Dim e ns ions and Unit f s orFinit Elm e ntAnal e s e e ys

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Back ground:
F e e lm e nt program s do not cons ide r t e unit of giv n q uant ie s , it is t e us e r's init e h s e it h re s pons ib ily t e ns ure t at t e giv n num b e rs h av cons is t nt unit . Th e re are it o h h e e e s num e rous dif e re nt s e t of unit t at can b e us e d w h e n pe rf f s s h orm ing F s im ul ions . Th e E at b e s t s e t of unit w il de pe nd on t e prob lm , t s l h e ypical t e m os t accurat re s ul are l h y e t s ob t aine d if t e unit are ch os e n s uch t at t e v ue s of t e input q uant ie s t t e F h s h h al h it o h E s im ul ion are cl e t unit By h av at os o y. ing t e input q uant ie s cl e t 1, t e infue nce of h it os o h l round-of e rrors and t f runcat ion e rrors are re duce d.

Cas e 1: SI unit s
Bas e dim e ns ions : L ngt in m e t rs (m ) e h e F orce in Ne w t ons (N) Tim e in s e conds (s ) Th e f l ing dim e ns ions ne e d t b e us e d: ol ow o
[Pre s s ure ]= [St s s ]= re [V l y]= e ocit [Acce lrat e ion]= [Mas s ]= [V um e ]= ol [D e ns it = y] [Ene rgy]= N/m 2 = P a N/m 2 = P a m /s m /s 2 kg m3 k g /m 3 Nm = J

Cas e 2: SI unit (s m alpart ) s l s

Bas e dim e ns ions : L ngt in m il e t rs (m m ) e h l im e F orce in Ne w t (N) on Tim e is s e conds (s ) Th e f l ing dim e ns ions ne e d t b e us e d: ol ow o
[Pre s s ure ]= [St s s ]= re [V l y]= e ocit [Acce lrat e ion]= [Mas s ]= [V um e ]= ol [D e ns it = y] [Ene rgy]= N/m m 2 = 1e 6 P = MP a a N/m m 2 = 1e 6 P = MP a a m m /s = 1e -3 m /s m m /s 2 = 1e -3 m /s 2 Mg = 1e 3 k g m m 3 = 1e -9 m 3 Mg/m m 3 = 1e 12 k g/m 3 1e -3 J = m J

Cas e 3: SI unit (s m all s loads )

Bas e dim e ns ions : L ngt in m icrom e t rs ( m ) e h e F orce in m icro Ne w t ons ( N) Tim e in s e conds (s ) Th e f l ing dim e ns ions ne e d t b e us e d: ol ow o
[Pre s s ure ]= [St s s ]= re [V l y]= e ocit [Acce lrat e ion]= [Mas s ]= [V um e ]= ol [D e ns it = y] [Ene rgy]= 1e 6 P = MP a a 1e 6 P = MP a a 1e -6 m /s = m /s 1e -6 m /s 2 = m /s 2 kg 1e -18 m 3 1e 18 k g / m 3 1e -12 Nm = pJ

Us age e xam pl: if t e de ns it = 1000 e h y k g/m 3, t e n in t e F program s pe cif t e h h E y h de ns it as 1000e -12. y

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