Lecture 7

FEM Dr PVRamana 1
Dr. P V Ramana
 Bulky solids 3-D solid element mesh

Neutral surface

z
z

y
x x y

h
Shell 2-D shell element mesh
Neutral surface
fy2 Centroid
fy1



x

z 



Beam member 1-D beam element mesh

The global stiffness matrix for an 3D rod element is

C x2 C xC y C xC z  C x2  C xC y  C xC z 
 
 C y2 C yCz  CxC y  C y2  C yCz 
AE  C z2  C xC z  C yCz  C z2 
k    
L  C x2 C xC y C xC z 
 2
CFEM C y C z Dr PVRamana 2
 y
 Where C = cosq , C = cosq and C = cosq
 C z2  x x y y z z.
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 Issues

Non-constant cross section:

Interior load point:

b
b

Mixed boundary condition: x

E,
k
A(x) F
Bx
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2A0
E y

x
x=0 x=L

A0 FEM Dr PVRamana 6
F
 Pascal’s Triangle
•
Used for determining a complete set of polynomial terms in 1D:
u= ∞ 𝒏=𝟎 ai xi

• Greater the degree of freedom, less stiff will be element.

• Interpolation functions are easier to develop with lineal/ areal/
volumes coordinates. The polynomial for 2D

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 Pascal’s Triangle
• Used for determining a complete set of polynomial terms in two
dimensions.

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 Discretization of continuum

•The displacement field within an element must be continuous

u = a0 +a1x + a2 x2 + a3 x3 +… … … … … . + an xn

•The displacement model must include the rigid body displacements

of the element.

•The displacement models must include the constant strain states

within the element.

•The convergence and compatibility requirements

•Completeness and continuity

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 Finite element for continuum
•The continuum is separated by imaginary lines or surfaces into a
number of ‘finite elements’.
•The elements are assumed to be interconnected at a discrete
number of nodal points situated on their boundaries. The
displacements of these nodal points will be the basic unknown
parameters of the problem, just as in the simple structural analysis.
•A function (or functions) is chosen to define uniquely the state of
displacement within each ‘finite element’ in terms of its nodal
displacements.
•The displacement functions now define uniquely the state strain
within an element in terms of the nodal displacements. These strains,
together with any initial strains and the elastic properties of the
material will define the state of stress throughout the element and,
hence, also on its boundaries.
•A system of forces concentrated at the nodes and equilibrating the
boundary stresses and any distributed
FEM
load is determined, resulting
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in stiffness relationship same as for simpler structure.
POTENTIAL ENERGY (Π)

The total potential energy of an elastic body , is defined as the sum of

total strain energy (U) and the work potential (WP), its –ve quantity.

Π = U + WP

Total strain energy (U)

•For linear elastic
materials , the strain
energy per unit volume
in the body is ½ σTε
•For elastic body total
strain energy (U) is U =½
∫σTε dv FEM Dr PVRamana 11
POTENTIAL ENERGY (Π)

The total potential energy of an elastic body , is defined as the sum of

total strain energy (U) and the work potential (WP), its –ve quantity.

Π = U + WP

For linear elastic materials , the strain energy

per unit volume in the body is ½ σTε
For elastic body total strain energy (U) is
U =½ ∫σTε dv

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 Principle of minimum Potential Energy

For elastic problems (linear and non-linear) a special case

of the Principle of virtual work – Principle of minimum
total potential energy can be applied

For conservative systems, of all the kinematically

admissible displacement fields, those corresponding to
equilibrium extremize the total potential energy. If the
extremum condition is a minimum , the equilibrium state
is stable

Applying the variation one can invoke the stationary

condition of the functional Π, δΠ = δU – δW= 0
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 A generic problem in 1D
d 2u
AE 2  x  0; 0  x 1 x
dx
u  0 at x  0
u  1 at x  1
AE  1

Approximate solution strategy: u( x)  a0j o ( x)  a1j1 ( x)  a2j 2 ( x)  ...

Where jo(x), j1(x),… are “known” functions and ao, a1, etc are
constants chosen such that the approximate solution
1. Satisfies the boundary conditions
2. Satisfies the differential equation

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Potential energy

The potential energy of an elastic body is defined as

  Strain energy (U)  potential energy of loading W

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 Strain energy of a linear spring

F x
k k
1 F
u k
u
F = Force in the spring
u = deflection of the spring
k = “stiffness” of the spring

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 Strain energy of a linear spring

dU Differential strain energy of the spring

F for a small change in displacement
(du) of the spring
dU  Fdu
u u+du For a linear spring
dU  kudu
The total strain energy of the spring
u 1
U k u du  k u 2
0 2
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Potential energy of the loading (for a single spring as in the figure)

x
k
F
k
u

Potential energy of a linear spring

  Strain energy (U)  potential energy of loading W
1 2 
Π  ku  Fu 0
2 u
Hooke’s Law F = ku
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 1
U k u2
2

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 POTENTIAL ENERGY
• Potential energy   U  V
• Strain energy
– Strain energy density1 1 1  2
d v 1
2
d v 2 2

U0   xx  xx  E( xx )2  E   y 2   Ey 2  2 
2 2 2  dx  2  dx 
– Strain energy per unit length
2 2
1 2  d2 v  1  d2 v 
UL (x)   U0 (x,y,z)dA   Ey  2  dA  E  2   dA
y 2

A A
2  dx  2  dx  A

2 Moment of
1 d v
2
UL (x)  EI  2  inertia
2  dx 
– Strain energy 2
L 1 L  d2 v 
U   UL (x)dx   EI  2  dx
0 2 0  dx 
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• Potential energy of applied loads
NF NC
dv(xi )
V    p(x)v(x)dx   Fv(x i )   Ci
L
i
0
i1 i1 dx
• Potential energy
2
1 L d v 2 NF NC
dv(xi )
  U  V   EI  2  dx   p(x)v(x)dx   Fv(x 
L
i i )  C i
2 0  dx  0
i1 i1 dx
– Potential energy is a function of v(x) and slope
– The beam is in equilibrium when P has its minimum value


0
v

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v* v
Problem 1
Principle of minimum potential energy for a system of springs
k1 k2
F
x
d1x d 2x d 3x
For this system of spring, first write down the total potential
energy of the system as:
1 1 2
 system   k 1 (d 2 x  d1x )  k 2 (d 3 x  d 2 x )   Fd 3x
2

2 2 
Obtain the equilibrium equations by minimizing the potential energy
 system
  k1 (d 2 x - d1x )  0 Equation (1)
d1x
 system
 k1 (d 2 x - d1x )  k 2 (d 3 x  d 2 x )  0 Equation ( 2)
d 2 x
 system
 k 2 (d 3 x  d 2 x ) FEM
F 0 Dr PVRamana
Equation (3) 24
d 3 x
 Principle of minimum potential energy for a system of springs
k1 k2
In matrix form, equations 1 and 2 look like F
x
d1x d 2x d3x

 k1 - k1 0  d1x  0  ? 
- k    
 1 k1  k 2 - k 2  d 2 x   0
 0 - k2 k 2   d 3x 
  F 
 system
  k1 (d 2 x - d1 x )  0
d1 x
k1  k 2  k 2  d 2 x   0   system
 k      d 2 x
 k1 (d 2 x - d1 x )  k 2 (d 3 x  d 2 x )  0

 2 k 2  d 3 x   F   system
 k 2 (d 3 x  d 2 x )  F  0
d 3 x

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Problem 1B
Principle of minimum potential energy for a system of springs
d1x  0 k1 k2
F
x
d 1x d 2x d 3x
For this system of spring, first write down the total potential
energy of the system as:
1 1 
 system   k1 (d 2 x )  k 2 (d 3 x  d 2 x ) 2   Fd3x
2

2 2 
Obtain the equilibrium equations by minimizing the potential energy
 system
 k1d 2 x  k 2 (d 3 x  d 2 x )  0 Equation (1)
d 2 x
 system
 k 2 (d 3 x  d 2 x )  F  0 Equation (2)
d 3 x FEM Dr PVRamana 26
Principle of minimum potential energy for a system of springs

In matrix form, equations 1 and 2 look like

k1  k 2  k 2  d 2 x   0 
 k     
 2 k 2  d 3 x   F 

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