvalue problems and forced vibrations, the book puts the emphasis on the implementation: it contains the complete listings of all library routines and examples, while the codes are available via ftp. Let us describe briefly the contents. The first chapter announces clearly the orientation of the book: ``Computer strategies. Here the authors discuss the way to realize efficient software based on Fortran 90. The second chapter introduces basic finite elements and shows how to use just one element to approximate the solutions of problems in solid mechanics (one-dimensions bars, beams, plane and axisymmetric elasticity, and three-dimensional elasticity), fluid mechanics, and for coupled equations. The third chapter describes thoroughly the application of finite elements to solutions of engineering problems. Of course, the discussion comprises the notions of numerical integration, matrix assembly, incorporation of boundary conditions and solution of linear systems (Gauss elimination, Choleski factorization, a few on conjugate gradient method). It is worth to note that the authors present at the same level quadrilateral and triangular elements and their three-dimensional counterpats. After these general considerations, short applications in solid and fluid mechanics are presented, including statics, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, transient and time-dependent problems. After these introductory chapters, the implementation of the finite element method is revisited and detailed for the main engineering situations: static equilibrium of linear elastic solids (chapter 5), material nonlinearity (chapter 6), steady-state flows (chapter 7), transient problems of the first order (chapter 8), ``coupled problems (chapter 9), eigenvalue problems (chapter 10), and finally forced vibrations (chapter 11). Undoubtedly, this is a suitable book for an inductive presentation of finite element method to practicing structural engineers. The access to code sources should be appreciated. For subsequent editions, some comments on the notions of approximations, error estimates and how to display results should be added. As an applied mathematician, more inclined to deductive presentations, I regret that the basic variational formulations of continuous problems are not included. In conclusion, beyond these suggestions, I think that the contents of the book is in complete agreement with its title and should be appreciated by students who want to learn how to program finite element methods.

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