Object-Oriented Finite Element Programming for Engineering Analysis in C++

Abstract

Recently there has been growing interest in applying object-oriented approach to large-scale programs with a view to treating the various complexities within these. Software designed using an object-oriented approach can be significantly more robust than traditional software. More codes can be reused and it can be easier to refine, test, maintain and extend the software. Several benefits of this approach may also be observed in the area of finite element analysis. This paper describes an implementation of object-oriented programming to the finite element method for engineering analysis using C++, and illustrates the advantages of this approach.