CE 889 The Finite Element Method

Problem Assignment #2
Due: Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Problem No 1: (Bar element)

Using the expression shown in equation 1, derive the stiffness matrix for a tapered bar element in
which the cross section area varies linearly along the element length as A= Ai (1 ) + Aj .

K (e)
=

l EA 1
1
=

0 l 2 1 1 dx

0 EA B

B dx

[ Eqt.1]

x
is a dimensionless coordinate. Show
l
that this yields the same answer as that of a stiffness of a constant-area bar with cross section
1
( Ai + Aj ) .
2

where Ai and Aj are the areas at the end nodes, and =

Note: The following Mathematica script may be used to solve this exercise

ClearAll[Le,x,Em,A,Ai,Aj];
Be={{-1,1}}/Le; =x/Le; A=Ai*(1-)+Aj*;
Ke=Integrate[Em*A*Transpose[Be].Be,{x,0,Le}];
Ke=Simplify[Ke];
Print["Ke for varying cross section bar: ",Ke//MatrixForm];

Problem No 2: (Bar element)

Using the expression shown in equation 2, find the consistent load vector f ( e ) for the above
tapered bar element subject to a uniform axial force q = g A per unit length along the element.
Show that this vector is the same as that obtained with the simple element by element lumping
1
method, which simply assigns half of the total load: gAl , to each node.
2
l 1
f (e) = q
dx
0

[Eqt.2]

Note: The following Mathematica script may be used to solve this exercise

ClearAll[q,A,Ai,Aj,,g,Le,x];
=x/Le; Ne={{1-,}}; A=Ai*(1-)+Aj*; q=*g*A;
fe=Integrate[q*Ne,{x,0,Le}];
fe=Simplify[fe];
Print["fe for uniform load q: ",Transpose[fe]//MatrixForm];
ClearAll[A];
Print["fe check: ",
Simplify[Transpose[fe]/.{Ai->A,Aj->A}]//MatrixForm];

CE 463

Page 2

Assignement # 5

Problem No 3: (Bar element)

a) Assuming that the values of the displacement at nodes i and j, ui and uj, are known,
determine the equation, u ( x=
) a0 + a1 x , of the straight line that connects those two
nodes, as shown in the figure below.
u(x)

uj

ui

b) Once the values a0 and a1 are known (as a function of ui and uj), find two functions N1 ( x)
and N 2 ( x) such that
=
u ( x) N1 ( x) u1 + N 2 ( x) u2 .

Problem No 4: (Beam element)

Use equation 3 to derive the element stiffness matrix K ( e ) of a Hermitian beam element of
variable bending rigidity given by the inertia law

2x

x
x
1
1

1.
I ( x) = Ii 1 + I j = Ii (1 ) + I j (1 + ) where =
l
l
l
2
2

=
K (e)

EI BT B dx
=
0

1 EI B

1
ld
2

[ Eqt.3]

Problem No 5: (Beam element)

Derive the consistent node force vector f ( e ) of a Hermitian beam element subject to a uniformly
distributed z-moment m per unit length. Use the fact that the external work per unit length is

m=
( x) ( x) m=
( x) v( x) (u )

(e) T

dNT

dx

m( x)

For arbitrary m(x) show that this gives

(e)

1 NT
NT
=
m( x) dx =
m( ) d
0 x
1
l

Can you see a shortcut that avoids the integral for constant m?