This text presenting the mathematical theory of finite elements is organized into three main sections. The first part develops the theoretical basis for the finite element methods, emphasizing inf-sup conditions over the more conventional Lax-Milgrim paradigm. The second and third parts address various applications and practical implementations of the method, respectively. It contains numerous examples and exercises.

This text presenting the mathematical theory of finite elements is organized into three main sections. The first part develops the theoretical basis for the finite element methods, emphasizing inf-sup conditions over the more conventional Lax-Milgrim paradigm. The second and third parts address various applications and practical implementations of the method, respectively. It contains numerous examples and exercises.

Ces notes de cours (Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, DEA de Mecanique de Paris VI) presentent la methode des elements finis dans un cadre mathematique rigoureux. En accordant une place fondamentale aux conditions inf-sup, elles s'affranchissent du cadre reducteur Lax-Milgram/Galerkin standard. Elles couvrent un spectre d'applications relativement large et apportent de nombreuses precisions sur la mise en oeuvre numerique. Trois plans de lecture sont proposes: le premier concu pour un lecteur interesse par les aspects mathematiques, le deuxieme s' adressant aux ingenieurs et le troisieme limite aux aspects elementaires. Les prerequis mathematiques, de niveau 2eme cycle universitaire, sont rappeles dans deux annexes.