This paper presents the proposal of a new linear finite element that can substitute for the three dimensional finite model. A study is conducted on a simple frame at the beginning in order to proceed to the crankshaft. First, a three-dimensional model is constructed, then an equivalent two-dimensional model. At a final stage, the results from static and dynamic analyses of many linear element models were compared to the results of the two-dimensional model. With a special treatment to the connection elements, the results of both the static and dynamic analyses of the new linear finite element model agree well with the results of a two-dimensional model.

Key words: Finite element analysis (FEA), Timoshenko beam, Euler-Bernoulli beam, connection element, static analysis, modal analysis, crankshaft.