This paper on "Errors Estimates and Adaptivity: The Essential Ingredients of Engineering FEM Analysis" was presented at the International Conference on Quality Assurance and Standards in Finite Element Analysis - 22-25 May 1989, Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

Introduction to Paper

The finite element method and indeed other related approximation procedures, are today widely used engineering tools. On occasion, this analysis is hidden within an overwhelming and colourful CAD/CAE framework and the user may not even be aware that they are basing their designs on an approximation of unknown quality.
How can professional engineering integrity be guarded and sound engineering decisions made without knowledge of errors involved in the analysis which is supposed to form their base.