Bilinear Element: Quadrilateral.

4 straight element sides with 4 nodes - 1 at each corner.

m k
y
i j
x
Note: m is used instead of lowercase L to eliminate confusion with number 1.

Νi = (aix + bi)(ciy + di)

= αi + βix + γiy + δixy Note the Bilinear term.
αi = bidi; βi = aidi; γi = bici; δi = aici

As with triangles: Νi = 1 at node i

= 0 at nodes j, k, m.

Solve for coefficients:

1 xi yi xy i   α i  1 
     
1 xj yj xy j   β i   0
    = 
1 xk yk xy k   γi   0
     
1 xm ym xy m   δi   0

Permutate for i, j, k, m in CCW order.

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping 1

 Consider an irregularly shaped linear quadrilateral:

y k
i j
x
In general one wants to evaluate:
∇ . ( Κ ∇U ) + V . ∇U + f U = g
or, numerically
 ∂N j ∂Wi ∂N j ∂Wi ∂N j ∂N j 
 < − K ( + ) > + < (Vx + V y )Wi >+ < fN jWi >  {U j }
 ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x ∂y 
{< gWi >} − ∫ K ∇U inWi dS
S

However this ∫ ( )dxdy over each element E will present problems due to the
irregular geometry.

SOLUTION: Transform x, y space to local coordinates

(ξ, η) and integrate numerically.

A Bilinear Basis function implies that for any constant x or y the function is
linear in the other direction.
let x = xc = constant
then Νi = Ai + Biy where Ai = (αi + βixc)
Bi = (γi + δixc)

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping 2

Examine a Bilinear local coordinate system:

η=1

η
ξ = −1 ξ=1
ξ

η = −1
∆ξ = ∆η = 2; ξ = η = 0 at center of element.
Νi = 1/4 (1 + ξiξ)(1 + ηiη) which is the bilinear solution of local system.
 α   1
Coefficient    
 β   0 
  = 
Matrix  γ   0
   
 δ   0

Note: for i = local node 1

Ν1 = 1/4 (1+(-1)(-1))(1+(-1)(-1)) = 1 at ξ = -1, η = -1
= 1/4 (1+(-1)(-1))(1+(-1)(1)) = 0 at ξ = -1, η = +1
= 1/4 (1+(-1)(1))(1+(-1)(1)) = 0 at ξ = 1, η = 1
= 1/4 (1+(-1)(1))(1+(-1)(-1)) =0 at ξ = 1, η = −1

We need coordinate transformation => use trial function approach.

4 4

x = ∑ x kψ k(ξ , η ) y = ∑
k= 1
y kψ k(ξ , η )
k= 1

with (x, y) being any point within the element and xk, yk being the nodal
coordinates in (x, y) space. However, ψk is formulated in (ξ, η) space.

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping 3

CONSTRAINTS:
1.) 1 : 1 mapping of nodes between 2 coordinate systems.
2.) linear variation in x and y along sides of (ξ, η) element.

=> x = a1 + b1ξ + c1η + d1ξη

y = a2 + b2ξ + c2η + d2ξη

Note that solution of ψi yields the basis functions Νi

when the transformation (mapping) function = basis function
the element is an Isoparametric element
when transformation function is of higher degree than
basis function => Superparametric and
when transformation function is of lower degree than
basis function => Subparametric.

 ∂N ∂W + ..... 
 
We need terms such as:  ∂x ∂x 
∂( )
i.e express
∂x or ∂y in terms of ξ, η.

Use chain rule:

∂N (ξ ,η ) ∂N (ξ ,η ) ∂x ∂N (ξ ,η ) ∂y
= +
∂ξ ∂x ∂ξ ∂y ∂ξ

∂N (ξ ,η ) ∂N (ξ ,η ) ∂x ∂N (ξ ,η ) ∂y
= +
∂η ∂x ∂η ∂y ∂η
or:

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping 4

  ∂N   ∂x ∂y   ∂N 
 ∂ ξ   ∂ξ ∂ ξ   ∂ x 
  =    
 ∂N   ∂x ∂y   ∂N 
 ∂η   ∂η ∂η   ∂y 

 ∂N   ∂N 
 ∂ ξ   ∂ x 
  = [J]   [J] ≡ Ja c o b ia n tr a n sf o r m a tio n m a tr ix .
 ∂N   ∂N 
 ∂η   ∂y 

 ∂N ∂W + ..... 
 
What we need for evaluation of:  ∂x ∂x  is:
,

 ∂N   ∂N 
 ∂x  − 1 ∂ξ 
  = [J] 
 
 ∂N   ∂N 
 ∂y   ∂η 

Recall: Νi = 1/4 (1+ ξiξ)(1+ ηiη)

∂ N i ∂ N i
∴ , ⇒ n o p r o b le m .
∂ ξ ∂ η

∂x
[J ] ⇒ , etc = ?
In ∂ξ

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping 5

 4
x = ∑ x k ψ k a n d ψ k = N k ( Iso p a r a m e tr ic )
k = 1


∂ ∑ x kψ

 ∂ (x kψ ) ∂ψ k ∂N k
∑ ∑ ∑
k
∂x k
= = = x k = x k
∂ξ ∂ξ k
∂ξ k
∂ξ k
∂ξ

∂N k
∂y
∂ξ
= ∑ y k
∂ξ
k

η=1
2
4 3
3
ξ = −1 ξ=1
1
4 1 2

η = −1

Choose any side; Ex.: η = 1 = top side in (ξ,η) = left side (x,y)
i.e. node 1 in (x,y) does not need to be lower left.

Νi = 1/4 (1+ξiξ)(1+ηi(1))
= Ai + Biξ

∂N i
∂x
∂ξ
= ∑x i
∂ξ
= Constant

dx
⇒ = Constant
dy
∂y
∂ξ
= ∑ y ∂N
∂ξ
i
i
= Constant

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping 6

 n
Lines of constant
ξ

Lines of constant η

Along any line: η = constant => dx/dy = constant and ξ = constant => same.

 ∂( )   ∂( )   ∂y −∂y   ∂( ) 
 ∂ x  − 1  ∂ ξ   ∂ ξ   ∂ ξ 
  = [J]   =
1

∂η
  
 ∂ ( )   ∂ ( )   [J]   −∂x ∂ x   ∂ ( ) 
 ∂y   ∂η   ∂η ∂ξ   ∂η 

∂ ( ) 1  ∂ y ∂ ( ) ∂ y ∂ ( ) 
=  − 
∂ x  J   ∂ η ∂ ξ ∂ ξ ∂ η 

∂ ( ) 1  ∂ x ∂ ( ) ∂ x ∂ ( ) 
=  − + 
∂ y  J   ∂ η ∂ ξ ∂ ξ ∂ η 

b d

∫∫ ∫ ∫
1 1
For integration: ( ) dx dy = ( )Jdξ dη
a c −1 −1
and

∂Ni ∂N i 

 ∑ xi ∑ yi
∂ξ 
[J] = 
∂ξ


 ∂Ni ∂N i 


∑ xi
∂η
∑ yi
∂η 


ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping 7