Isoparametric Elements

& Solution Techniques

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Node Numbering & Matrix Sparsity

Node numbering greatly affects solution efficiency.
Consider the element stiffness matrices and resulting
global stiffness matrix.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 Node Numbering & Matrix Sparsity

Bandwidth = 4 Bandwidth = 6
MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Node Numbering & Matrix Sparsity

Ideally, the numbering should be such that
the matrix bandwidth is minimized.
The bandwidth is the (maximum) number
of columns between the first and last zero
in a row.
Fortunately, modern FEA software
automatically renumbers the nodes for the
most efficient solution.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 Equation Solving
Solvers can be
iterative, employing repeated approximations
until numerical convergence is achieved, or
direct, employing repeated substitutions (E.g.
Gauss Elimination).
In a direct solver, the solution time is
roughly proportional to nb2, where n is the
number of rows/columns in K and b is the
bandwidth.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Isoparametric Elements:
Formulation
Isoparametric elements make it possible to have
elements with curved boundaries.
This is done by introducing a natural coordinate
system.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 Isoparametric Elements:
Formulation
The element shape coordinates are given
using the same shape functions as the
displacements.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Isoparametric Elements:
Formulation
Because the shape is now a function of
and , the strain must be determined by
differentiation using the chain rule:

J is called the Jacobian

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 Isoparametric Elements:
Formulation

where J*11 and J*12 are coefficients in the first row

of J-1 and

Therefore

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Gauss Quadrature and

Isoparametric Elements
For integrations that are difficult to solve in
closed form, the integration can be performed
numerically using Gauss Quadrature.
Gauss Quadrature involves sampling data at
certain points to obtain an approximation to the
integration.
Different sampling points get different weightings.

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 Gauss Quadrature and
Isoparametric Elements
The number of points sampled determines where
the points are sampled and what the weightings
are.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Gauss Quadrature and

Isoparametric Elements
In two dimensions:

For mxn = 2x2:

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 Choice of Quadrature Rule.
Instabilities
Certain quadrature rules in certain situations will
result in instability displacement modes. The
stiffness matrix will be singular no matter how the
structure is supported.

Each of these modes displays zero strain energy.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis