AN OBJECT-ORIENTED DESIGN OF FEM PROGRAMS

This paper is our first attempt to introduce the concept of object-ori ented design to the programming of the finite element method (FEM). Se veral classes are defined to combine the procedural and data abstracti ons found in a detailed analysis of the functionality in a typical dis placement linear elasticity FEM. The class hierarchies make the data e ncapsulation, code sharing, program maintenance, and, most importantly , adding new types of elements or solution methods much easier than in the traditional procedural FEM programming (usually FORTRAN code). Th e Microsoft C++ 7.0 is employed for developing an object-oriented gene ral purpose FEM and each step in the high and low levels of abstractio n is given.