Two methods of nodal stress calculation for linear finite elements are compared numerically and programmed, along with the color display capability. The consistent stress calculation based on the basis conjugate to the displacement basis functions is found better in accuracy than the fitting method applied to the centroid or Gaussian stresses. However, the consistent stress method has the disadvantage that it requires more computations and it cannot be programmed as a standalone postprocessor which is independent of the finite element analysis routines. On the other hand, the data fitting method is general and easy to implement, but there can be arbitrariness in the selection of suitable weighting functions and excessive calculation is required when a local fitting is used.
The program developed is combined with an existing postprocessor, POSTQB, developed earlier, and tested for simple problems. Further extensions seem necessary to have more flexibility in the scope of applications and to recommend a best method of estimation.
