Finite element method

Formulation of the problem

The circular pipe is simply supported at either end on the steel plate corbel which is fixed to the wall.

The steel plate corbel is idealized to determine the following through a finite element model;

1. The circular pipe load is acting as point load in steel plate corbel.
2. The forces on the bolts connecting the steel plate corbel to the wall.
3. The stress state of the steel plate to verify that steel plate corbel is capable of safely carrying the
load applied.

Here the plates are discretized to four triangular elements. This would give a very crude stress
distribution map. Further refinements to the model may be necessary

1 3
5

3
1

2 Y

2 4
4 X

6
Formulation of finite elements

V1
1
U1
-1/3, 2/3

1 y

x
V2 V3

2 U3

-1/3,-1/3 U2 1 3 2/3,-1/3

Let’s consider the above 2D 3-node plane stress element; in its local axis system with origin at the
centroid.

The element is considered with unit base and unit height.

Then;
{𝐹} = [𝐾]{𝑈}

𝐹1𝑥 𝑈1
𝐹1𝑦 𝑉1
𝐹2𝑥 𝑈2
Where; {𝐹} = 𝐹 {𝑈} =
2𝑦 𝑉2
𝐹3𝑥 𝑈3
{𝐹3𝑦 } { 𝑉3 }

And [𝐾] = ∫𝑉 (𝑚) 𝐵(𝑚)𝑇 𝐶 (𝑚) 𝐵(𝑚) 𝑑𝑉 (𝑚)

Where, 𝜀 = 𝐵(𝑚) 𝑈

𝜎 = 𝐶 (𝑚) 𝜀

Determine the shape functions;

1
𝐻1 (𝑥, 𝑦) = {(𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑥3 𝑦2 ) + (𝑦2 − 𝑦3 )𝑥 + (𝑥3 − 𝑥2 )𝑦}
2𝐴 2 3
 1
𝐻2 (𝑥, 𝑦) = {(𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑥1 𝑦3 ) + (𝑦3 − 𝑦1 )𝑥 + (𝑥1 − 𝑥3 )𝑦}
2𝐴 3 1
1
𝐻3 (𝑥, 𝑦) = {(𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑥2 𝑦1 ) + (𝑦1 − 𝑦2 )𝑥 + (𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )𝑦}
2𝐴 1 2

Where, 𝐴 = 𝑑𝑒𝑡 [ ]