Caution! FEA in Use

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a widely used, computer-based tool for the analysis of complex systems. While civil engineering uses are largely limited to physical structures, such as buried pipes, the underlying use of the computer to analyze the response of models of real systems (physical, biological, economic, etc) to various stimuli is widespread and is valuable. However, the use of these computer models of real systems has become ubiquitous and, as a result, it has become unfashionable to question their validity. This tool has become the master! The validity of any computer simulation, such as FEA, is dependent on the accuracy of the computer model of the real system and the appropriate application of natural laws governing its performance. Thus, it is imperative that the FEA process include an explicit validation that demonstrates that the computer output is supported by sample calculations by standard analytical techniques or physical test data (when possible). Recent events have demonstrated that such validation is not routinely performed and the models used were erroneous. Examples from engineering papers/reports are discussed in this paper.