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BASIC OF FEA
FOR
1D ELEMENT
(Spring)



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LINEAR SPRING AS A FINITE ELEMENT
A linear elastic spring is a mechanical device capable of supporting axial loading only. It is
similar like 1D BAR element.
For linear structure analysis

Applied Force directly proportional to Deflection
force = k * Deflection
Stiffness equation



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Striving for excellence in virtual engineering
Stiffness Matrix
The primary characteristics of a finite element are embodied in the element is called
stiffness matrix.
For structural finite element,
It contain geometric and material behavior information that indicates the
resistance of the element to deformation when subjected to loading.



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Striving for excellence in virtual engineering
and the resultant axial force in the spring is
f = k = k(u2 u1)
For equilibrium,
f1 + f2 = 0 or f1 = f2,
Then, in terms of the applied nodal forces as
f1 = k(u2 u1)
f2 = k(u2 u1)
which can be expressed in matrix form as
Spring is Assuming that both the nodal displacements are zero, when the spring is
undeformed, the net spring deformation is given by
= u2 u1
Equation formation

=
Size of the matrix show the DOF of element
where
1
2
3



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Calculation of k (Stiffness constant)
P Force
L Element Length
A -- Cross Section Area
E Young Modulus
Deflection
As we know,
For Eq. 3



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Stress & Strain Calculation
Strain

Stress



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e
1
2
e1
x
L
e1 e
x L

Find displacement at any point in element
3
For similar Triangles,
=
e1 e
L

= * X
e1
Element length L
Displacement at 2 = e
Length of element from 1 to 3 =x
Displacement at 3 = e1
2