A comparison of a plane 2D finite element and a 2D axisymmetric finite element used for the heat or diffusion problem

As a pre study for future work the output from a regular plane solid 2-dimensional finite element was compared with the output from a solid 2-dimensional axisymmetric finite element. It was done by creating a very simple finite element model for the heat convection problem. The purpose was to compare the results from a heat convection analysis. The model can be used directly for the mass diffusion problem as well. The model was first set up in Matlab, where formulations for both plane and axisymmetric elements were written. The Matlab model then was verified by modelling the heat convection problem in Abaqus and comparing the results. When the Matlab model was verified it was used to compare the results given by plane and axisymmetric elements. The results obtained implied that the inner radius should not be smaller than the radial thickness of the axisymmetric object.