A procedure to assemble only non-zero coefficients of global matrix in finite element analysis

A procedure to assemble only non-zero coefficients of a global matrix of fi nite element analysis in a one-dimensional array is proposed. The procedure uses a stencil matrix and a template matrix at intermediate stages to fina lly arrive at the one-dimensional global array. The intermediate operations are done with matrices consisting of only integers. The element matrices a re handled only during the final step of the assembly. The procedure is sim ple and modular. The procedure has been implemented in a computer program a nd demonstrated using an example problem in the context of h-adaptive refin ed finite element meshes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.