Advantages of Finite Element Method

1. Modeling of complex geometries and irregular shapes are easier as varieties of finite elements are available for discretization of domain.

2. Boundary conditions can be easily incorporated in FEM.

3. Different types of material properties can be easily accommodated in modeling from element to element or even within an element.

4. Higher order elements may be implemented.

5. FEM is simple, compact and result-oriented and hence widely popular among engineering community.

6. Availability of large number of computer software packages and literature makes FEM a versatile and powerful numerical method.

Disadvantages of Finite Element Method

1. Large amount of data is required as input for the mesh used in terms of nodal connectivity and other parameters depending on the problem.

2. It requires a digital computer and fairly extensive

3. It requires longer execution time compared with FEM.

4. Output result will vary considerably.