The use of computational techniques, like the finite element method, is increasingly becoming popular in engineering companies involved in the design and analysis of engineering components and structures made from a variety of materials. An important aspect of FE analysis is modelling of the material behaviour.

The aim of the book is to offer physical understanding of the material modelling features. This book is aimed at engineering students and professional engineers who are familiar with the finite element method and its terminology. It will be assumed that the reader’s experience is limited to carrying out linear stress analysis. A non-specialist reader will be able to follow the booklet and understand the important modelling issues, techniques and assumptions.

Examples have been used to illustrate the modelling techniques and also show the sensitivity of the results to the input data used to describe the material behaviour. The book will be useful to practising engineers as it will explain the physical significance of the various input data that has been used to describe the material behaviour.

A range of constitutive models typically used in an FE analysis is described in the book and where appropriate, material failure under severe loading is also covered. However, analysis of failure due to fracture, fatigue and buckling which require different procedures is not covered in this book.

NAFEMS has already produced a series of book which give guidance on how to create finite element models, select analysis codes and perform stress analysis. This book goes a step further and provides practical guidance on how to model material behaviour in a finite element analysis.

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