An object-oriented design of FEM programs

Abstract This paper is our first attempt to introduce the concept of object-oriented design to the programming of the finite element method (FEM). Several classes are denned to combine the procedural and data abstractions found in a detailed analysis of the functionality in a typical displacement linear elasticity FEM. The class hierarchies make the data encapsulation, 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). The Microsoft C++ 7.0 is employed for developing an object-oriented general purpose FEM and each step in the high and low levels of abstraction is given.