TABLE OF CONTENTS The finite element approximations for the stiffness and mass matrices for various domains were given in this chapter for a variety of simple and practical cases. For plane, three dimensional, and axisymmetric bodies these elements are relatively simple and are commonly used in practice. For plates and shells a wide variety of elements are available, and so the elements included in the chapter were limited. These elements illustrated the basic concepts used for the various structural types. No mention was made of any of the reduced or selectively integrated elements for plate bending or shells as these are specialty items and can more than likely be found in commercially available software. Once the basic stiffness and mass matrices have been developed it is possible to use them in the static and dynamic analysis required in the multidisciplinary studies of complex structures discussed in this book.
