A Two-Step Approach to Finite Element Ordering.

Abstract

A two-step approach to finite element ordering is introduced. The scheme involves ordering of the finite elements first, based on their adjacency, followed by a local numbering of the nodal variables. The ordering of the elements is performed by the Cuthill-Mckee algorithm. This approach takes into consideration the underlying structure of the finite element mesh, and may be regarded as a natural finite element ordering scheme. The experimental results show that this two-step scheme is more efficient than the reverse Cuthill-McKee algorithm applied directly to the nodes, in terms of both execution time and the number of fill-in entries, particularly when higher order finite elements are used. In addition to its efficiency, the two-step approach increases modularity and flexibility in finite element programs, and possesses potential application to a number of finite element solution methods. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA104320

Entities

People

  • Kincho H. Law
  • Steven J. Fenves

Organizations

  • Carnegie Mellon University

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Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Programs
  • Computer Science
  • Computers
  • Efficiency
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Graph Theory
  • Military Research
  • Procedures (Computers)
  • Resilience
  • Security
  • Sparse Matrix
  • Structural Analysis
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

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  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Graph Algorithms and Convex Optimization.